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KAHNTENTIONS

KAHNTENTIONS is a blog post written by Gilbert N. Kahn, Professor of Political Science at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Beginning in 2011 KAHNTENTIONS was hosted by the New Jersey Jewish News which recently ceased written publication. KAHNTENTIONS presents an open and intellectually honest analysis of issues facing the United States, Israel, as well as Jews world-wide.

BY GILBERT N. KAHN

"These are the times that try men's souls."

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More Fallout for Democracy


Caught in the midst of a continuing two-year struggle with the pandemic, the American people are prepared to ignore the dissolution of American democracy occurring before their very eyes. Americans appear to be unwilling or unable to comprehend the consequences of ignoring the demise of American democracy.


The latest drift began last week. Politicians have always told half-truths and even lied, but the ability of today’s Members of Congress to flaunt their previously recorded remarks and for the public not to hold them accountable is astonishing. This is not “fake news”, the is news. So many Members have no memory of what they said about President Trump and the insurrection last January.


It is not only House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy or Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who deplored the attack on the Capitol on the day after it occurred and placed the blame on President Trump. There were Republicans in both Chambers who denounced the siege. Now McCarthy has said he will not testify before the House January 6th Committee.


Today democracy was attacked from another place. The Chair of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, politicized the activities of the Commission on Presidential Debates. She announced that henceforth GOP presidential nominees would be instructed not to participate in the presidential debates, alleging that the Commission was biased.


These debates have been administered by the Commission since its inception in 1987 by Democrats and Republicans. It has conducted these debates quadrennially following consultations and agreements with the nominees. McDaniel is now accusing the independent commission of being managed by the Democrats.


The RNC Chair was following on the pointless attacks made by President Trump about the process in 2020—including resenting having microphones shut off between questions and requiring participants not to travel around the stage. One more remarkably effective democratic institution being undermined by partisan attacks.


Leaving aside the renewed Senate debate on changing the rules over the filibuster, it is remarkable that there is no groundswell of public officials attacking states which are reconfiguring local voting systems to incumber and undermine Americans’ right to vote. The fact that Congress cannot unite to address the injustices which are being created in states throughout the country is appalling.


As for the January 6 Committee, its public hearings and its report may well be one of the few possible avenues available to reset the public’s image about the conspiracy and subsequent violence which occurred last year. The Committee’s presentation will need to be as dramatic as the Ervin Committee which investigated the Watergate break-in. The Committee has succeeded in keeping all of its investigations and deliberations under wraps so far. When they Hearings commence in public, they will be operating, unlike Senator Sam Ervin in 1973, in the 24/7 news age with social media inundating the public. False news attacks will be waged. To successfully emulate the impact of the Watergate Committee, Chair Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney will need to produce their own surprises; their own John Dean and Alexander Butterfield.

If one is grasping at straws than maybe the speech on Tuesday of Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota saying that Joe Biden won the 2020 election is positive sign. Despite being attacked by the former President, Senator Rounds was reinforced by Senator McConnell and other Republicans. Even if they are only manifesting their desire to move beyond the Trump fictions and make way for new Republican voices, it was a positive move for democracy. Rounds—who is not an especially vocal Senator—voiced the frustration that exists among some Republican and Independent voters towards Trump and his followers.

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