Reminder: What Republicans Said About January 6, 2021

Published by PolisPandit on January 5, 2022January 5, 2022

January 6, 2021 has already gone down as one of the worst days in American history. At the time, many Republicans who witnessed the scene firsthand inside the U.S. Capitol denounced the rioters and President Trump. While their rhetoric did not lead to impeachment (unsurprisingly), I thought it might expel Trump (and his enablers) from the Republican Party.

Boy, was I wrong.

In the weeks and months that followed, the rioters who engaged in an attempted coup were described as tourists; President Trump’s actions were largely excused; and one person after the next refused to cooperate with the January 6th Committee. Steve Bannon was indicted on Contempt of Congress charges, while others risked similar criminal prosecution, all in service of their Supreme Leader, Donald Trump.

Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows did hand over thousands of text messages from around the day in question. Then he realized he cooperated too much (or was pressured to shut his mouth). The text messages have provided invaluable insight into what was happening on and around January 6th.

From Fox News hosts like Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity, to House members like Jim Jordan and even Trump’s son, Don Jr., the text messages give us a window into the mindset of key Republican media members and politicians at the time. They range from concerns about the riots (Ingraham, Hannity, and even Don Jr.) to willful attempts to obstruct the election certification (Jim Jordan).

Then there was all of the commentary, or political posturing, by all other Republicans. They tried to talk a good game in the immediate wake of January 6th, but once they realized that Trump’s base remained largely intact, they backtracked for the sake of their political lives. The only cost was undermining the rule of law and American democracy.

This article may not rectify those costs, but hopefully it sheds light on Republican hypocrisy, whether you support the party or not. I renounced my support a few years ago now. No one person should be above the law in America, especially someone with dreams of dictatorship. Any enablers must face justice too. With that in mind, let’s review the Republican rhetoric from a year ago.

Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader (R-CA)

“The violence, destruction, and chaos we saw earlier was unacceptable, undemocratic, and un-American. It was the saddest day I’ve ever had serving as a member of this institution.”

The President bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding.

Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader (R-KY)

“They tried to disrupt our democracy. They failed.”

“There is no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the event of that day.”

Trump’s actions surrounding the attack on Congress were “a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty.”

Rather than calling off the rioters, McConnell accused Trump of “praising the criminals” and said that Trump seemed determined to overturn the election “or else torch our institutions on the way out.”

On January 6, 2021, McConnell denounced “thugs, mobs, or threats” and described the attack as “this failed insurrection.”

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)

“The president’s language and rhetoric often goes too far. I think, yesterday in particular, the president’s language and rhetoric crossed the line and it was reckless.”

Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC)

According to a Washington Post report:

“Sen. Lindsey O. Graham was irate that senators were forced to flee their own chamber. He yelled at the Senate sergeant-at-arms. ‘What are you doing? Take back the Senate! You’ve got guns. Use them.’”

Immediately after the January 6th attempted coup, he stated that Trump:

“Needs to understand that his actions were the problem, not the solution.”

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Pat Toomey (R-PA)

Both senators called on Trump to resign in the immediate aftermath of January 6, 2021. Since then, they have walked back their demands and they were even among the many Republicans who voted to acquit Trump on impeachment charges.

Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI)

This is the cost of telling thousands of people that there is a legitimate shot of overturning the election.

Never forget this dangerous hypocrisy or the disgraceful events from January 6, 2021. American democracy is at stake.