Legitimate Political Discourse

Last week the Republican National Committee (RNC) made clear that it would rather be the "Big Lie" party than the "Big Tent" party by condemning two principled elected leaders while condoning conspiracies, lies, and violent insurrection. By censuring Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Congressman Adam Kinzinger for their role in investigating the January 6th attacks, they have betrayed the GOP's founding principles and ceded control of a once-great movement to grifters and extremists. The RNC has also signaled that it no longer welcomes people of conscience.

The RNC's description of the January 6th insurrection as "legitimate political discourse" is an affront to the rule of law, peaceful self-government, and the constitutional order. There can be no justifying the horrific attack that day, and we condemn the Committee for excusing the actions of men and women who battered police officers, ransacked our nation's Capitol, called for hanging the Vice President of the United States, and sought to overturn a free and fair election. 

History will mark this censure as a turning point for the RNC – a time of choosing between civility and patriotism, on the one hand, and conspiracy and political violence on the other. We stand firmly for the first set of values. We stand proudly next to principled leaders such as Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. And we stand united against efforts to defile our democracy.

-- Statement of (100+) Republican leaders and former officials on the RNC's censure of Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger, 7 February 2022