Ask yourself what Cole is not telling you

Listen for the silence.

Whenever you read an article or hear a report or story, there is at least one pivotal question you should ask yourself, “What are they not telling you?”

Every communication has an objective and an agenda, assuming it is purposeful, and asking and answering that question can drive the seeker quickly to the heart of the matter.

“What they are not telling you” can come in several forms: 1. Withholding information that contradicts or questions their assertions, 2. Not providing a context for their assertions; and 3. Taking statements or portions of them out of their existing context to fabricate one more to their liking.

This ruse is as old as the serpent in the garden and just as deadly. This is what I find to be the case with the piece written by Althea Cole, printed Sunday Jan. 14, entitled “In Linn County, some Republicans may be shut out of caucus.”

I should start this reply with a thank you to Ms. Cole because it’s possible that the fear engendered by her headline may have caused caucusgoers to show up early to avoid “shut out” consequences.

Reading her headline and discussion regarding building “capacity limits” and “denying entry to perfectly eligible caucusgoers,” I think the average reader would conclude that the present Linn County GOP leadership is careless and heartless when it comes to eligible caucus participation. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The present leadership team was soundly elected in February 2023. Since that time, regular monthly attendance has nearly tripled (from 35-40 to 90-100) every month for the last year. The team ran and was elected on a platform to allow more attendees to become eligible to vote in county business, and those reforms were adopted. For what reason then would we possibly be shutting out eligible caucusgoers? None, except for integrity and safety. Ms. Cole’s piece is heavy on the “shutting out” even though we had worked out a protocol/procedure whereby “eligible” caucusgoers could, at a minimum, cast a ballot without exceeding the capacity limits and remain safe.

If we have a contractual agreement with a facility not to exceed its capacity, is that agreement waived or annulled because someone wants to vote in a caucus? The contract we had did not list caucuses as an exclusion to the capacity requirement, nor would it be honest or ethical to ignore it. Even though Ms. Cole points to the “packed” 2016 convention center caucus in Cedar Rapids as having been “dangerous,” she appears to be in a quandary about the “scale on which safety and participation don’t seem to evenly balance.”

This is how it balances for the present Republican leadership: The safety side will always be the heavier one. Why should my right to vote Trump or jeopardize my own safety and the safety of others? It smacks of narcissism and hubris.

Listen for the silence. Oftentimes it speaks volumes.

Bernie Hayes is chairman of the Linn County Republican Party. Chair@Linncountygop.org