IA delegation needs to lead after J6 pardons

Our world isn’t black and white. Most of us learned this when young. Our political system has left us with a choice of two parties, but should our leaders then automatically agree with everything on their “side?” If my car purchase was between a small gray car, black interior and sunroof, or a large blue car, tan interior, and no sunroof, and I bought the blue car because it was larger, did I necessarily prefer all of that car’s details?

Republicans, stop telling us, “This is what you voted for.” Leaders should use their alleged intelligence and morals. Nobody with those qualities would support the pardoning of individuals who violated our nation’s capital, many of whom injured and killed police officers in the process. But here we are. Because evidently that’s what we voted for? Those rioters could become Trump’s “brown shirts,” free to threaten and hurt Trump’s political opponents with no retribution.

Where are our leaders, such as Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who always declared to “back the blue?” Where is their courage to denounce?

In the future, let’s vote for intelligent, moral, empathic people who stand up for good. Then maybe we can trust them to make intelligent, moral decisions considering what’s best for all of our futures, and to stand up against those who don’t, no matter what side of the aisle.

Mary Kay Van Oort

Cedar Rapids