Thank you Nancy Schultz (“Don’t be fooled by Herrera Beutler,” Our Readers’ Views, Jan. 29). After countless accolades for Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler because of her vote to impeach an insurrectionist, someone finally presented historical perspective and wondered why congratulations were in order.
As Ms. Schultz noted, Rep. Herrera Beutler claims to be independent but voted with Trump, Nunes and McCarthy 80 percent of the time. Her sponsorship of legislation to set the number of justices on the Supreme Court at nine is an attempt to artificially cement a conservative majority and reward Republican packing. Finally, it took a mob incited by Trump threatening her own life to cause her to reexamine her support for him.
I agree with Ms. Schultz: Rep. Herrera Beutler has not developed a conscience. When faced with a serious reelection challenge she made certain to pander to Trump supporters. Not until after Trump fomented an insurrection did she speak out; not out of fear, mind you, but as a patriotic American. Nonsense.
One of the brilliant and successful tactics of Republicans has been to set the bar for decency so low (for themselves only) that a normal action, e.g. condemning the inflammatory rhetoric and behavior of an authoritarian, is seen as something worthy of great praise.
