The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
Donnelly: Republicans face multiple challenges, opportunities
By Ann Donnelly
Published: February 7, 2021, 6:01am
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The storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 — the first violent entry there since 1814 — shocked Americans and humiliated the U.S. on the national and world stage. A Capitol Police officer died before our very eyes. It was undeniably an historic low moment for Republicans, who, fairly or unfairly, took the blame.
Since then, key facts have slowly emerged about the origins of the assault. It was not spontaneous. FBI investigations as early as Jan. 5 warned Capitol Police that violent extremists who supported President Donald Trump but who also had nefarious objectives had been planning the assault for days. On Jan. 5, a still-unidentified hooded figure planted bombs at Democratic and Republican headquarters. At least one leftist troublemaker urged the mob into the Capitol.
President Trump’s Jan. 6 rally was peaceful, and he urged a peaceful, patriotic voicing of views at the Capitol. Yet, he should have known of the looming danger. Exhorting peaceful protesters to “fight like hell” was tone-deaf.
But others also lacked foresight. The Capitol Police were puzzlingly unprepared, despite advance warnings from the FBI. Well-planned force on their part may have repelled the attack.
On Jan. 26, Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman forthrightly apologized to Congress: “By January 4th, the department knew that militia groups and white supremacist organizations would be attending (and) that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms. We knew Congress was the target. We did not do enough.” Honest words.
No Republican leader has defended the violence at the Capitol, and the party faithful were mainly in disbelief that anyone voting Republican could act in such a manner. That 10 Republicans, including Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, signed on to the Democrats’ hastily contrived impeachment of Donald Trump hands the party just one more distracting challenge to unity.
The 2022 election season starts now. Clark County’s Republican organization, which recently elected a more centrist leadership, must rebuild quickly, uniting competing factions. COVID-impacted small business, taxpayers, Second Amendment advocates and blue-collar workers need the party’s effective representation.
Nationally, President Joe Biden’s unapologetic cancellation of thousands of jobs on the Keystone XL Pipeline is just one example of an opportunity for Republicans. Democrats intend to twilight the fossil-fuel industry with its thousands of skilled workers in favor of hoped-for future government-financed jobs in liberal-approved industries. Republicans should move quickly to support those devastated families and businesses, securing their votes long-term.
The Republican Party has a wealth of developing talent. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, U.S. Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Elise Stefanik and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, among others, can expand the party base with blue-collar workers, women and minorities using measured, temperate language, deploying well-informed strategies and attracting the voting “middle” that decides close general elections.
President Trump underperformed in the 2020 election by failing in those areas, and then contributed to losses in both Georgia Senate runoffs with unforced errors.
Politics involves serious marketing as well as policy. In Southwest Washington, for example, state Sen. Lynda Wilson epitomizes this desirable combination of measured temperament, extensive business experience and centrist conservative principles.
Republicans, who are within less than a dozen seats of retaking the U.S. House majority, must regain discipline quickly. Locally, the substantial challenge of holding the 3rd Congressional House seat must be a top GOP priority, not focusing on the last election.
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