Contagious shamelessness

By signing on to the Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the election results of four states that voted for president-elect Biden, Rep. McMorris Rodgers demonstrated a tremendous lack of leadership. It wasn’t enough to refuse acknowledging that Trump lost, she decided to double down. This is inexcusable.

McMorris Rodgers has done a great disservice in undermining the institution of free and fair elections. She and her co-conspirators – 125 other House members and 18 states’ attorneys general – have wittingly poisoned the well of democracy.

Many people think most of this ruckus is just a show. A way for Trump to raise money and tarnish Democrats. But there are some lines that should never be crossed, and words that cannot be unsaid once spoken. That is what has happened here.

How can these elected officials, including McMorris Rodgers, be trusted again? Should it matter whether they were serious in their efforts or just “playing along”? Either is damnable. They can’t unring this bell.

While it is now certain Biden will be the next president, it makes one wonder what might have happened if the electoral vote had come down to one state instead of four. These antics by Trump and his enablers would not be so easy to dismiss.

Trump’s utter lack of shame has proven contagious. All democracy loving Americans should be offended by the actions of these officeholders. At a minimum McMorris Rodgers should profusely apologize. If she had any honor, she would resign.

Dave Wilson

Spokane