Sounding off: We need honesty, accountability

I have waited patiently to hear from Rep. Guy Reschenthaler about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. At 12:17 p.m., while the nearby “Stop the Steal” rally was underway, Reschenthaler’s Facebook post proclaimed “Donald Trump is the BEST president since Lincoln.” Less than an hour later, the siege began.

It has become clear how close we came to mass hostage-taking and murder that could have taken out the entire line of succession to the presidency. I will never forget the crowds with Trump, Confederate and Gadsden flags strolling through Statuary Hall while others were brutally beating up police and legislators were stranded in the gallery. All to stop the mandated act of certifying the Electoral College vote.

Reschenthaler and his colleagues say now is the time for unity. I agree. But for me that means three things:

• Recognize that my vote along with 3.5 million other Pennsylvania votes were legitimate. When Reschenthaler and seven other members of the Pennsylvania delegation voted to object to the Pennsylvania election, they weren’t calling for unity and they weren’t being honest.

• Offer widespread public acknowledgement that Joe Biden, just like these seven GOP Pennsylvania representatives, won in a free and fair election. Multiple courts ruled that any errors were not sufficient to change the result.

• Hold all those found responsible for planning and inciting the invasion accountable rather than making false equivalence to riots in Portland and D.C. this summer. Attempting to overturn the U.S. government is much worse.

Unity starts with honesty and accountability, not continued diversion and deflection.

Bibiana Boerio, Unity

Allegiance should be to country, not person

Time to recognize that few love the government but nearly all love the country. Government is a necessary evil imposing restraints for the common good, and it often involves compromises and silliness that can both frustrate and bewilder. But we tolerate it for the sake of country and the certainty the ship of state will be righted eventually. That is the mantra we all must take.

In 2016, President Trump won by an identical number of electoral votes (306) as Joe Biden did in 2020, with even smaller margins in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, and he lost the popular vote by over 2 million. More, many of us believed he would be a disaster for this country, far worse than anything middle-of-the-road Biden might do, and there was the growing certainty of Russian involvement in Trump’s win. But we shut our mouths and hunkered down, determined to survive the next four years and have our say in 2020.

We spoke loud in 2018 and louder still in 2020, and it is time for you to hear and accept our voice as we accepted yours in 2016. We must all give our allegiance to the country, not an individual.

James Hillebrecht, Latrobe

Disgusted by both parties

I’m totally disgusted with both parties in our political system. The events of the last two weeks highlight the differences that have been emphasized by both parties. While I can be completely different from my fellow Americans, at the end of the day it’s America. We live in the greatest nation in the world.

For all those who stormed the Capitol in Washington, shame on you. Free speech is not storming and damaging our nation’s capitol. Free speech was intended to allow for the free expression of ideas. There’s hate speech all around our society, but banning it doesn’t address the problems and causes. I blame both parties for this nonsense.

There’s nothing wrong with shaming people for bad behavior. Didn’t you know, it’s become politically incorrect? There is right and wrong. We fail to teach so that our children understand. We are “One Nation Under God,” but we are divided. Our liberty has been trampled upon.

There’s a lot that I’m not happy with right now, but I choose to have faith. I choose to believe that we can demand more of our leaders. As of today, our leaders have collectively failed us. That includes our judges. I don’t think they’re following the law; they’re sidestepping issues by using words like “not having standing” to abdicate their responsibilities.

Raymond Schratz, Butler

DC protesters desecrated American flag

Was anyone else as upset to see our American flag so desecrated by the Capitol protesters as I was? I was so disappointed to see a group — many wanting to show love of country — show such total disregard for the laws that govern our beloved symbol.

Wearing the American flag as a cape is desecration. Images (like assault rifles) overlaying the flag is desecration. Taking down the American flag, and leaving it on the ground, to hang a Trump flag? Desecration. Flying Confederate and Nazi flags above the American flag is a major desecration.

And finally, while this act is not specifically mentioned in the federal laws and guidelines, I am going to assume that beating a police officer with the flag is a desecration as well.

Karla Thomas, Hempfield

Gang of eight’s loyalty to Trump

Eight Republican members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives signed a letter (Dec. 31) and subsequently voted (Jan. 7) to object to Pennsylvania’s certification of electors. They accuse the governor, secretary of state, Pennsylvania Supreme Court and attorney general as accomplices in “unlawful actions.” Prove it. They can’t.

Their remedy would be to throw out millions of legal votes so they can name a winner. President Trump lost the election because he is Trump, not because it was stolen or by fraud. You eight were willing participants in spreading a false narrative. Your blind loyalty to Trump (you can no longer hide behind the cloak of “defending election integrity”) is beyond disgraceful.

More disturbing is this statement from your letter: “This very unfortunate, volatile and distressing situation is due to a lack of respect and regard for the law.” How prescient! To Rep. Guy Reschenthler, tweeting “Donald Trump is the BEST president since Lincoln” hours before the Capitol was stormed puts on display your fealty to Trump.

I can only imagine that each of you was upset that you could not join the mob outside as you were occupied in trying to spread rot in our democracy from the inside. God bless America and shame on you.

Michael B. Hartung, Greensburg

Biden could ‘promote life’ as president

Richard Patton’s premise in his letter “As president, Biden must support Roe v. Wade” is a laughable rationalization. He said that “practicing Catholic” Joe Biden will have presidential power to halt federal capital punishment but is powerless to address abortion and “undo Roe v. Wade.”

A “practicing Catholic” president who is “supposed to promote life” would use his enormous influence to limit almost all abortion by promoting legislation, influencing Congress and nominating sympathetic candidates for the judiciary.

Will Biden move in that direction? Only in our dream. Clearly he is a CINO (Catholic in name only).

Mark Klingensmith, Greensburg

Let’s put an end to the Trump bashing

Will we not be happy or get satisfaction until we nail Donald Trump to the cross or burn him at the stake? We preach as per Joe Biden that we should practice civility, unity, equality and fairness, so can we just once and for all let this go? If you all practiced what you preach, you would just give it a break and let it go.

Cheryl Koloshinsky, Latrobe