Dem
47
GOP
53
We have mentioned the "Lost Cause" mythology numerous times. Basically, this was an attempt by white Southerners to reframe the Civil War as Northern aggression against the romantic antebellum South, while framing slavery as a benevolent institution in which slaves learned useful life skills for free. Now rewriting history is back again, only this time about the attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2021. And it is just as full of lies as the first lost cause was.
Donald Trump is trying to recast the riot and attempted coup as the police attacking peaceful protesters. If you like historical fiction, here is a page from the White House's ominous black & white website about the 1/6 insurrection. Here is a screenshot:
The Website basically blames then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for the riots. It reads, in part: "On his first day back in office, January 20, 2025, President Trump issued sweeping blanket pardons and commutations for nearly 1,600 patriotic Americans prosecuted for their presence at the Capitol—many mere trespassers or peaceful protesters treated as insurrectionists by a weaponized Biden DOJ." Note that it neglects to mention that all the rioters who were imprisoned or fined either pleaded guilty or were found guilty by a jury, in many cases for a serious offense, such as attacking a Capitol police officer.
Democrats responded by holding a mock hearing featuring first-hand witnesses to the events that day. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said: "He [Trump] is trying to cover up for the fact that Republicans continue to disrespect those brave men and women of the Capitol Police department who defended our country on Jan. 6. Pelosi said: "For over three hours we begged him to send the National Guard. He never did it. He took joy in not doing so. He was savoring it." Democrats offered a House resolution describing the attack as "an assault on our democracy." It was blocked by objections from Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Jim Justice (R-WV).
On Tuesday, a small group of protesters marched from the Ellipse to the Capitol, which Trump hasn't torn down yet. They were remnants of the original rioters, but they were peaceful this time and carried signs like "Trump was right about everything." Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy but pardoned by Trump, called for retribution against the Democrats, prosecutors, and others. He said: "They made an example of us, and we need to make an example of them."
Trump, of course, was impeached for egging on a mob to attack the Capitol. On Tuesday, he addressed the House Republican caucus and talked about the 10 Republican House members who voted for his impeachment. He said: "Every one of them is gone, except one. Makes me feel so good." (V)