Telling the truth about lies we are told – Las Vegas Sun

By Brian Greenspun (contact)

Sunday, May 9, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Congresswoman Liz Cheney a stalwart and conservative member of the Republican Party from the state of Wyoming is under fire from her GOP colleagues and, perhaps by this weekend or almost certainly the next, will lose her leadership role in the House of Representatives because, simply put, she told the truth.

What a concept! Tell the truth and get punished. That is exactly opposite from the way we were raised and the way Americans have raised their kids since the very beginning. Remember that whole George Washington story about the cherry tree?

And it is exactly the opposite of the mandate this newspaper and other legitimate, credible news organizations have across the country. That is to tell our readers the truth and help them make good decisions for themselves and their families based on facts and intelligent analysis.

You see, Rep. Cheney insists that lying to the American people about who won the 2020 presidential election you know, the one that led to Americans storming the Capitol of the United States, causing death and destruction and demeaning our country in the eyes of the world and our own children is just plain wrong. And very, very dangerous.

And by telling that simple truth, Cheney has, at the very least, put her political career at risk. And with the number of crazy people floating about in camouflage these days, perhaps a good bit more.

If Cheney can risk so much to defend our Constitution, what should the rest of us be willing to risk and do to help preserve this democracy the Founding Fathers gave us and which far too many of us seem content to squander?

And speaking of risks, how about the thousands and tens of thousands of American men and women who have sacrificed their lives on the battlefield to protect our way of life and our freedoms including the right to vote freely and fairly for our leaders.

If they could do all that, the question looms large in most of us: What can we do to make sure that this democracy, which has lasted 234 years, has a chance of lasting another 234 years under our watch and that of our progeny?As a news organization, the first thing we need to do is make sure that science, fact and truth govern our daily lives going forward. This practice some of our former friends and neighbors have of ignoring the truth and believing the lies they want to hear is dangerous for our children and every other human being on the planet. Not to mention our democracy, which came with no guarantees when the founders first wrote the Constitution in 1787. All our Constitution had at the time was a promise of loyalty to its words and commitment to its promise from one generation to another.

So I have given much thought to what I and you can do to fulfill our responsibility to our democracy and our readers.

There is, of course, plenty every citizen can do. We can ignore the lies and refuse to live in the make-believe world that those who dont believe in democracy would have us pretend exists. Not only should we speak the truth but we must condemn the lies, whether they are uttered anonymously on Twitter by enemies of our country or shouted from the rooftops of our communities by people who willfully ignore reality in favor of some other un-American pursuit.

But there is more that we the Las Vegas Sun can do. Our readers depend on us to publish the truth and at election time, recommend to them who we believe is best qualified to hold public office local, state and national.

And we know from decades of past experience that a Las Vegas Sun political endorsement is worth a great deal on Election Day. With most elections decided by a handful of votes, our endorsement is not only meaningful but most times the difference between winning and losing.

So, as of today, we will endorse only those candidates seeking public office and, therefore, the publics trust, who accept the truth of 2020.

And that is that Donald Trump lost the presidential election fair and square; that there was no rampant fraud in our election processes across this country; and that more people voting is good and that restricting the right of citizens to cast their ballots is bad.

All of that means that if any candidate comes around before the next election to seek our endorsement they must answer at the very least one question: Did Trump lose the 2020 presidential election fair and square?

If they cant say yes, unequivocally, they need not apply. No is the wrong answer. I dont know or dont have enough information is also the wrong answer. And I will get back to you later is wrong too.

A leader needs to speak truth to power. But those seeking to lead must speak truth to the people who will elect them.

Thats where the Las Vegas Sun can help.

Brian Greenspun is editor, publisher and owner of the Sun.

Originally posted here:

Telling the truth about lies we are told - Las Vegas Sun