Congressman Erik Paulsen, as you should be well aware, the many infammatory pronouncements by Donald Trump during the last two years are causing a signifcant increase in hate crimes. The fact that he is now president and commander-in-chief legitimizes his disgusting ideologies in the warped and depraved minds of the collective “alt-right.” Trump is providing them tacit, if not overt, approval to cause terror, violence and murder on our family, friends and neighbors. The cause and effect is clear and unequivocal. The fact that the GOP has not aggressively moved to counter this emerging abomination is inexcusable and unforgivable.
The GOP’s addiction to party over morality and country is disgusting beyond words. It is treasonous. Trump and the GOP have released the alt-right genie from its hellhole and our fellow citizens and country will suffer the violent consequences for decades to come. Congressman Paulsen, you are culpable in this offense.
Your delayed and tepid below-the-radar social media response to the terrorist act on our fellow citizens at the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center and the obscene alt-right demonstrations and murder in Charlottesville demonstrate a lack of moral conviction.
Your failure to promptly act publicly with unequivocal clarity and strength reeks of a coward waiting for its party bosses to provide approved direction. The 3rd Congressional District needs a congressman with a moral compass. The country needs representatives that understand the black and white of morality. We need enlightened representatives that independently and vigorously call out hate and injustices by whomever and whenever they occur.
You are not one of these. All I can ask of you at this point is when the neo-Nazis, fascists and other alt-right miscreants soon show up at the door of our Capitol to promote their vile sickness, and they will be coming, is that you and your staff join the many brave Minnesotans that will certainly stand on the grand steps of our proud icon of democracy and shout to the nation and the world that we will not let hate reside here.
I hope to see you there … and you can call it a town hall!
John Abler, Eden Prairie
Eden Prairie News, August 29, 2017