1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

On Friday, February 13th, in a conference room at a well-guarded secret location, in Scottsdale AZ, Kristi Noem walked up to the podium. She stood directly in front of the large propaganda posters that did their best to convince her fellow Americans that we are all in grave danger of losing our country to “illegal aliens” voting in elections. “We’ve been proactive to make sure that we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country.” A government spokesperson Kristi Noem announces the quiet part out loud. Not that we should make it easier for eligible Americans to vote, or protect access, or strengthen participation. But the government’s goal is to ensure the “right people” are voting so the “right leaders” are elected. There was nothing accidental about that phrasing, and there is no innocent interpretation of it. What she admitted, whether she realized it immediately or not, is that this is not about fraud or safeguarding democracy. It is about narrowing the electorate until outcomes can be engineered. It is about deciding who qualifies as the “right” American and shaping the system around that definition. And once you hear that sentence clearly, everything else this Republican administration says and does clicks into place. Congressman Smith we the voters of NJCD04 watch your votes. For a champion of maternal matters you seem to have no problem cutting off the female electoral in your district. Happy Valentine’s Day … We won’t forget you on Election Day. We will elect the right people. Those that don’t believe in liars, cheats and thieves.