I am writing to express my deep disappointment with your recent comparison of yourself to the late Senator Margaret Chase Smith. As a constituent and someone who deeply admires Senator Smith’s legacy, I find this comparison not only inaccurate but also deeply troubling.
Margaret Chase Smith was a trailblazer who stood firmly on principle, even when it meant standing alone. Her “Declaration of Conscience” speech in 1950 was a courageous act of moral leadership, a bold rebuke of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s fearmongering, and a defense of democratic values. She risked her political career to do what was right, not what was convenient.
In contrast, your record in recent years has been marked by a troubling pattern of enabling the worst excesses of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. While you have occasionally voiced mild criticisms of Trump, your actions have overwhelmingly supported his agenda. From voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to supporting the 2017 tax cuts that disproportionately benefited the wealthy, your votes have consistently aligned with the interests of your party’s leadership rather than the principles of independence and moral courage that Senator Smith embodied.
Even your vote to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial, while commendable, came after years of enabling his divisive and dangerous behavior. Where was your “Declaration of Conscience” when Trump attacked the press, undermined democratic norms, or stoked division and hatred? Where was your leadership when your party embraced conspiracy theories and sought to overturn a free and fair election?
Senator Smith’s legacy is not just about occasional bipartisanship or breaking with one’s party on rare occasions. It is about unwavering commitment to principle, even in the face of immense political pressure. It is about putting country over party and standing up for what is right, no matter the cost.
By comparing yourself to Margaret Chase Smith, you dishonor her memory and the values she stood for. If you truly wish to follow in her footsteps, I urge you to reflect on your record and take a more principled stand against the forces of division and authoritarianism that threaten our democracy. Until then, any attempt to claim her legacy will ring hollow.
