On Sunday, a number of pictures began circulating on Twitter along with the claim that Republican Senate Candidate Kathy Barnette marched to the Capitol on January 6th alongside members of a prominent right-wing hate group, the Proud Boys.
After further investigation, NBC News verified these claims, adding that some of the Proud Boys she marched next to were later indicted for breaching the Capitol and assaulting officers.
At present, there is no evidence that Barnette herself breached the Capitol. According to her campaign “any assertion that she participated in or supported the destruction of property is intentionally false. She has no connection whatsoever to the Proud Boys.”
Of course, these statements contain intentionally vague language that blurs the lines about what constitutes “support” and what is or is not “participation” in a violent attempt to overthrow democracy in America.
Setting aside the carefully crafted language of the political spin machine, the simplest explanation is that marching shoulder to shoulder with a group can be reasonably interpreted as support for that group. It can also be interpreted as participation in that group.
That support and participation can be disavowed later, or deemed a regrettable mistake, but it cannot simply be erased, even by the most skilled public relations teams.
But while her campaign’s statement lacks any real accountability for her actions on the day of the insurrection, one part of her statement is clear: She says she didn’t break anything.
Our founding fathers, who are not reachable for comment, would likely disagree.
Politics
Fetterman introduces bill to protect affordable internet access for 23 million households
The Affordable Connectivity Program expired on Tuesday due to Republican opposition, putting affordable high-speed internet access at risk for 23...
Democrats advance election bill in Pennsylvania long sought by counties to process ballots faster
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill long sought by counties seeking help to manage huge...
Trump says he would allow red states to track pregnancies, prosecute abortion ban violators
In an interview published by Time magazine this week, former president Donald Trump detailed his plans for a potential second term and said he would...
Local News
What do you know about Wawa? 7 fun facts about Pennsylvania’s beloved convenience store
Wawa has 60 years of Pennsylvania roots, and today the commonwealth’s largest private company has more than 1,000 locations along the east coast....
Conjoined twins from Berks County die at age 62
Conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations,...