Celebrate the Republicans who chose country over party

To the editor:

It is about time we recognized the true heroes of the Republican Party.

They are not the dopey louts who rampaged through our nation’s Capitol and the moral cowards who still cover for them. They are not the ranting demagogues exploiting the emotions of the resentful. They were the unsung people not seeking attention, but doing their jobs: from poll workers to police officers.

They were Republican state legislators and governors who did not bend to pressure to overturn the elections in their state. They were Republican judges who did not allow mere allegations, unsupported by credible evidence, to disregard ballots.

They include a vice president who stayed loyal to the Constitution and the rule of law above any man. They were Republican representatives and senators who did not shy against holding their own president accountable and dared to stand on their conscience instead of following the majority in their party.

They did not win. But they showed more bravery than the majority of their party, which did.

It is those Republicans who could save the soul of the party from being lost to a band of fascists. My father was a lifelong Republican who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the sacrifices that generation made to defeat fascism, I’m glad he was not alive to see his party dishonored by America’s Mussolini.

James Tweed

Ocean City, N.J.