Indiana Democratic Party 1-9-21 Weekly Radio Address

Chairman John Zody and the Indiana Democratic Party 1-9-21 Weekly Radio Address:

It’s why this week the Indiana Democratic Party called on U.S. Senator Mike Braun and Members of Congress Jim Banks, Jim Baird, Greg Pence, and Jackie Walorski to resign after inciting the violence that led to this terrorist attack. Mike Braun invoked a two-month protest campaign against the presidential election results, and the four House members voted to overturn American democracy — and they deserve to be held accountable. 

TRANSCRIPT:

This is Chairman John Zody, bringing you the weekly message for the Indiana Democratic Party.

Hoosiers, this week we witnessed something that we once thought only happened in distant nations or in the movies. Instead, it was real life and on our home soil. Domestic terrorists stormed the U.S. Capitol with the intent to forcibly overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. 

These terrorists brought firearms, they carried handcuffs, and they were ready to take over the government in order to keep President Donald Trump in office. And what’s worse, Hoosiers saw a U.S. President and a Republican Party — including many within the Indiana Republican Party — incite violence as the situation became out of control because of the lies told to the American people for the last two months.

Let’s make no mistake. What we saw this week was an attempted coup and an attempt to dismantle American democracy. It was an insurrection against the United States. 

However, the terrorist attack was the culmination of a movement that was created a decade ago, bearing the Tea Party brand. And throughout the last ten years, this movement deployed dangerous, hostile rhetoric only used to divide Americans and create enemies between friends and family members. 

This rhetoric touched every issue and every moment in our nation’s consciousness, and it was used by the Republican Party to gain influence and power in our state and federal elections. This rhetoric led to the election of Donald Trump, where time and again he poured more fuel to this growing fire. 

All of this led to Wednesday’s attack. This definitely falls on the President, but we must also remember the other politicians and political leaders who contributed to the problem. 

It’s why this week the Indiana Democratic Party called on U.S. Senator Mike Braun and Members of Congress Jim Banks, Jim Baird, Greg Pence, and Jackie Walorski to resign after inciting the violence that led to this terrorist attack. Mike Braun invoked a two-month protest campaign against the presidential election results, and the four House members voted to overturn American democracy — and they deserve to be held accountable. 

In fact, the entire Indiana Republican Party should be held accountable for contributing to this movement. That includes politicians like Governor Eric Holcomb and U.S. Senator Todd Young for refusing to hold their Party accountable for the last four years.

It’s why the Indiana Democratic Party is asking all Hoosiers to join us. Issues are important, but it’s become clear the Democrats’ fight moving forward is about literally protecting the democracy we value as Americans. It’s about protecting our institutions and our freedoms. 

I hope you can join the Democrats in this new effort, and I urge those who are listening to consider stepping up and running for office yourself. Whether it’s through municipal, state, or federal elections, let’s all do our part and elect leaders who will protect our American values, and not the values of fringe politics. 

Stay safe, Hoosiers. Take care of yourselves. And mask up. 

Thank you for listening.