Wisconsin politicians responded to the anniversary of January 6 and President Joe Biden’s remarks on Thursday. Both Democrats and Republicans had differing opinions about what the nation’s perspective should be with some calling it an “armed insurrection” and others saying that they believe the nation has more important things to focus on.
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) tweeted out that January 6th was former President Donald Trump’s fault.
Baldwin wrote, “Trump’s Big Lie incited a violent insurrection and attack on our Democracy. We must never forget this dark day in our nation’s history and we cannot allow Senate Republicans to abuse the filibuster and stop us from taking action to protect and strengthen our Democracy.”
Trump’s Big Lie incited a violent insurrection and attack on our Democracy. We must never forget this dark day in our nation’s history and we cannot allow Senate Republicans to abuse the filibuster and stop us from taking action to protect and strengthen our Democracy.
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) January 6, 2022
Baldwin also tweeted about weapons that some at the Capitol had that day. She said if people were armed with “baseball bats, hockey sticks, mace, stolen police shields, knives” to “attack our democracy, then that’s an armed insurrection to me.”
If you bring a baseball bat, spear, fire extinguisher, wooden club, crutches, flagpole, bear spray, mace, chemical irritants, stolen police shields, wooden beam, hockey stick, stun gun & knives to attack our Democracy, that’s an armed insurrection to me.https://t.co/VbTHen01QA
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) January 6, 2022
Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-05) had a different opinion, saying that the president’s remarks about the anniversary of January 6 were “divisive” and called it political “theater.”
The President created more division, not unity, in his speech today. The VP shamelessly likened Jan. 6th to Sept. 11th and Pearl Harbor—both attacks that left thousands of Americans murdered.
This isn't leadership; this is theatre to distract from this Administration's failures.
— Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (@RepFitzgerald) January 6, 2022
Representative Ron Kind (D-WI-03) released a statement calling it “the worst attack on our nation’s Capitol since the War of 1812.” Kind added that “a violent mob attempted to overturn a fair and free election and impede Congress’s Constitutional mandate to validate the 2020 vote.”
Today marks one year since the January 6th attack on our democracy. My statement: pic.twitter.com/VgxJiMsC6p
— Rep. Ron Kind (@RepRonKind) January 6, 2022
Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI-08) decided to not address the anniversary at all on Twitter.
“Just a reminder that it is January 6, 2022, and Biden policies have given Americans the worst inflation in 40 [years], a 60 [year] high in homicides, at least 2 [million] illegal aliens flooding our country in a single year, a foreign policy in shambles, and a new high for Covid infections,” he tweeted.
Just a reminder that it is January 6, 2022, and #Biden policies have given Americans the worst inflation in 40yrs, a 60yr high in homicides, at least 2m illegal aliens flooding our country in a single year, a foreign policy in shambles, and a new high for Covid infections.
— Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) January 6, 2022
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) also posted remarks on Twitter.
“There are those who would have us forget the fear, violence, and chaos of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol one year ago in an effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power—the very cornerstone of our democracy. But we cannot forget, and we will not forget,” the governor said.
There are those who would have us forget the fear, violence, and chaos of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol one year ago in an effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power—the very cornerstone of our democracy. But we cannot forget, and we will not forget. https://t.co/QDw02RWq63
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) January 6, 2022
Members of Congress allegedly had a “grief session” on the anniversary of January 6, where protesters entered the U.S. Capitol building during the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
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Hayley Feland is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and The Wisconsin Daily Star | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “January 6” by Tyler Merbler CC BY 2.0.
