in political science, Politics, Racism & Bigotry, US History 689 Words

U.S. Congressman tries to lead lambs to the slaughter

For several weeks, the newsletters from my “representative” in the U.S. House of Representatives landed in my spam box. How apropos!

U.S. Capitol Dome
Photo by Simon Ray on Unsplash

But then Saturday, February 7, 2026, rolled around and there it was! Right there in my inbox. The title of his newsletter jumped out at me… just as he and his pitiful staff intended:  “Americans’ Safety Is In Jeopardy– Courtesy Of Democrats.”

I took the bait. I did not want to read his newsletter because he has never said or written a word that was worthy of the time it took for me to listen or read. But, I thought, Okay, what’s he preaching about this time?

In case you wonder why I chose the word, “preaching,” it is because he is a Southern Baptist preacher. He used to be the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte. It’s unclear now as to why he is no longer on the staff there, but could it be the congregation got sick and tired of his far-right hypocrisy that runs counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ? I’m merely speculating. I know nothing of how grounded his congregants were in the New Testament.

Bear with me as I quote his newsletter from February 7:

“Dear Janet,

“Spot the hypocrisy: Democrats allowed the Obama administration to deport millions and raised no objections.

“An yet, when President Trump does the same, Democrats shut the government down because they want funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end.

“DHS is not just Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); it is: FEMA, ICE, U.S. Secret Service, etc. Democrats are willing to allow multiple vital organizations that provide SAFETY for Americans to be defunded.

“My Republican colleagues and I will not stand for this.”

My response to Representative Harris:

Dear Mark,

I assume I can call you Mark, since you addressed me by my given name. There is apparently no need to stand on ceremony.

Your gaslighting of your constituents continues to reach new lows. You forget that quite a few of us are old enough to remember the Obama Administration. Since you are unaware of the difference in deportations while Barack Obama was U.S. President and the deportations your constituents with eyes wide open have witnessed during the reign of Donald Trump, allow me to point out just a few of the differences:

  1. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not hide behind masks;
  2. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not drag American citizens from their cars and ship them off to detention centers hundreds of miles away;
  3. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not break the car windows of American citizens;
  4. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not murder American citizens who were driving cars; and
  5. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not murder a nurse who was kneeling to come to the aid of a woman who had been knocked to the ground by masked, heavily armed, poorly trained deportation agents.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg.

So, Mark, I suggest you read 21st century U.S. History; read the U.S. Constitution that you swore to protect, defend, and uphold; read the oath of office you swore to uphold so help you God; and read the New Testament while you’re at it, if you can read. You are against public education, so that indicates to me that perhaps you never learned how to read.

By the way, most of your constituents were educated in public schools and public colleges and universities, so we know some history, we studied the U.S. Constitution, and we know how to think for ourselves. We know a puppet of Donald Trump when we see one.

A meme that reads, "First they came for the immigrants, but I wasn't an immigrant."

And, Mark, when you are willing and able to speak the truth to me and to Donald Trump’s face, I’ll be happy to listen to you… but not until then.

Sincerely,

Janet, an angry citizen of North Carolina’s Eighth Congressional District

The government should be afraid of its citizens, not the other way around.

20 thoughts on “U.S. Congressman tries to lead lambs to the slaughter”

  1. well done! Appalling state of affairs. I write my representatives fairly often but not sure it accomplishes much. Are Congress members are highly compromised and money drives everything. Term limits and getting money out of politics would be a good starting point. Getting rid of members of Congress for knowingly misrepresenting the truth would be another.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. It’s as if Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall and all the true patriots can’t put Congress or our government back together again. How in the world do we ever put the skids on the destruction we’re seeing every single day? The Citizens United Supreme Court decision opened the floodgates for the money. You are correct in saying that money drives everything. The “common good” is on the radar of very few in Congress and no one in the White House. Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to leave a comment.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Thank you, Rebecca. I agree, and I’m getting very tired of my “Representative” sending out a newsletter of lies every Saturday. We all pay his salary and benefits. Ugh!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Going through a tough time right now, dealing with a narcissistic, psychopath and pathological liar- a male relative and who I am astounded has support from some of my female relatives too. Mercifully, he is not in our nation’s leadership, but still there are many such as him in it. I am fighting back, yes, but it does get to me sometimes.

    I needed to read your post this morning with my coffee. Truthfully, your post has calmed me and provided comfort. Knowing that there are people, such as you, who fight for the truth, for humanity is a good thing to know. Particularly now in this our world, we can barely recognize anymore. I thank you Janet for your propensity for human fraternity and for sharing your heart regularly through your posts.

    In advance, I thank you for allowing my rant herewith in comment …

    While your leaders scare you about visitors from other nations or persons who genuinely need refuge in your country, they seemingly connive with ours in this part of the world, where true democratic governance is a scarce commodity. I explain:

    US used to be a significant safe haven for many, especially those persecuted for political reasons. Guess what? Not anymore. “USA ends visas for Uganda political refugees” screamed the headline in the New Vision (government owned daily newspaper) on 7th February; and seemingly with glee. The accompanying photo was of the US Ambassador to Uganda and another who I assume is also a career diplomat and or staff of the US Embassy.

    In the same story it is reported that henceforth, Ugandans who wish to travel to the US for whatever non-immigration reason must pay a $15,000 (about 56 million Uganda shillings) bond, refundable only if they do not violate conditions for the issuance of the visa. If the visiting Ugandan cannot afford such a bond, which is the majority of us, we are advised to ask our host in the US to pay it for us. I doubt that this is a risk many Ugandans are willing to take.

    I do not buy the justification for this cruelty, the allegations that Ugandans are “misusing non-immigrant visas.” I think it more driven by xenophobia than anything else.

    Access to the US is now for sale and for the rich only?

    What is the logic here? How is the bond going to stop “misusing of non-immigrant visas?” Is it not, in fact, an opportunity for those who can afford it to simply pay the bond, get access to the US, do whatever they want to do, including “misusing the visa?” After all, they can afford it. They can afford to forfeit the bond money. If you think of it, sincerely, what kind of people have that kind of cash at their easy disposal? Who has that kind of cash laying around?

    Mmmmm

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I don’t even know why he singled out Obama. Every president before Trump deported undocumented immigrants; the only difference, as you pointed out, is the way this administration is doing it—inhumanely and mostly in cities where the mayors are Democrats. Again, I don’t see raids happening in Texas and Florida, even though there are more undocumented immigrants there. But again, it’s not about immigration; it’s just theatrics to stir up the base. Well said. I doubt they will respond to you, but it would be nice to read their response if they do.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. LOL! That would be something to see! He would have several advantages over me: more expensive clothes, a sweet Southern Baptist preacher voice, and a typical Southern Baptist preacher haircut. I might beat him on knowledge of the government and the U.S. Constitution, though! LOL!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Thank you so much for your detailed comments and the information you shared. I am sorry you are dealing with a narcissistic, psychopath and pathological liar male relative. That has to be a difficult thing to deal with on an ongoing basis, especially if he is supported by other females in the family. I pray for God to give you the patience and wisdom you need.

    I’m glad you found comfort in reading my post. That took me by surprise! I found little comfort in writing it except to vent a little of my frustration. I appreciate your telling me that, though. I sometimes wonder if I am putting myself in danger by speaking my mind and putting it out on the internet for anyone to see. I know I have relatives and life long friends who completely disagree with me. I don’t fear them, but I have some fear of the “loose cannons” out there whom I don’t know. Such a person could find me if they tried hard enough. I have decided, though, that I have to be able to look myself in the mirror. I have to live with myself. And when all is said and done, I have to know that I did the right thing. The Republicans say that we Democrats hate America. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am biased, but I believe many of us love our country and the ideals upon which it was founded more than they do. They love the idea of an America in which white people — mostly men — are in full control of all facets of our lives. Their idea of an ideal America is one in which the rich have all the privileges and the poor don’t deserve any government services. They are systematically destroying the public education system in the United States because (1) they can afford to send their children to expensive private schools and (2) they want an ignore populous because uneducated people are easier to fool and control. They don’t think we are smart enough to know these things. Much of it is a backlash that resulted from the election TWICE of a black man. I think Barack Obama was the best U.S. President of my lifetime. He and his wife have intelligence, grace, poise, empathy, love, caring, honesty, etc. that Donald Trump is jealous of. Those of things he will never attain. They are not in his DNA.

    I am appalled that Ugandans are now required to pay a $15,000 bond to come to the United States. What person needed refuge from the forces in their own country has that kind of money? Trump and his cronies in the government only want wealthy people to enter our country now. He is putting in place a Gold Card that supposedly any foreigner can purchase for $1 million to come to the United States. I guess he does not care that many drug dealers and other criminals can afford to do that. It is appalling and frightening. The policies he comes up with are so far out of the realm of imagination that each one hits us with complete surprise. Who would have thought the United States would someday have a president literally selling entry into the country?

    The truth is not in him or anyone in his administration. That is a hard pill for me to swallow. I haven’t agreed with everything any of our presidents have said or done, but he is the first one who tells a lie when it would be easier to tell the truth. He is the only one whom I thought purposely put us in danger.

    I take courage from your comments. I plan to keep writing and saying what I believe as long as I am able physically to do so. I hold onto the hope that when the Trump regime (and I don’t use that term lightly!) is over on January 20, 2029, there will be trials similar to the Nueremberg Trials after World War II and that Trump and all his evil helpers will be brought to justice. If not on this earth, I believe there will be a reckoning for them eventually.

    I wish you good health and safety. I wish your organization better days ahead. I know things are difficult now for all the organizations around the world that in any way used to benefit from some form of U.S. Government aid. It makes me so sad (and angry) that Trump stopped USAID. No one knows how much suffering and how many deaths that alone has caused. And yet, Trump moves forward to build a $400 million ballroom.

    We are in a bad place, Norah. It’s getting harder and harder to be optimistic about the future. Hearing from people like you in other countries is what keeps me going.

    Thank you so much!
    Janet

    Like

  17. Thank you for continuing to read my online rants, Edward. It’s encouraging to know there are people “out there” who are paying attention to what’s going on. I want to shake (or worse!) the people who tell me they no longer watch the news because it upsets them. Well, it should upset them! Anyone who isn’t upset by the news over the last 13 months is watching the wrong network. Oh — my Congressman has stopped responding to my emails. I don’t even get automated responses addressing topics I did not write about. That’s what he used to send. I guess the truth hurts.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. You’re welcome, Janet. Always a pleasure. I switched from cable news to newspapers because the repetition of the same stories over and over was driving me crazy. I decided I wanted to read full reporting rather than the “breaking news” every five minutes that cable news pushes. The Economist and The Wall Street Journal are serving me well so far.

    Liked by 1 person

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