Mark Ralston

Centre Hall

Remember when Trump accused Obama of not being a native-born American? The “birther” conspiracy?

“A Big Lie is a gross distortion or misrepresentation of the truth primarily used as a political propaganda technique. The German expression was first used by Adolf Hitler in his book Mein Kampf to describe how people could be induced to believe so colossal a lie because they would not believe that someone ‘could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously'” (Wikipedia, “Big Lie,” accessed 03-25-24).

The “Big Lie,” in contemporary usage, is that the incessantly repeated claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Over 60 lawsuits ruled that this election was not stolen, yet Trump continues to claim that he believes that the election was stolen. The Big Lie evolved into a slogan that inspired the January 6 insurrectionists: “Stop the Steal,” and which is at the heart of the MAGA political faction by “election deniers.”

A March 7, 2024 report, “States of Denial: Tracking Election Deniers in Key State Legislatures,” by the United States Democracy Center (statesuniteddemocracy.org/resources/states-of-denial/), identifies 86 “election deniers” in Pennsylvania government’s General Assembly. Supporting the Big Lie provides support to the Jan 6 coup conspirators, who are insurrectionists, terrorists (please look up the precise meaning of this term for yourself), and enemies of American democracy.

Please don’t vote for any “election denier” running for any office who does not accept the results of the 2020 election or who supports the MAGA political faction.