I spent yesterday knocking doors in Hixson with my daughter Meg, who’s running for Congress. Hoo boy, voters do not like Chuck Fleischmann.

Officially we were calling on independent or Democratic voters. But even when a Republican answered the door, as soon as Meg said, “I’m running against Chuck Fleischmann,” the person would respond with an enthusiastic “You’ve got my vote!” It was remarkable. I just drafted behind her. 

People gave various reasons for disliking Chuck, but few mentioned what should have been the top reason: he has undermined public trust in our elections. Chuck hasn’t been the Biggest Liar, but after two years and zero corroborating evidence, he also hasn’t disavowed the Big Lie. He’s more of a Cowardly Liar.

Until 2016, I never thought about how much our country’s stability depends on the honor system and political courage—the willingness to play by the rules, accept verifiable truths, and speak out against untruths. Since Donald Trump set the precedent, the willingness to lie, or to stand with liars, has become a virus infecting an entire political party.

Since the pandemic, my opponent has made “vaccine freedom” a central part of his political brand. A couple of weeks ago, he tweeted out a graphic apparently in support of a Tennessee law undermining our collective ability to protect students from measles and other childhood diseases.

Demonizing vaccines has turned out to be a potent political strategy in red states. It’s also a dangerous one. If elected leaders would undermine public health for political reasons, would they also undermine American democracy? Where would they draw the line?

Chuck failed the democracy test, like every Republican congressman from Tennessee. I’ve seen nothing from our Republican state legislators that indicates they’d become profiles in courage if democracy were at stake—and it is.

Vote accordingly.

Allison
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