This is not 1973.

by Diane Proctor

Here are some thoughts as the public hearings of the January 6th Committee get underway. 

We have waited for this moment since 2016! But take a deep breath. We need to check our enthusiasm and remember there are sobering reasons why our Concord Indivisible actions may be more important now than ever before. 

I am an irrepressible optimist. Nonetheless, I realize that we are all living in a time of cultural silos. Proof of egregious misbehavior does not guarantee appropriate disapproval or accountability. Fifty years ago we had Sam Irvin, Daniel Inouye, and Howard Baker to guide the process — following a 77-0 Senate vote to form the Watergate Committee — as our country breathlessly watched the hearings. 

Yes, Jamie Raskin and Liz Cheney are remarkable, but it’s not quite the same. They do not carry the bipartisan gravitas of earlier representatives. What we may cheer during these hearings as obvious “truths” others may well hear as mere “disinformation” and “lies.” This is not 1973.

Here are some reasons why we need to temper our enthusiasm.

1. Not everyone will watch these hearings. 

Fox News, for example, will not cover them. In fact, Republicans and their allies in the right-wing media are planning “counter-programming” — propaganda designed to confuse, deflect, and promote “alternative facts.” 

During the Nixon hearings, the country was uniformly glued to the proceedings and, importantly, close presidential loyalists eventually confessed to the wrongdoings of both themselves and their leader. That will not happen this time. The title “RINO” will cleave to any Republican who admits to or acknowledges seditious behavior, and their “traitorous” perspectives will be too easily ignored. 

2. History teaches us some other sobering lessons.  

In 2010, the U.S. Justice Department arrested nine people in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana who called themselves a “militia.” They were accused of plotting to murder a member of law enforcement and possibly his family. When these deaths drew mourners from around the country, the militia planned to attack those in attendance — killing as many as possible. They had both guns and enhanced, super IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). They had a fully automated machine gun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. They hoped their assault would destabilize the country and set off a war that they believed the militia would certainly win. The nine were tried for seditious conspiratorial behavior, but all were acquitted. Their guns (except the machine gun) were returned.  

In 1988, 14 members of a White Power group had amassed enough war materiel to equip an impressive army — including machine guns, rocket launchers, anti-tank weapons, grenades, and mines. Several members were known criminals. They were making counterfeit money and had committed armed robberies to support a “race war” that they hoped would destabilize the country and allow them to overthrow the government. The group had detailed plans to assassinate a federal judge and other law enforcers. There were even plans to poison the water supply in major cities, causing massive deaths. Group members were tried for sedition and conspiratorial behavior. They, too, were all acquitted and had their guns returned. 

Now 11 members of the Oath Keepers and five members of Proud Boys have been arrested. They have all been accused of seditious behavior by the DOJ. Will their trials hold them accountable? It is unclear. 

Why does this matter? Sedition and conspiracy are very hard crimes to prove. When the Federal government fails to convict, it only strengthens the resolve of those determined to use force to end our democracy. As one defendant, in 1988, triumphantly cried, “ZOG was defeated today” — our supposed Zionist government. These white power militias have only multiplied since 2012. 

As we watch the January 6 proceedings, we may cheer the evidence that emerges. We may also believe that the prosecutions of the leading insurrectionists, who have been indicted by the DOJ will be followed by accountability for the real organizers, the “big boys.” Alas, not necessarily. 

3. Indictments are not guaranteed.

Even though the House committee has heard over 1,000 witnesses, examined over 140,000 documents, and viewed hours upon hours of video, there is no assurance that their work will lead to indictments…at least not soon. They can only present evidence and confirm what we already suspected or thought we knew. That is all. 

The prime-time hearings of the Jan. 6 committee may elicit a heartfelt cheer from each of us. But with Peter Navarro boldly claiming that the work of the Judicial Committee is “illegal,” and with the frightening possibility that the House will be in Republican hands in January, they may prove hollow in terms of tangible results. That’s what the Republicans are counting on.

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss has emotionally declared, “We are beginning to go off the rails. We have to fight for democracy every single minute.” Indeed. As we embrace hope, applaud integrity, and appreciate the hard work of the House Select Committee, let us keep our post cards flowing and our placards waving. 

Join a live chat during the Jan. 6 hearings. A bunch of us will be sharing thoughts during the upcoming hearings of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol. Join us! We’ll be chatting on a special Slack channel hosted by Indivisible Mass Coalition. If you’re already a member of IMC’s Slack community, you can use this direct link. If not, you’ll need to join first. Hope to see you there. It should be fun — or at least cathartic!