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“If Sen. Collins had stood up for what she must have known was right, then I wouldn’t be writing this op-ed.”
In a new op-ed in today’s Portland Press Herald, former Republican state legislator and Susan Collins Lincoln County campaign co-chair Les Fossel makes the case for why it’s time to replace Senator Collins with fresh leadership for Maine.
Fossel writes that, for the last four years, Senator Collins has chosen silence at times when Mainers have needed her to speak out for what’s right. She has failed to live up to the example set by Margaret Chase Smith, Bill Cohen, and Olympia Snowe who all made courageous choices in moments of crisis. Instead, Senator Collins has offered “tepid comments as President Trump wreaks havoc, inflames divisions and spreads hate.” Collins’ failure to fight for what’s right in the face of a dangerous and divisive president from her own party has proven that she’s no longer fit to represent Maine in the Senate.
Portland Press Herald: Les Fossel: It’s time for new U.S. Senate leadership – vote for Gideon
By Les Fossel
October 20, 2020
Key Points:
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My family lived by a simple value: When faced with those who preach hate and attack the most vulnerable, silence is not acceptable. I have tried to fight for what’s right every day of my life – whether it was in my four years as a Maine legislator, as a Republican county chair or as a co-chair of most of Sen. Susan Collins’ election campaigns here in Lincoln County. It is that same conviction to do what’s right that leads me to write this op-ed urging my fellow Mainers to elect a new senator to represent us in Washington.
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Maine has a long record of national leaders who’ve risen to challenging moments: Sens. Margaret Chase Smith, Bill Cohen, Olympia Snowe come proudly to mind. I have enormous respect for these public servants, because each of them protected us by standing firmly on the side of right. When confronted by actions they knew were wrong, they spoke out. History will know them as heroes, because in moments of crisis they made difficult, courageous choices.
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At crucial times, Sen. Collins needed to speak out, but chose silence. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, she knew last January the misdeeds of our president – but voted to acquit him at his impeachment trial. She knew the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic – but was almost mute as the president offered dangerous, unfounded claims that the virus would disappear. Her poor leadership contributed to hundreds of thousands of deaths nationwide, leaving grieving families, a crashing economy, destroyed businesses and trillions of dollars of debt.
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Again and again, Sen. Collins has been silent or offered tepid comments as President Trump wreaks havoc, inflames divisions and spreads hate. If Sen. Collins had stood up for what she must have known was right, then I wouldn’t be writing this op-ed. Susan Collins has failed to protect Maine people. She failed to do her duty.
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