It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican, no one deserves to be lied to. Lying by omission or dodging a constituent's legitimate, simple and direct question is dishonest, and doubling down on a lie isn't strength. It's dishonorable.
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MARQUETTE, Mich. - Over the weekend, at the UP200, volunteer petition canvassers were circulating through the crowd gathering signatures to help get Dr. Bob on the ballot. Our amazing volunteers approached two men standing alone in the cold to ask for their signatures.
"Excuse me," they said. "Will you sign Dr. Bob Lorinser's nomination petition to get him on the primary ballot for US Congress?"
The two men looked taken aback.
"Should I tell them?" one man asked the other.
"Yes, tell them."
"I'm Jack Bergman," he said. "I would sign the petition but it might be used against me in the election."
Our volunteers didn't recognize the incumbent. It could've been the fur hat. It could've been that he's not in the district all that often. In any case, the follow-up question was priceless. Bergman's answer was despicable.
"Jack Bergman, while I have you here, may I ask you a question? . . . Do you really think the presidential election was stolen?"
"Sorry, I'm not going to get into that. I'm not going to answer that."
Yet again, it's the fourth occasion a constituent has told us Jack Bergman cannot answer the simple, direct question of whether or not President Joe Biden was duly elected the president of the United States. He refuses. Astonishing.
Time and again, Jack Bergman disregarded facts. Even when his constituents asked him whether President Joe Biden was legitimately elected, he and lead members of his staff could not or would not answer, 'yes.'
In 2021, when asked if he regrets his vote to undermine our democracy, Bergman responded, "Short answer 'No.' Long answer 'Hell no.'" This is unacceptable, no matter which side of the aisle you align with.
Bergman has told this untruth with reckless abandonment. Unfortunately, he then doubled down on the lie and has yet to admit culpability.
Doubling down on a lie isn't strength. It's dishonorable.
"Every American has the right to disagree with the policies of any elected official," said Dr. Lorinser. "It's even dutiful to speak up against policies with which we disapprove. The beauty of a democracy is we can express our distaste for the President and speak up against their performance. Voters may not like the result of any given election, but a Congressman repeatedly challenging Presidential election results without evidence or facts is wrong and dangerous."
After an exhaustive, eight-month, taxpayer-funded investigation, Michigan Republican State Senator Ed McBroom — who represents a large portion of our district — said, "There is no evidence presented at this time to prove either significant acts of fraud or that an organized, wide-scale effort to commit fraudulent activity was perpetrated in order to subvert the will of Michigan voters."
How should Jack Bergman be held accountable for the Big Lie?
In the best way possible — by a free and fair election. It is Dr. Lorinser's hope the constituency of Michigan's First District votes to unelect the incumbent this November and hold him accountable for his dishonesty, poor leadership, and brazen disregard for the sanctity of our elections.
"I'm committed to reopening proper channels of constituent engagement and communication," said Dr. Lorinser. "When you ask your Congressman a legitimate question on the street, especially one that merely requires a yes or no response, you deserve an honest answer."
Lorinser asks constituents to use the power of democracy to bring ethical, honest, transparent, and moral leadership to Congress for Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
"I would be honored to serve in this capacity for the great people of the First District," said Dr. Lorinser. "Regardless of anyone's political affiliations, no one deserves to be lied to."
Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Green, citizens of every political party deserve to be counted and represented. We must be able to entrust our leaders to provide citizens with the truth. Honesty is the most basic expectation of leadership. Our district deserves a Representative who believes in democracy and will honor the will of the people.
"Congress is no place for liars. It's time to retire my opponent." — Dr. Bob Lorinser
ALPENA, Mich. – Citizens from all across the political spectrum are doing great work holding their elected Representative accountable.
In a recent Letter to the Editor to The Alpena News, Northern Michigan voter Gary L. Parteka describes a phone interaction with Rep. Bergman's office on Oct. 28. He contacted Washington with a simple question. Parteka told Bergman's staffer he was thinking about writing The Alpena News and wanted his facts straight.
The simple question:
"Does Rep. Bergman consider President Biden the legitimate president or is President Trump the legitimate president?"
To Parteka's surprise, the staffer told him he would have to speak with the staff supervisor.
"Are you kidding me?" Parteka exclaimed in the letter. "I have to speak with your supervisor? You're a staff member, and you can't answer this question?"
After about four minutes, supervisor George came on the line, and when asked the same question, Parteka still couldn't get an answer.
"You mean to tell me you don't know the answer to the question?"
Supervisor George answered, "No."
Parteka asked George if Rep. Bergman would get back to him and was told his request would be passed on. He then requested an email answer if possible.
"I'm checking my email every day and still no answer," he wrote. "I think in a democracy, voters have the right to know the political views of their representatives. I am disappointed that Rep. Bergman still has not answered this question. I am asking other concerned citizens to urge Bergman to be more transparent with those he represents."
The beauty of our democracy is we can openly disagree with each other, including the President of the United States. This is an essential system of our government's checks and balances. In order for the debates to be constructive, everyone across the political spectrum – especially elected representatives – must operate from the fundamentals of truth. I'm disappointed Jack can't do that.