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If Sen. Susan Collins was waiting for the best possible time for her “Margaret Chase Smith moment,” I think that moment arrived recently.
On the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the founders of America, President Donald Trump gave a speech at Mount Rushmore saying, “communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11.” It was similar to language used by Joseph McCarthy during the “red scare” of the 1950s, when citizens alleged to be communists were persecuted and blacklisted from jobs. Lives were ruined.
Sen. Margaret Chase Smith of Maine finally called out McCarthy, delivering her “Declaration of Conscience” speech.
On the 50th anniversary of Smith’s announcement that she was running for president, Collins gave a speech on the senate floor extolling Smith for her courage and calling Smith her role model.
Yet what was Sen.Collins’ response to Trump’s dark proclamations at Mount Rushmore? Silence. We’re told that Collins’ longevity in the U.S. Senate confers stature and influence, yet she remains mute in the face of a hate-filled speech that I believe will be remembered only for its depravity. It’s the same silence that’s too often prevailed during this long reign of Trump.
Collins sits in Margaret Chase Smith’s desk in the U.S. Senate. That may be where the similarity ends.
Mary Ann Larson
Bangor