COLUMBUS, Ind. — Local Democrats are reaching out by mail to shore up the party’s base and court moderate Republicans who may be dismayed by the divisions among the national GOP over former President Donald Trump and conspiracy theories about QAnon.
Using COVID-19 vaccinations as a hook, local Bartholomew Democratic Party leaders mailed out thousands of flyers to Columbus residents urging them to get vaccinated, and also seeking contributions.
The flyers, which arrived in people’s mailboxes over the weekend, included a photograph of President Joe Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden, stating, “Let’s UNIFY America! Start by getting your COVID-19 shot.” It also included information on how to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine, current eligibility in Indiana and how to make a donation to the local Democratic Party.
Overall, local Democrats mailed about 3,000 to 5,000 flyers to Columbus residents, each costing 16.5 cents, or a total of roughly $495 to $825, said local party chair Steve Schoettmer. The effort was funded by donations to the Bartholomew County Democratic Party, Schoettmer said.
The intention of the flyers was to “connect with the average voter” and reassure people who voted Democrat in the past election with “positive messaging,” Schoettmer said.
“I think there’s a civil war going on between the true conservatives and then what Trump considers conservatism,” Schoettmer said. “…He’s got these followers basically practicing a religion or a political policy that in normal times they would never support. So we’re trying to reach out to those who aren’t in that group.”
The effort by local Democrats came days after the House Republicans largely stood by two GOP lawmakers who have polarized the party, voting to retain Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming, as their No. 3 leader and unsuccessfully fighting a Democratic push to kick Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, off her House committees.
On Thursday, the House voted 230-199 to remove Greene from her committee assignments after allegations were raised of embracing conspiracy theories and past endorsement of violence against leading Democratic officials.
All but 11 Republicans voted to keep Greene on the committees, including Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, but none defended her lengthy history of what was described by congressmen as “outrageous” social media posts, The Associated Press reported.
The Thursday vote came after news organizations social media videos, posts and “likes” in which Greene, among other things, expressed support for QAnon conspiracies, falsely suggested the 9/11 terrorist attacks were staged, schools shootings in Connecticut and Florida were “false flag” operations designed to infringe on gun rights and endorsed the execution of Democrats, including a Facebook post she “liked” that called for a “bullet to the head” of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The QAnon conspiracy theory emerged on fringe internet message boards in 2017, according to wire reports. QAnon followers advocate a conspiracy theory rooted in the baseless belief that former President Donald Trump was fighting “deep state” enemies and a cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals operating a child sex trafficking ring. Some QAnon believers were among the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 as lawmakers were counting Electoral College votes to formally certify Biden’s victory.
Last week, however, Greene said she no longer believes in QAnon conspiracies.
The decisions over Greene and Cheney have subjected the GOP to a politically agonizing test of its direction as it moves beyond the Trump presidency, according to wire reports. Since Trump grudgingly vacated the White House last month, the party has been ideologically adrift as it’s struggled over whether to embrace his norm-busting divisiveness or the party’s more traditional, policy-oriented conservative values.
Republican leaders in Bartholomew County acknowledged last month that there have been some “differences of opinion” on Trump since the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, particularly related to the former president’s “rhetoric” toward Columbus native and former Vice President Mike Pence. But they didn’t believe those differences of opinion would lead to a rift within the party or impact impact whether Republicans in Bartholomew County rally behind local candidates and elected officials.
Local Democrats, for their part, have said they are optimistic they can gain ground in a historically Republican county and are planning additional efforts this year targeting the pandemic and other issues,” Schoettmer said.
“We think the county is moving to the left, and we’re trying to take advantage of this mercurial moment,” Schoettmer said.
