AINOs: Americans In Name Only

“No good ever comes out of anything done in hate, fear and ignorance.”

When it’s election time in Kootenai County, you can expect hate, fear and ignorance to figure in thanks to the Brent Regan Cult. They can neither articulate a positive vision or offer constructive solutions, so instead they leverage the triad of ignorance, fear and hate. That is, what we don’t understand we fear and what we fear we hate. They wrap themselves in the American flag, use lots of red, white and blue in their materials and tout “traditional American values.” But look past that facade at the underlying messages. They have doubled down on a candidate, David Reilly, with anti-Semitic and homophobic views with a history of promoting violence. Their PR demagogue, Ralph Ginorio, has authored multiple articles that, among other things, suggest that those not willing to conform to the BRC’s values should leave and assert (falsely) that school boards want to silence their critics when all they want is protection from those who up the ante by making threats of personal violence.

When you consider candidates for whom to vote, remember that those endorsed by the BRC are going to be beholden to the BRC, not you. Ask yourself which “traditional American values” are represented by anti-Semitism, homophobia, the promotion of violence against fellow citizens, the exclusion of those who think even slightly differently and lying. It’s time to recognize the BRC for what they are — “AINOs” — Americans In Name Only.

Thanks for persevering in what is obviously a very difficult job.

MIKE HENGGELER

Coeur d’Alene