The 4th of July celebration of America’s independence is a day that the American people look forward to as time of unity and harmony of purpose. It’s a day to honor those who have sacrificed to shape and maintain the freedoms that we all cherish.

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Unfortunately, there are many charlatans who seek only to exploit the day and its significance. They wear patriotism like a mask in order advance their own personal agendas of power and greed. Those charlatans are known better as the Republican Party. Particularly as represented by their Dear Leader, Donald Trump.

RELATED STORY: Trump Drops an Utterly Unhinged Harangue to Celebrate Himself on the 4th of July 2022

This year the usual GOP suspects are out in force spreading their disingenuous Independence Day greetings. And in doing so, they conveniently forget all of the anti-American things they’ve done for the past year(s) that are contrary to the nation’s principles.

Fortunately, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich is on the lookout for the right-wing hypocrisies. And he posted an Independence Day video (see below) that calls out the pseudo-patriotic pretenders. He begins by saying that…

“Republicans claim they love America. But they sure don’t seem to like the American people. They consistently oppose reforms that a majority of American believe would make their lives better. Like raising the minimum wage, paid family leave, and student debt relief.”

Reich then enumerates the positions of the Republican Party that are starkly at odds with the rest of the country. And it’s a long list. He notes that…

• Republicans have an aversion to American cities, “which is where 80% of Americans live.” But they also legislate against rural areas by opposing the expansion of Medicaid and food stamps.
• Republicans reject climate change, and they subordinate the interests of citizens to those of corporations that pollute the environment and abuse the land and waters.
• Republicans pretend to revere the military, even as they cut their benefits and healthcare.
• Republicans attack core American values by suppressing freedom of speech, implementing book bans, and imposing religion in violation of the doctrine of separation of church and state.
• Republicans assault democracy by passing laws that make it harder to vote, punishing legitimately elected officials, and making baseless allegations of election fraud in order to overturn results that they don’t like.

It’s hard to find anything that remotely resembles patriotism in the Republican mindset. And Reich does an excellent job of summarizing it. He closes by saying that…

“It’s time to stop letting Republicans claim the mantle of patriotism without actually being patriots. Patriotism means loving freedom. Freedom to make your own healthcare choices. Freedom to choose who and how you love. Freedom of speech. Freedom of assembly. Freedom to unionize. Freedom also means wanting Americans to be free from the fear of gun violence. And free from crushing student debt.

“Above all, patriotism involves strengthening our democracy. True patriots don’t put loyalty to their political party above their love of America. True patriots don’t support an attempted coup. Now is the time for the rest of us to reclaim patriotism and affirm its true meaning.”

In the meantime. Trump was up at 2:30 AM to post a profane, and typically Trumpian, Independence Day message…

TOTALLY NORMAL?

Trump was up at 2:30AM to post a profane Independence Day message making 2 insane points…

1? He still thinks that he won the 2020 election.
2? His proof is that Democrats are not cultists who feel compelled to dress up in a wannabe messiah's fashions. pic.twitter.com/VBTJztHa0s

— News Corpse (@NewsCorpse) July 4, 2023

Sadly, a new tradition seems to be emerging for the 4th of July – mass shootings. There have been two this year (so far). Let’s hope this new ritual doesn’t become routine. Last year there was one that was memorialized by the GOP’s Shadow House Speaker, Marjorie Taylor Greene…

SEE THIS: Marjorie Taylor Greene Says July 4th Mass Shooting Was a ‘False Flag’ to Advance Gun Control

Have a happy, safe, and sane 4th of July, everybody.

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