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Just over one month after launching his second misguided campaign for Oregon’s Fourth District, Alek Skarlatos is already under scrutiny from local community leaders about his extreme and dangerous views.
From joking about the Jan. 6th attack on our democracy that resulted in five deaths – including that of a law enforcement officer – to questioning the loyalty of National Guard members in the line of duty and refusing to acknowledge the results of the 2020 election, Skarlatos has given Oregon families plenty to be concerned about.
In case you missed it…
Eugene Weekly: Off the Rails – Local political leaders are concerned about Alek Skarlatos’ extremist views
In May, Alek Skarlatos announced his plans to run for Congress again in 2022. But in between his political races — a failed challenge to Rep. Peter DeFazio, and before that a failed run for Douglas County commissioner — the former National Guardsman turned actor has been outspoken about his right-wing views of political issues.
Skarlatos has joked multiple times about the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and has declined to comment when asked about the winner of the 2020 presidential election. These extreme views and his refusal to speak to nonconservative media outlets is prompting concern from local political leaders on if he would be able to represent all people in an Oregon district.
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In late January 2021, Skarlatos did share his thoughts on the Capitol riot in an interview with conservative media organization Newsmax: “Honestly, I just thought that the liberal media was going to use this for the next six months to demonize Trump supporters, and it looks like that is exactly what they’re planning on doing.”
Skarlatos later adds that what “bothered” him about the Jan. 6 incident was that social media was trying to shut down “the other side,” rather than let people have a healthy debate. At the time, Donald Trump was banned from most social media platforms, and Twitter and Facebook announced the companies would crack down on posts sharing misinformation and extremist views.
“January 6 was a very dark day,” says Oregon state Rep. Marty Wilde. “People lost their lives and were injured, including members of law enforcement.” He adds that this is not a partisan issue. “Democrats and independents have all condemned the event.” Most Republicans have not.
During the Newsmax interview, Skarlatos also comments on the presence of the National Guard members stationed in the Capitol following the insurrection. He says most members were conservative, meaning “We are putting them in a position where they theoretically might have chosen between people they may sympathize with or protect the Capitol building.”
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Wilde was also shocked, he says, when he heard that Skarlatos would question the loyalty of the troops.
“We serve the Constitution, not the political party,” Wilde says, who is a colonel in the National Guard and has 27 years of service. “And well, he doesn’t have to be jealous, we’d be happy to have him re-enlist, but he has to swear to put the Constitution before his own party.”
Wilde says that those in Congress take an oath to put the country above the party, but it doesn’t sound like that is what Skarlatos is interested in doing.
“And we just see the problem that causes — extremism that encourages some of the folks we see. There are already a lot of extreme ideologues who basically will deny reality, rather than face the truth,” he says.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
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