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U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg and Lisa McClain want to veer away from a decision that put them on the wrong side of history.
Hours after rushing from the House shortly ahead of an invading mob Jan. 6, they and colleagues returned to finish certifying Electoral College votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Walberg, McClain and a third Michigan Republican, Jack Bergman, were on the losing side of a 303-121 vote against accepting counts from Arizona and Pennslyvania.
Now, as the election winners are sworn in Wednesday outside the site of the seige, Walberg and McClain embrace the democratic process they detoured from eactly two weeks earlier at the Capitol -- a stance quickly derided on social media.
It's time to "accept the results," said Walberg, who's from Lenawee County and was at the inauguration, reports Melissa Nann Burke of The Detroit News.
"This is America. This is what we do every four years to show the world that we have a free election — whether we like the outcome or not,” Walberg said, bundled up against the wind in a trench coat. ...
"We've got to go on," he added. "I hope today is a starting point of ratcheting down the anger, the passion that's out there."
For her part, McClain -- a newly elected member from Macomb County -- tweets:
Thank you President Trump and Vice President Pence for your service to our country.
— Representative Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) January 20, 2021
Congratulations to President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris on your swearing-in today. Let us rise above our partisan differences to deliver for the American people.
Bergman, who lives in the western Upper Peninsula, didn't comment publicly about the inauguration.
The election cahllengers' talk of moving on and rising above differences provokes pushback. "Rep. Walberg has the nerve to show his face at the inauguration," WDET senior producer Jake Neher replies to a News tweet about Walberg's remarks.
At Michigan Advance, editor Susan J. Demas posts Thursday:
"There is no moving on from this sordid period without accountability from those congressional Republicans who voted to overturn the election even after a coup that left five people dead. ... Those are traitorous acts and should not be treated as standard partisan games."
Other reactions on Twitter are below.
On Walberg:
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"He should have resigned long ago if he was unwilling to honor his oath of office."
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"Traitor."
To McClain:
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"Start by apologizing."
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"So you admit you were wrong and President Biden won the 2020 election? You refused to certify the election on grounds that there were 'irregularities.' The best way to admit your mistake is to resign."
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"I hope you can live with the fact that you supported insurrection, by refusing to recognize the election was free and fair.
Your support of the 'Big Lie' has forever tainted you. ... You have lost my support." -
"We will move past differences when those who spread lies about the election and promoted the attack on our capital are held accountable."
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"Will you apologize for the lies of voter fraud and trying to overturn the election?"
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