With all the remarkable officers — active and retired in and around Macon County — why Madison?

Madison was introduced Friday by Sheriff Robbie Holland, word for word from the CPAC website. (CPAC is the Republican-led Political Action Conference)

The strangeness of Madison speaking at a law enforcement memorial was that he praised officers who would refuse to enforce laws he does not agree with. He alleged that in Washington he works with federal agencies such as the CIA, ATF, FBI. He derided them saying they enforce unconstitutional laws. He said he believes local law enforcement officers would refuse any law that would shut down a church, infringe on freedom of speech or confiscate a firearm. All of which he said were unconstitutional. He called officers who would not enforce such laws “great Americans.”

Let’s not forget Madison joined the insurrectionists at the Jan. 6 assault on our Democracy in the same manner as did former President Trump. Hundreds of law enforcement officers were wounded and assaulted. Cawthorne told N.C. Republicans on Sept. 1 “bloodshed” would follow Jan 6 (that was in Macon County at the Republican headquarters located in a flea market).

Madison admires militias. He flouts the law while calling himself a believer of “constitutional” democracy, all the while trying to circumvent the Constitution.

He has boasted publicly about busting out the “political prisoners” arrested for the “stop the steal” fiasco. He has backed Trump’s lie that the election was stolen.

Cawthorn has been called out for carrying a knife at school board meetings, sometimes at boards not in his district. He has been at these meetings ranting against masking and promoting home schooling. He has railed against public education. He was home schooled.

Cawthorn was caught with a gun in a carry-on bag at the Asheville Airport. He claimed he was armed inside the Capitol building during the Trump-blessed rampage at the capitol where dozens of police officers were injured, some very seriously.  

Cawthorn appears to believe his political office allows him to flout the law.  

He dropped out of James Madison University after one semester of “Ds.” Many of his fellow students there accused him of sexual predatory behavior.

Cawthorn tried to convince the public that he was headed for a career in the military before his accident. He was never accepted at the United States Naval Academy as he wanted the public to believe. Being nominated and being accepted are not the same. Politicians hand out nominations like candy on Halloween. Getting in and graduating are another matter. I also question the “full-ride ROTC scholarship” to N.C. State the CPAC claims.

Cawthorn had never held a public office until he was elected a member of Congress on a fluke, riddled with controversy.

Although he was not accepted to a military academy, nor did he join the military, I would suggest to him to abide by the honor code many military academies employ. “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.” This is honor and integrity. This code would be applicable to anyone in public office. Including Congress.

Bob Scott

Franklin