Letter: Highlighting ‘the hypocrisy of the MAGA faithful’

Published 6:56 am Wednesday, January 21, 2026

On Jan. 15, The Astorian published a letter from frequent contributor Matt Janes. His letters are well-written as he espouses what appear to be MAGA/Fox “News” talking points, with cherry picked facts and provocative adjectives to emphasize his opinions.

While I typically completely disagree with his opinions, I haven’t written The Astorian to publicly express my disagreement because, as Robert Heinlein notably said, “Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.”

However, the hypocrisy of the MAGA faithful as highlighted by his closing statement, “in the meantime, I will support officers who enforce the law,” has made my blood boil since I read it several days ago. If Mr. Janes truly believes this statement, then he should be screaming at the top of his lungs for justice for the officers beaten trying to defend our country’s democracy on Jan. 6, 2021.

He should be ashamed that the insurrectionists who beat these officers, desecrated our Capitol, and were arrested tried and convicted by a jury of their peers, were pardoned by the global embarrassment that currently occupies the Oval Office. You can’t say one thing while ignoring the other.

In a quote attributed to Mark Twain: “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” I’m sorry, you and the MAGA faithful have been fooled.

SCOTT FERGUSON

Astoria