In 1774 the English philosopher Edmund Burke said “Your representative, owes you not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.” Inherent in this statement is that elected officials who tend to have access to more information than the general public should seek to inform their constituents not simply parrot their opinions and prejudices.

In the senate hearing on terrorism, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, seen in the above photo posing with former Senator Kelly Loeffler and former KKK leader Chester Doles, pretended incredulity when he was informed by DNI Director Avril Haines that racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism was more of a threat to Americans than ISIS, Al Queda or Hezbollah. 

One has to question why Senator Cotton’s response was one of skepticism. Perhaps as one reflects upon his supposed incredulity, it becomes apparent that a segment of the good Senator’s supporters are themselves extremists as described by the DNI director. It  It must be remembered that in 2017, the FBI reported that white supremacists posed a “persistent threat of lethal violence” that has produced more fatalities than any other category of domestic terrorists since 2000.” 

Nonetheless, it was the good Senator who voted against “The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act” which would have provided the Department of Justice with additional tools to detect white extremism as well as other threats to Americans.

Senator Tom Cotton has a history of making statements which could lead one to scratch their heads about his ignorance or performative stupidity for the benefit of his constituents. On slavery Cotton said “As the Founding Fathers said, it was the necessary evil upon which the union was built.” Perhaps it should be explained to Cotton that slavery was not a necessary evil but a chosen one which ultimately led to the death of hundred of thousands Americans due to the Civil War, racial discrimination and tensions which exist even today.

During another hearing on the military Cotton said “Mr. Secretary: We’re hearing reports of plummeting morale, growing mistrust between the races and sexes where none existed just six months ago, and unexpected retirements and separations based on these trainings alone” Senator Cotton, a Harvard University graduate, would have you believe that racism and racial tensions didn’t exist before the present administration. Once again these comments are not meant to inform his constituents but rather to appease the ignorance and lack of knowledge that exists within his state. 

Whether the Senator from Arkansas is racist remains a legitimate question. Perhaps as Root columnist Stephen Crockett said about Cotton “So, it’s with that in mind that I say Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton is not a racist: he just appears to suffer from a lot of racist symptoms, says a lot of racist shit and fights to keep racism alive.”

Like most politicians Senator Cotton’s, whose net worth is now estimated at million dollars when it was only $400,000 in 2018, main priority is not to benefit his constituency but to maintain his power and authority. 

Unfortunately, because of his willingness to cast a blind eye to the reality of domestic terrorism for political expediency he gives tacit permission to its continuance. Perhaps it’s because the primary targets of domestic terrorists will not look like the people who will cast a vote for the Senator. 

Cotton is the same senator who criticized the insurrectionists of January 6th but condemned the January 6th committee for investigating the violent actions of that day. 

Cotton is not unique in his willingness to aid and abet the ignorance of his constituents. He is one in a long list of politicos, these days normally Republican, who profit off keeping their constituents ignorant about the history of this nation. 

The reality is that America was not made great, and the desired destination of immigrants across the globe, because of a Leave it to Beaver innocence but largely in part because of the genius of its founding documents which enable its citizens, albeit at times with great consternation to the dominant culture, to be free and live out their dreams and aspirations.

At times that greatness has come at a great cost. From the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Civil Rights movement, Women’s Liberation movement and other movements for freedom the greatness of America has been built upon the backs and blood of those who yearn to be free. 

Senator Cotton and others like him disparage the greatness of America by ignoring its innate ability to overcome its historical and devastating shortcomings through protest, the courts and sheer electoral politics to become a more perfect union.

While Edmund Burke’s comment has its drawbacks, the one part of that statement that clearly describes Senator Cotton in his desire to keep his constituents ignorant is that he has betrayed his state and the nation.

At some point Senator Cotton won’t even be a footnote in history unless future academics discuss how politicians use ignorance to build their own wealth and power. 

Sadly however, Cotton won’t be the last of this style of politician. Nonetheless, it is up to those who fight for the full potential of America to constantly call out people like Cotton who like to portray themselves as patriots but in reality do great harm to this nation by their hunger for power at any cost.