Dear Leaders:

I am writing today, greatly concerned over the suppression of political debate in our state legislature. It is no surprise that New Mexico is following the national trend of using accusations of racism to silence political opposition. This dangerous use of division is at obscene levels and has undoubtedly added to the violence we have witnessed in American cities over the past year.

Acts of violent racism must be dealt with, however, each time racism is used as a catch phrase, it undermines the gravity and legitimacy of real victims of racist acts. New Mexico’s history clearly has an oppressive past, but our more recent New Mexico experience has been one of relative unity and tolerance. Despite this, anyone watching the last legislative session would think New Mexico is an extremely racist place to live.

Members of the Democrat Party regularly use terms such as “marginalized peoples,” “institutional racism,” and “implicit bias” to avoid having to answer legitimate policy questions. While this may be an effective way to shut down opposition, it does not benefit us as a lawmaking body. The very thing we are elected to do is to craft and debate policies that benefit all New Mexicans, regardless of skin color.

Not only has this tactic been used to chill debate, it has been used to justify advancement of policies that are harmful to minority communities. It is infuriating to hear legislators say that Navajo coal miners who make $80,000 a year are somehow better off without a job because it slows climate change. To further call them victims of systemic racism, while they stand in unemployment lines, is nothing more than gaslighting.

If this were not bad enough, absolutely zero attention was paid to the racially insensitive comments made by Representative Stansbury. When she was asked how these Navajo workers were going to replace their high paying jobs, she flippantly said “they can sell their art or their wool.”

Why were these comments not plastered all over social media or in local news? I can only surmise that her comments were ignored because she is a “well-meaning,” white, progressive Democrat who is running for Congress. Her comments, and many others for that matter, speak volumes to the condescending and paternalistic racism that has invaded the Democrat Party. If she were a Republican, demands would have been made for an immediate apology for her comments and she would have been asked to resign.

It is incredibly insulting for elitists to think that minorities are incapable of survival without their help.

As a Hispanic who is married to a Native American, and having raised four children in New Mexico, I maintain that our successes and failures are our own, even when progressives pass laws that kill jobs and disincentivize hard work and success. It is the very essence of racism to pass laws that undermine self-sufficiency. To then praise the benevolence of White progressives for their compassion is outrageous. Progressive’s crippling policies and divisive language are a direct attack on our self-reliance, our sense of purpose, and our pride.

My parents taught me that we must never allow racial ignorance to undermine our success in life, neither is their racist behavior an excuse for our own. My father (who was pulled out of school in the third grade) and my mother (who left school after eighth grade) owned and operated several successful small businesses together. They taught me that there are no excuses for failure and that you can overcome anything with hard work and a sense of purpose.

If the aggressive race-baiting that is prevalent in the legislature were not bad enough, gender is also being used to divide us. Accusations of sexism and bullying have reached a fever pitch. I will not repeat what the Santa Fe New Mexican and Albuquerque Journal reported in Sunday’s papers regarding sexism in the legislature except to say that Senator Stewart holds the most powerful position in the Senate. She determines all committee assignments, as well as every chairmanship. I thought that being a victim was directly related to a lack of power. Senator Stewart is not a powerless victim in this legislative body.

We have crossed a dangerous line when one of the most powerful people in the state is allowed to claim victimhood in order to avoid debate. With that said, I cannot imagine Leader Stapleton resorting to similar claims of being bullied. Just ask former Representative Ruiloba. If a policy cannot stand on its merits during an aggressive debate, it is probably not because of institutional racism, toxic masculinity, or gender inequality. It is likely because it is just bad policy.

We are nearing a tipping point on claims of racism and sexism as a trump card in every debate. Progressives have crossed the Rubicon of using patronizing language, and unfortunately, too many people now believe their future is in someone else’s hands. At some point, this divisiveness will create an abyss that consumes all genuine thought, debate, and reason. And along with that will go any sense of purpose and personal responsibility.

If progressive Democrats are determined to continue this demeaning and dangerous tactic, we should perhaps change the words of our New Mexico pledge of allegiance to reflect, ” … perfect disunity among divided cultures.” I, however, have another idea. Traditional New Mexicans need to take back our state from outside influences that divide us over every tiny difference, and instead find common ground despite our differences. I think this new concept is called tolerance.

With all due respect,

Rod Montoya
House Republican Whip