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Letter: Remaining silent about Trump gives consent

(Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo) Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox listens to Gov. Gary Herbert during a news conference in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, July 10, 2019.

As a lifelong Democrat, I have greatly admired Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox for his honesty, compassion and integrity as he has expressed his concern about a number of events or situations in our country. I was so saddened to read in The Salt Lake Tribune that he has said he has decided that not commenting is a better way to react to Trump because speaking out doesn’t make anything better.

I would respectfully ask: How does remaining silent help?

The foundation of the Republican Party has been eroded and sacrificed because the reasonable, well-intentioned public servants of calmer times have remained silent. Remaining silent is by default seeming to find no fault and gives silent consent or even agreement.

I totally understand that Cox has to be very careful in his public position and choose his words carefully. I understand not wanting to add to the divisiveness. However, his is a position of leadership as well, and leadership is not giving free rein to wrongs through inaction or silence. That has not been Cox’s nature and his leadership style in the past.

I hope he doesn’t abandon that in his quest for the office of governor.

Bonnie Despain, Cottonwood Heights

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