Weaving a false narrative has several steps:
1. Establish a trust relationship
2. Tell a little bit of truth
3. Distort reality
4. Silence dissent
Joanna Martin, more commonly known by her nom de guerre, Publius Huldah, is an outspoken manipulator against the Convention of States initiative. She has been tirelessly meeting with Republicans, Tea Party groups and others, telling them COS is a threat to the Republic. How does she get away the false narratives she is spreading?
Her recent appearances at the Buncombe County Republican Men's Meeting (May 25th, 2021) and the Henderson County Republican Men's meeting (May 26th, 2021) provide us with clues about how she does it.
Establish trust. Convince a group of Republicans the system is rigged against them. Well, that step was pretty easy.
Tell a little of the truth. Yes, we can all agree many of our long established institutions have been taken over by those who are trying to destroy our nation. Yes, there are violent insurrections in our cities, led by Marxists who wish us ill and yes, the last election was rife with fraud.
Distort reality. Here is where her slight of hand begins: using the tired "runaway convention" lie that is such a crowd pleaser, followed up by the lesser known quip that COS is a vast left-wing conspiracy, designed to overthrow the United States and plunge the world into chaos. Apparently, it is also funded by dark money. Add additional lies about Congress being in control of a convention and presto chango, we have a perfectly false narrative. Or as I call it, a whopper of a lie.
Silence dissent. This phase is where the real magic happens. When Ms. Martin is presented with a question or alternate view, she shuts down the questioner. Several of her followers flex their muscles to silence any view other than her own. This is what cancel culture is all about. If you can not win an argument with facts and logic, you bully and threaten.
Joanna Martin and others disagree with the overwhelming number of conservative voices, highly educated politicians and legitimate, recognized constitutional scholars who support our movement. They choose not to see that Article V provides a way for "We the People" to bypass Congress and propose amendments that our self-serving government will never do on their own.
They are so busy arguing what Article V is not that they cannot say what it is. When pressed to explain what Article V is intended to be used for, they are speechless. When asked if the Founders were wrong when they wrote Article V, they quickly change the subject.
Using Article V is how American citizens can take back our government, restore the rule of law and protect our republic. This is precisely the purpose for which the Founders wrote it.
As William Davie, a Constitutional Convention delegate said, "It is much easier to alarm people than to inform them."
