To each and every Alaskan I am privileged to represent in the Alaska State House today:
As your representative, I refuse to step aside and throw the law-abiding members of Oathkeepers to the cancel culture wolves. While those who break the law should be prosecuted, I refuse to condemn the more than 30,000 military veterans and first responders who have served our nation honorably, have never advocated for violence and, like me, would have intervened to stop the violence on January 6th if they could have. I refuse to say that these men and women are bad for joining an organization whose only requirement for membership is a commitment to honor the oath that we have each taken as public servants to support and defend the constitution.
I refuse to dishonor the memory of military veterans like Ashli Babbitt who served our nation honorably and intervened to stop the violence and destruction of property at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Some may condemn her. I will not.
At West Point, we were taught, and I taught others, that if we were truly willing to lay down our life for our country in combat, then we should also be willing to be fired for it.” Indeed I am.
In any organization of size, you will have those who would tarnish the reputation of the organization if they could. While my connection with Oathkeepers is a slight one, having applied for membership more than a dozen years ago and never attended a meeting, it does associate me with individuals like Ray Epps. I hope that Mr. Epps has redeeming qualities. I just don’t know what any of those qualities might be. I don’t consider some 30,000 veterans guilty by association because of men like Ray Epps. As a veteran, I didn’t join Oathkeepers to associate with men like him, but with the vast majority of my fellow veterans who continue to honor their oath to the Constitution “and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof.” I will continue to associate with those veterans if they will continue to have me, and I also welcome the creation of other organizations to meet the growing need to bring together veterans and public servants to honor the oath that they have taken to the Constitution.
No matter how many Democrat legislators (or legislators like Alaska House Speaker Louise Stutes, a Democrat in all but title) threaten punishment, I refuse to participate in the cancel culture currently threatening to consume the Alaska Legislature. To cancel and punish and threaten to evict our fellow lawmakers is to cancel and punish not just them, but the thousands of Alaskans whose voice they carry into our state capitol.
I will continue to carry that voice to the best of my ability. I am well aware that the left currently uses punishment and threats to discourage conservative legislators from more ably representing the voices of the voters who elected them, both on legislative committees and on the floor of the House of Representatives. I will not sacrifice or diminish the voice of my constituents for the sake of either personal comforts or inducements at the hands of my Democrat colleagues. The Alaska Constitution gives to the people of Alaska the right to recall their elected officials. As legislators, we should not presume to exercise that right for them or threaten our fellow legislators that we will do so. These threats must end.
If my continuing to stand and represent the good people of my district in the face of such threats is what finally brings them to an end in the Alaska House of Representatives, so be it. At West Point, we were taught, and I taught others, that if we were truly willing to lay down our life for our country in combat, then we should also be willing to be fired for it.” Indeed I am.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
I have not been one to idly call for the resignation or firing of anyone. But I will say this to my fellow legislators of both parties:
Through cancel culture, critical race theory, the continued assaults upon the integrity of our elections, and the on-going violation of our national borders, the left is on a mission to tear down this country brick by brick and statue by statue. Today, the left, in the form of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Anchorage, is leading a public campaign to overturn my election, despite the Division of Elections certifying to all that I received more votes in my race than any of my fellow legislators in the House of Representatives who faced an opponent in the last election.
The time for hesitancy and indecision has passed. The future of our state and our nation require that we go toe-to-toe with the left in each of these arenas and many others. If you are not willing and able to do so in the Legislature, please step aside so that others can take your place who will. The future of our country is worth more than an easier path to winning re-election. Know that when you honor your oath you will have my support. I will not throw you to the wolves for honoring your oath, just as I would not abandon my fellow veterans for seeking to honor theirs.
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The views expressed here are those of the author.
23 Comments
It’s good to hear at least one representative in Juneau has guts enough to stand up and fight. Now let’s see how many others will stand up with him. It’s time to show your colors in Juneau and stand to be counted!
Thank you Representative Eastman!
David, I have defended you in the past, and will continue to do so. You have done so magnificently here on your own behalf. Ray Epps, as I am sure you know, was a Deep State operative, sent to induce a breach into the capitol. They will never admit it. Ted Cruz exposed them for you. Jan. 6 is merely a tool to remove focus on the Democratic Party’s complicity in the Summer of Lawlessness.
Representative Eastman should stand strong. Never apologize to the woke mob or their supporters.
I am an Ohio citizen but by God I have to stand with David Eastman on this one. David is absolutely riggt.
I may not be a member, but I swore to defend our Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC, & an oath made never dies.
semper fi ,Hold the line,keep the good fight.
The 2020 election is being de-certified…All Oathtakers that did not stand for our Vote and Constitution may GOD have
mercy on your souls as the demand of treason is forfeiture of life. It is coming, We warned and warned…
I salute you David. Standing for righteous values in the midst of incompetent and criminal government is a challenge. Win, lose or draw, we know where we stand and God is keeping score.
Agree with all above
I will be fighting/standing right next to you.
On this woke bull crap. If not we will become filthy
scum, just like the others blue states. Alaskans we need to stand together to fight this madness
What next? I know…NRA….anyone for that? Don’t think so….but you all have to take a good look at the persons making statements on issues they no nothing about. Stutes? Give me a break..she mouths off to look good and show a pretentious statement with no historical fact. Rep. Stutes is known to be an obstructionist while others are making statements to obstruct the real meaning of the words of representatives. She is a”mouthpiece” and nothing but. Stand up and keep going, Rep. Eastman, I am all for you!!!
I read your article last night and am right with you, as I always have been, David. There are a few of you who will not bend and and who stand for truth in principle and practice come what may. You are one of those who is choosing to obey God rather than man and I know your strength comes from Him because few could stand against the evil winds that blow constantly to tear you apart. If only more would be so bold.
David, these woke politicians sure know how to shoot themselves in the foot. I’m with you brother! They are are cowards and any Rep that doesn’t push back need to be primaried!
As a military and public service veteran, I proudly stand beside Rep. Eastman, in support of the stand he takes to protect Alaska against the overt acts of the socialist left jackanape’s, that continue to oppose, obstruct and disrupt those whom we’ve duly elected to represent us. Their agenda has been outed and it is prudent upon any “eyes wide open” legislator to call them out, obstruct their vote and send them packing. I call out those who go-along-to-get-along while collecting a paycheck, and never putting anything on the line. I’m fed up with giving power away and the gamesmanship that has dominated this fractured, lackluster legislature. To the jellyfish in those hallowed halls, it time you head back to the ocean of anonymity and let the tide carry you where it will, hopefully Cuba, Venezuela, China or North Korea, if they’ll have you. You’ve ignored the warnings; Hot Stove, Don’t Run With Scissors, Falling Rocks Ahead; My personal favorite: Break Glass In-Case of Emergency! Now the good citizens and patriots are marching forward to the meeting houses, election departments and the polls to confront and cast out the occupiers of those seats, who’ve have been found wanting, who are imposters and fakes, RINO’s and socialists to be sure. We have found the enemy…and we know them by name; time to clear the field. Rep. Eastman has nothing to fear from his constituents; not sure that can be said of the rest.
Thank you for honoring your oath. At 75 yrs I have seen what the “Oligarchy of the Collective” comes to. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (*61 million dead) “Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted. “Destroy the family, you destroy the country.” “the way to crush the Bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstone of taxation and inflation.” To train the children to turn on their parents and neighbors.. Do WE recognize this as yet? Or will we keep ‘hiring’ Oath breakers?
“You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Thank you Rep Eastman for standing for what’s right.
Eastman displays and honors “Freedom of Speech,” a fundamental right in the US Constitution. The Rules Committee wants to remove him because they are afraid of anyone who stands for Freedom of Speech. Public figures who are afraid to tell the truth and are easily bought by favors and election monies are the same who voted to remove Eastman and they are elected public figures – Bryce Edgmon, Louis Stutes, Neal Foster, and Kelly Merrick. Voting in favor of freedom of speech was Kathy Tilton and Laddie Shaw. Their history in the legislature is mixed and negatively concerted to defeat truthful circumstances. Eastman made no bad decision in the past and in the present. Keep him in the legislature to do good and appropriate work and tell his constituents the truth..
David Eastman I am so thankful our Lord has placed you in the position He has! You do well, you speak well, and you stand well! Your resolve is impeccable, stay the coarse, we are with you, and by the single stone of truth, you will prevail, the truth always prevails, it cannot be vanquished!
It takes courage to stand for one’s beliefs. My personal response to David Eastman:
I agreed with everything you wrote. The word “offensive” has two distinct meanings; distasteful, and to stand against or for. I always liked Martin Luther King’s philosophies and subsequent quotes; like, “Cowardice asks the Question, Is it Safe? Expediency asks the Question, Is it politic? Vanity asks the Question, Is it popular? AND, Conscience asks the Question, Is it right or wrong? ” There will come a time us warrior soldiers turned peaceful citizens must take a position, make a commitment, believe in a cause…that is neither safe, or politic, or popular. Like what you wrote, I too will take a stand, and take the position that is RIGHT. During my time working disaster relief operations and humanitarian assistance in Rwanda, Honduras, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina I was having to make decisions and choices like you described. In principle, whether I joined or not, I too consider myself an Oath Keeper. In my leadership position, I was forced to navigate between two minefields; the Rule of Law, and my Christian Moral Compass. My thirty-eight years working with lawyers taught me that the Rule of Law or ‘laws’ in general are a system of “man-made written structures” determined by societies and civil institutions as tools for political, economic and civil enforcement of “OBEDIENCE”. While the inverse better defines me; morals/Morality. Your moral compass is defined by one’s religion, society, or conscience. Therefore, “MORALITY” I would say is a code of conduct in matters of right or wrong. An individual’s ethics. (Ray Epps?),may not be dependent on structural beliefs of right or wrong. Your response was very good, and refreshing. Thanks, V/r Karl w. Speights (2022 Candidate for Alaska US Senate)
Good for you Rep. Eastman. There are worse things than death and few things worse than living as a coward.
David, in the words of Dick Winters, ” hang tough”.
Stand your ground. Many of us agree with you completely, and have no trouble recognizing true patriots. Thank you, David.
“I refuse to dishonor the memory of military veterans like Ashli Babbitt who served our nation honorably and intervened to stop the violence and destruction of property at the Capitol on Jan. 6.”
Babbitt intended to commit violence. The video, unlike Mr Eastman, don’t lie.
If you need any advice on how to stand against the hatred, demonization, disinformation, and lies, just give me a call. But, it looks like you’ve got that covered! “Stand therefore, in the full armor of God!”
Sincerely… Norm Olson, Co-Founder Michigan Militia