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Without fail, every time an election rolls around, politicians on the left and right and their supporters make claims on how “this election could not be more important” and how “the future of this country rests with how you decide to vote at the ballot box.”

This year, of course, is no exception. But this is one of those years where the oft-repeated message on the importance of who a person decides to vote for perhaps most rings true.

Though there’s no doubt America has faced brutal challenges over the course of her history, including wars, pandemics, stock market crashes and economic collapses, and vast civil unrest, for many people it feels like we are in unprecedented times thanks to the confluence of three crises:

1) The Wuhan virus pandemic.
2) The economic collapse that happened as a result of the lockdowns.
3) The rise of cancel culture mobs and vast civil unrest, including the riots, looting, and destruction that occurred (and which continues to happen) in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.

Keeping all of that in mind, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) appeared on Fox News on Tuesday and laid out in stark terms what the GOP message should be going forward into the fall elections. Jordan made the remarks in context of the reports on how some University of Wisconsin students are demanding removal of a statue of former President Abraham Lincoln:

“Is it going to be Joe Biden or Donald Trump. I mean, think about the cancel culture mob [that] says that if you stand for the pledge now, you stand for the anthem, somehow you’re terrible,” Jordan said.

[…]

“The fundamental question, I think, for the American people is who do you think can stand up to the mob? Joe Biden or President Trump? That is really what this election now in my mind all boils down to,” Jordan said.

“Where does it end? Where does it stop? No one is safe with the mob and that’s why it is so important that we stand up now before this gets even more out of control. Stand up and say it is wrong, it should not happen, this politically correct cancel culture left-wing mob is exactly wrong for this country and this election is when we can stand up and say ‘we’re not going to tolerate it.'”

Watch:

America's choice is clear:

Mob Rule or Law & Order pic.twitter.com/BQYRcAjKai

— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) July 1, 2020

The “cancel culture” mob is after President Lincoln.

No one is safe. https://t.co/MjRY501TEK

— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) June 30, 2020

Conservative writer John Hayward made a similar point in a must-read Twitter thread in which he alerted Republicans and conservatives alike that now was not the time to whimper and cower but to step forward and stand up for what’s right:

This election should be a binary choice: vote Republican, vote Trump if you want to have police, free speech, capitalism, the rule of law, and the tiniest shred of historical memory and tradition. Vote Democrat if you want none of those things and you're up for Mao's Year Zero.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) July 1, 2020

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has set cable news viewership records in recent weeks, has also been sounding alarms bells about the 2020 election, ripping Republicans who are either meekly going along with the mobs out of fear, waiting everything out in hopes things will just magically get back to normal, or who are otherwise pandering because they don’t want to be canceled.

Carlson warned in one high-rated monologue last month that shutting down the right of people to debate ideas without fear of retaliation is “un-American” and should be condemned:

“Imagine a world,” the host said later, “where you are punished for questioning the behavior of the president or for insulting your local mayor. You probably can’t imagine that because it’s too bizarre. It is un-American but that is where we are right now. Black Lives Matter has changed the rules and here is the first new rule: No criticizing Black Lives Matter.

[…]

“Black Lives Matter now enjoys almost complete immunity from criticism,” Carlson said. “This is unprecedented for an American political movement but Black Lives Matter is more powerful than that. It has singlehandedly revised our moral framework …”

“Affirming the fundamental equality of all people is now considered hate speech,” he added. “You can be fired for saying it. Again, many people have been. This is a dangerous moment.”

Carlson went on to explain that in dangerous times like these that America needed real leadership, politicians and other public officials willing to stand up to the mob regardless of what the political cost could ultimately be come election time, though he seemed to believe it would benefit them politically to take a stand on this issue.

Moral of the story for Republicans running for election or reelection: Stand up – or step aside.