The House Judiciary Committee has voted to impeach President Trump. But in fact, it is only the Democrats on that Committee who have voted to impeach. Every single vote in the process was 23-17, i.e. all Democrats on one side and all Republicans on the other.
This has led some to call impeachment “a partisan issue.” But that’s simply wrong. The issue of impeaching this lawless President is an issue of defending the Constitution and protecting the nation. What is “partisan” is a Republican Party that continually puts Party ahead of Nation.
This ugly truth about today’s “Trump Party” must be brought home to the American people, in whatever effective ways can be found.
Here’s a proposal for one such way to demonstrate to the American people that
Democrats are being faithful to their oath of office, while the Republicans are violating theirs; Democrats are acting in response to the important truth about Trump’s Presidency, while the Republicans are lying to defend the indefensible; Democrats are acting as the patriots in the matter of impeachment, while the Republicans are betraying the nation.******************************
Democrats should public pronounce this challenge to the Republicans in Congress:
“Hey, Republicans, we challenge you to a contest: let us compete to persuade the American people that it is the other party that is being partisan, putting their own personal/partisan interests ahead of the good of the nation.
“Let’s use this impeachment process as a field of battle to have it out.
“We are confident that we can show that you’re lying when you try to persuade the American people that we Democrats are being partisan in pursuing this impeachment of Donald Trump.
“There’s an abundance of evidence to be presented to the people that the situation imposes on us a constitutional duty of the highest importance—a duty so important that we are obliged to fulfill it even if it is politically disadvantageous to us. And we note that your statements, when they are not irrelevant, are evidence-free.
“And we know that you know yourselves to be the real partisans here. You must know, since there are so many reports – from press and from members of Congress – that off-the-record a great many Republicans in Congress recognize that Trump is a threat, but then go out and publicly lie for him because of your personal and partisan political interest.
(“Lie for him”: (See for example what former congressman Dent reported days ago, namely that some of his former colleagues in the House of Representatives have privately told him they are "absolutely disgusted and exhausted by the President's behavior."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/29/politics/charlie-dent-congress-trump-behavior-cnntv/index.html )
“The people will see that, for own political advantage and partisan interest, you Republicans make yourselves the servants of a President who has been more systematically lawless -- committed more impeachable offenses -- than any President in history.
“So we challenge you to a duel. Let us use this impeachment process as a field of battle to debate which of us is on the side of America here, and which of us is putting party ahead of nation. Partisan in a political battle with very high stakes for the future of American democracy.
“We challenge you to this duel in order to expose you to the American people, to show then people that the way you’re trying to protect Trump is an especially appalling and dangerous kind of partisanship.
“Appalling when a party violates its oath of office so wantonly, without it even seeming like a speedbump or something that concerned them. Dangerous when a party is so consumed with the selfish spirit of partisanship – and indifference to the common good – that what will hurt or help the nation hardly enters their partisan decision-making calculus.
“To be partisan in that way is especially destructive. And we look forward to showing the American people that you’ve been partisan in just this way throughout this years-long process in which ‘the rule of law’ has worked desperately to contain a lawless President. Throughout the Mueller investigation, you Republicans have acted as accomplices in the obstruction of justice—from Nunes to the attack on the FBI.
“And now, even as the lawlessness of this President, and this President’s clear indifference to the interests or well-being of the nation he leads, are being clearly displayed in the impeachment process, you Republicans continue to do his bidding, support his effort to defeat the forces of law and the Constitution with your lies and distractions.
“Let’s duel on the question, ‘Who Are the Partisans Here?’ – adding to the impeachment question itself a new contest to capture the interest of the American people. We will show that it is you who have turned our necessary impeachment process into a partisan political war.
“And so the question of the moment isn’t just about the President’s removal. If you are willing to defend this President, the other vital question of the moment is, “Which political party is willing to hurt the nation for its partisan benefit, and which is protecting America and its people?”
“These questions -- “Who are the Partisans in this Impeachment Battle?” – and “Who Are the Patriots In It?” – provides a good battlefield for us to fight it out over impeachment itself. For the answers to those questions bring into clear relief the truth of this President’s criminality and corruption that you have tried to obscure.
“If you Republicans in the Congress persist in fighting against us to protect this President, let’s have it out on that battlefield.
“We are confident how that battle will turn out—because we expect the American people to come to know what you and we already both do know: that Trump is a threat, and you haven’t been straight with your supporters about that since he took over your party.
“We both know that truth. And we are confident that you won’t capture our supporters, because they won’t believe your lies. And meanwhile we will work to reach your supporters with the truth shown by the overwhelming evidence of important impeachable offenses.”
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NOTE: This piece can be seen as one more in a series of pieces I’ve posted here in the past few weeks— all of which are variations on the theme that Democrats should increase the intensity of their rhetoric in exposing the Republicans for their completely disgraceful and shameless conduct in protecting a President who is threatening the rule of law and our constitutional order. (If this isn’t the time to go all out in pressing the battle, when would be?)
Previous pieces along those lines have been:
“Remember, It’s Not Just Trump But Also this Disgraceful Trump Party That Must Be Defeated”
“Dems: Don’t Let the Rs Outshout You”
“Barr Cannot Be Allowed to Get Away With This: In Praise of Holder’s Take-Down of This Corrupt AG