How can anyone support Trump?
Growing up in Connecticut, I wondered how the German people could be swept up, supporting the likes of a Hitler, or Italian citizens supporting Mussolini. Hitler and Mussolini’s deficiencies seemed so obvious, so very dangerous. And now, in the later years of my life, with 34 years of elected service behind me, I am having to come to grips with how American citizens, particularly Republicans, and those who call themselves Conservatives, could be so enamored with former President Donald Trump, whose deficiencies likewise seem so obvious and dangerous.
How could anyone support a former president, who recently announced that if he was re-elected resident, he would pardon the rioters who attacked the Capitol Building, assaulted and harmed countless Capitol police in their attempt to prevent the certification of a duly elected candidate, Joseph Biden, as president, and who also sought to do harm to those elected officials, who were carrying out their Constitutional obligation to honor the legitimate outcome of the 2020 election?
As a congressman, after each Inaugural Ceremony, I would go from the West side to the East side of the Capitol and watch with awe the now former president and first lady being ushered by their successors to a waiting helicopter, taking them to Andrews Air Force base for their final flight on Air Force One, to their home, and eventual political retirement.
Oh, the marvel and majesty of it: The most powerful person in the world, instantly no longer having such power, with our constitutional heritage providing the peaceful framework for the transfer of power; and the collective appreciation of a diverse American public, uniting in the wonder of democracy in action. The fact is, we have a new president, deserving of our support, and if not our support, at least our respect, prayers and genuine good will.
And oh, the shame of it: Donald Trump’s refusal to recognize his sacred obligations as president, to play a positive role in the transfer of power, based on his ignorance, his failure to appreciate the sensitive nature of our democratic institutions, and understand the power the office he held has for good or evil.
And oh, the shame of influential Republican elected and party officials, figuratively kneeling foolishly before Trump, and irresponsibly putting their personal and party interests before the basic well-being of our country.
And now we learn in its wisdom, the Republican National Committee passed a resolution condemning Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who serve on the House Committee investigating the deadly insurrection, claiming their action “has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic.” Really?
My God, who are these people? They condemn the representatives who are investigating the violent effort to overthrow our duly elected government, while remaining cowardly silent, in fact even worse, proactively defending the conduct of the very people who helped inspire and lead the insurrection.
Over the past few years, I have had people tell me, “I bet you are grateful you are no longer in Congress, with all the craziness going on.” They have it all wrong. It is quite to the contrary. Representatives such as Cheney and Kinzinger deserve our praise, admiration and profound thanks. I just wish I was by their side helping them.
Yes, I wish I was in Congress right now speaking out as loudly and as forcibly as I can, confronting the destructive conduct of Donald Trump, and those Republicans cowering before him. I wish I was in Congress right now speaking out as loudly and as forcibly as I can, for the future health and prosperity of our nation, that our elected officials, do their job, work together, and dedicate themselves to find common ground.
So no, given our country is facing a treacherous assault from former President Donald Trump, his followers and the very Republican Party I was part of for so many years, I wish I was there, confronting his and their insanity, with every fiber of my being.
Christopher Shays served 34 years in public office, 13 years as a state representative from Stamford and 21 years as congressman for the Fourth District of Connecticut. In Congress he served as vice chairman of the Budget and Government Reform Committees, and chairman of the Government Reform Committee’s National Security Committee. After Congress, Shays became co-chairman of the Commission on Wartime Contracting focusing on Iraq and Afghanistan.