USA TODAY International Edition
Trump is corrupting the Republican Party
The GOP has one last chance at redemption
President Donald Trump and his often deranged surrogates seem to have decided that if he is going to be impeached, it’s going to be big- league. Huge! The most beautiful impeachment ever!
But while there’s a madness to Trump’s method, there’s a method nonetheless. It’s the final act in the corruption of the Republican Party. Trump stood in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue and shot the Constitution, and now he’s daring Republicans to call him on it. If they will not, he knows he will own them forever, no matter what he might do in the future.
It’s not just the disturbing testimony from people like Bill Taylor, the acting U. S. ambassador to Ukraine, about Trump withholding badly needed military aid to Ukraine while demanding investigations to help him win reelection. Trump’s own shamelessness has removed all ambiguity and shredded the usual fig leaves his supporters use to excuse his actions.
He’s not pretending that he didn’t ask Ukraine to do opposition research for his 2020 campaign. He revels in it and thinks it’s “beautiful.” He’s not pretending that foreign governments aren’t pouring money into his hotels in the hopes of buying some influence with him. Foreign leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tell him so. He’s not pretending that he’s not doing his best to steer taxpayer dollars to his company and profit from his office, the very definition of corruption. He‘ s outraged that political pressure forced him to back off holding the summit of the Group of Seven major industrial nations at his own Florida resort.
Republicans are now left with a simple choice. Do they swear eternal fealty to Trump and fully become his creatures? Or do they stand up for the rule of law and principles, like the sanctity of U. S. elections, that they espoused until very recently?
Immensely sad to watch
While they ponder this choice, they should consider what would happen if Trump manages to finish his term and even get reelected. He will then know that congressional Republicans will accept any outrage, and will be unconstrained by another election. In other words, Republicans will look back with fond regret on the restrained and statesman- like President Trump of 2019. It’s entirely possible that 2021 Trump will humiliate them just for his own amusement. Bullies often do.
Personally, I cannot fathom why being in Congress would be worth sacrificing your last shreds of dignity and integrity while knowing that history will remember you with utter embarrassment. And yet, that’s what many Republicans seem to be willing to do. Watching people I have admired for many years contradict themselves from one day to the next simply because Trump commands them to do so is immensely sad, not just for me but for the country — and for them.
Whatever they may think of his policies, it’s hard to believe that most congressional Republicans are thrilled that their leader is a foul- mouthed troll — and a none- too- bright troll, at that. By some estimates, 35 Republican senators would vote to remove Trump on a secret ballot. But there are far too many Republicans in the “vote no, hope yes” caucus. There are even more in the “keep your mouth shut and your head down” caucus. This has to stop.
To grasp their final chance at redemption, congressional Republicans need not necessarily conclude that Trump must be impeached and removed from office. But they do need to stop considering their short- term political interests and start considering the country’s long- term interests. Allowing a president to abuse his office for political and personal gain cannot be tolerated. American justice is impartial.
Not a spectator sport
When the president pushes anyone to investigate an American citizen for political gain and encourages a foreign country to interfere in an American election, it’s wrong. Republicans need to stand up and rebuke the president.
We must help congressional Republicans find the courage to do what needs to be done. The past few weeks have been nothing if not dramatic, but we’re not binge- watching a new Netflix series, and this isn’t a spectator sport. When history is written, what we did as individual citizens will matter, too.
Here is a thumbnail guide to political activism. Calling is better than writing. But sending a letter or an email is a lot better than doing nothing. It’s easier to speak with someone by calling your representative’s or senator’s local office. But calling the Capitol switchboard and asking to be put through is good, too. That number is ( 202) 2243121. You can also look up your member’s contact information at House. gov just by entering your ZIP code.
Give your representatives and senators a simple message: You are a constituent and you expect them to publicly tell President Trump that asking a foreign government to interfere with an American election is not “beautiful,” that he should be ashamed of himself.
Congressional Republicans have been terrified of Trump’s “base” long enough. It’s time to let them know they ought to be even more worried about the rest of us.
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