Are Republicans Slitting Their Own Throats By Echoing Trump On Impeachment?

Coup d'état by Nancy Ohanian

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin made an important point in regard to the impeachment inquiry and the Trump enablers yesterday: "One of the critical components of this story is the absolute moral degeneration of the Republican Party. They’re behaving like members of a religious cult." What were Republicans saying about Trump's outrageous tweets in the middle of Ambassador Yovanovitch's dignified and compelling testimony before the House Intelligence Committee yesterday? Not much, other than a few lackeys and clowns who actually defended him, particularly Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Mark Meadows of North Carolina. As for Blue Dog Jeff Van Drew (NJ), he's still waiting for the Republican talking points so he can read them again. A team of Politico Capitol Hill reporters wrote that it was like duck soup among House Republicans. Although members on both sides of the aisle were stunned to see Trump’s disparaging and threatening tweet, Republicans ran for their lives when asked for comment by the press. Texas Republican Mike Conaway came closer to rebuking Trump as anyway-- "It’s not something I would do"-- but most of them punted. "Several Republicans on the Intelligence Committee," wrote the Politico team, "dodged the topic entirely. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) refused to answer questions about the tweets as he ducked on to the House floor, while Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) quickly whipped out his cell phone and began talking into it, even though his home screen was visible and there was no call in progress. And Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, told Politico: 'I don't discuss committee business.'" He actually does... all the time.

Some Democratic congressional candidates know how to use this kind of posturing by the Trumpists better than others. On Tuesday, the Post Standard published an OpEd by Dana Balter, the progressive Democrat running for the congressional seat in the Syracuse area currently held by Trump enabler John Katko.

Our democracy and our national security are in the midst of a very serious crisis. We need our leaders in Washington, D.C., to stand up for the rule of law and defend our Constitution and our country. Unfortunately, once again, Congressman John Katko is failing to do his job, instead preferring to play the role of President Donald Trump’s defense attorney.

The facts are clear. In an egregious abuse of power, Trump asked a foreign government to interfere in our election in exchange for critical military aid. He admitted doing this. The memo of his phone call with the Ukrainian president corroborates this. Text messages between Trump’s diplomats corroborate this. While talking to reporters in front of cameras on the South Lawn of the White House, the president asked Ukraine and China to interfere in the 2020 election and investigate his political opponent. Now, career diplomatic and national security officials and even Trump’s own appointees like Gordon Sondland are corroborating what’s been apparent all along: Donald Trump extorted a foreign government, withholding U.S. security assistance to force Ukraine to investigate his personal political rival.

The president’s actions undermine our national security and our democratic values. They are an abuse of power. They violate the law. And this is exactly what the framers of our Constitution had in mind when they created the power of impeachment. Their chief concerns were foreign interference in American affairs and a president who would use his office for personal gain.

Congress has a constitutional obligation to protect our nation and serve as a check on the president. They must hold him accountable if and when he violates his oath of office, poses a danger to our country, or breaks the law. By soliciting foreign governments to interfere in our election, Trump has done all of these things.

While it is not only appropriate but imperative for the House to conduct an impeachment inquiry, Congressman Kakto voted “no” on investigating these matters. In fact, he will not even acknowledge the truth that’s right in front of us. He denies the evidence that we are seeing with our own eyes and hearing with our own ears. There are two possibilities: either Katko doesn’t understand the situation, or he’s putting partisan politics ahead of the truth. Either way, Katko is failing the people of central and western New York. He’s prioritizing giving political cover to Trump over doing what’s right for us and for the country.

While we are facing a major national security threat and the very fundamentals of our democratic institutions are at stake, Congressman Katko is playing partisan political games and putting his party ahead of our country. By refusing to hold the president accountable, the congressman is encouraging further abuse of power and sanctioning this behavior for future presidents.

Our democracy is precious. It’s imperfect but it’s beautiful. And for centuries has been a beacon of hope to the world. In part, because of its imperfections. Because we are the embodiment of an idea. That no matter what our failings, we can strive-- as individuals and as a country-- for truth, for freedom, for justice. And it is in the striving that we attain grace. It is in the striving that we fulfill the American promise. This is the essence of who we are.

We each have a responsibility to protect and defend the values and institutions at the heart of our democracy. And we are called upon, at this moment in history, to rise. To rise above partisanship. To rise above personal gain. To rise above fear.

Congressman Katko’s unwillingness to rise to this moment is a stunning betrayal of his oath of office and of the people he is meant to serve. Congressman Katko: I am a constituent. I am a voter. I am an American. I call on you to do what’s right instead of what’s easy. I call on you to put our country first. I call on you to uphold your oath. This is a time for moral courage. History is watching.