Advice to Democrats in Congress: Stop talking about the political price of impeachment.
Stop talking about the public opinion polls on impeachment and the need to “bring the public along.”
You are conducting an investigation and trial into the conduct of the president of the United States because that is your constitutional duty. The Constitution specifically protects us from elected leaders who would sell our country out to foreign interests.
So, stop talking about the political price, the congressional seats won or lost in 2020, as if that should matter. People have lost a lot more than a seat in Congress defending the Constitution.
Americans have died fighting for this country.
Any sacrifice the Democratic Party makes pales by comparison.
If Republicans gleefully point out that public opinion has not yet shifted in favor of impeachment, you must respond, “We don’t care. I don’t care. You don’t put your finger in the wind before deciding whether to fight for your country.”
Stand tall. Be proud. You are doing the right thing. Have faith that the American people will respond if you act as if you put country first and not your paycheck.
If news talk show anchors insist this is just a political process, a popularity contest, not a real trial based on facts, respond with indignation.
“Our president has violated his oath of office. This is actually far more important than someone committing a common crime. This is about Donald Trump announcing his willingness on TV to seek foreign assistance to win an election.”
Try saying this, “We believe the American people will support us in the end, but if they do not so be it. Our country was built on ideals and those beliefs have been a shining light to people battling tyranny for more than 200 years. We do not take public opinion polls to see if our fellow Americans will support the Constitution.”
Some people will mock you.
Republicans will proudly talk about their base and how it has not wavered, no matter what Donald Trump has done while in office. They have chosen Trump over the country.
You must show the American people that you put country first. Stick to the facts. Stick to the evidence.
Trump has chosen to believe Russian President Vladimir Putin over the intelligence agencies of the United States … all of them. He refuses to believe that the Russians interfered in our elections. He refuses to believe they are planning to do so again in 2020.
Trump asked Ukraine to invent dirt on a political opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, and threatened to withhold financial assistance if it refused to do him this favor.
That sounds like a mobster suggesting to a bar owner that he buy some protection for his establishment. If that’s not extortion, I don’t know what is.
When Republicans or talking heads on the TV news ask Democrats if the impeachment trial of Donald Trump will harm the presidential campaigns of senators running for president, here is what they should say:
“Shame on you for asking that question. The impeachment of Trump is more important than any of our political campaigns or our futures in public office.”
Act as if you are serious. Act as if you are jurors who will not be intimidated.
Each time you indulge in the political gamesmanship popular on CNN or Fox, you imply this is a frivolous pursuit. Politics as usual in America.
Remember the words of a fellow Democrat.
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
That was President John F. Kennedy, who wrote the book on “Profiles in Courage.”
Today you are far more than politicians. You are fighting to save our form of government.
Act like it.
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