Why every Republican in Congress should be voted out

As the Republican Party holds its midterm convention here in Dallas this week, it’s notable how many Republican elected officials suddenly found somewhere else to be. Some of these don’t want to get more of the stink of a failing presidency on them.

Too late.

Every Republican in Congress — both the House and the Senate — deserves to be voted out of office for failing to do their most important job: Upholding the Constitution of the United States of America.

Amid a myriad of examples, Trump last night — in a speech that lasted one hour and 44 minutes! — said he would give every American $5,000 if Republicans hold the House and Senate in the midterms. This is, of course, illegal. And outrageous.

First, the president has no authority to dole out payola to citizens from the federal treasury. That requires congressional action. And second, if this isn’t a blatant attempt at buying votes, then what is?

So this is a lie and a criminal act all rolled into one.

Donald Trump needs to be removed from office and sent to prison yesterday. He is a liar. He is a criminal. He is a predator. He is a grifter.

Here is the oath every U.S. senator and U.S. representative takes upon assuming office:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Trump has violated the presidential oath and the Constitution from the day he failed to put his hand on the Bible at his inauguration. Attempting to bribe citizens for votes is only the latest example.

Others include undermining the 14th Amendment on birthright citizenship, violating the constitutional separation of powers by impounding funds authorized by Congress, ignoring due process requirements of the Fifth Amendment, attacking and undermining the federal judiciary by ignoring court orders.

And the list could go on.

All these are impeachable offenses. But no Republican in Congress has taken any of them seriously. Whether they showed up in Dallas this week or not, they have given our criminal president a pass.

That is a dereliction of duty that demands every one of them be removed from office for violating the oath they swore to protect and defend the Constitution.

 

Mark Wingfield serves as executive director and publisher of Baptist News Global.

 

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