On Impeachment

The right-wing media is fond of characterizing the current impeachment proceedings as an attempt to reverse a legitimate election. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Impeachment of the president was included in the Constitution for situations exactly like those we are facing today. True, while our president lacks moral decency, that is not grounds for impeachment. What is a legitimate reason is his disdain for the rule of law as outlined by our Founding Fathers. Our founders put in bulwarks against the type of tyranny that is currently being practiced in the White House. The put in the Emoluments Clause as a firewall against the type of pay-for-play actions that are being exhibited ty the incumbent every day.

Where were these Republicans who claim we are reversing an election when they voted to impeach Bill Clinton for a far-lesser crime? It should be noted that Clinton was elected exactly twice as many times as the current president and without foreign interference.

These same Republicans showed a modicum of decency 45 years ago when they went to the White House to urge Richard Nixon to resign as that president faced certain impeachment – again for crimes that were more serious than Clintons, but pale in comparison to those of the current incumbent.

It should be obvious that the current proceedings are not being held to reverse an election, if they are successful since Mike Pence is just as radical – if not more so – than the incumbent. Instead, people need to understand that while impeachment is a political process, “political” is not a derogatory term. What Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler, and Schumer are doing is defending the Constitution – as they should.