I'm a Republican. It's time to put GOP senators on the spot with impeachment.
Mike Murphy is a Republican consultant and co-director the University of Southern California Center for the Political Future. He co-hosts the “Hacks on Tap” podcast with David Axelrod.
'For years now, most Republican senators have chosen to answer tough questions about President Trump with essay-style answers. They usually begin by praising his conservative judicial appointments, then zig into tsk-tsking his worst tweets, zag to marveling at the strong economy and then finish up by expressing a sincere hope for a less toxic “tone” to start coming out of the Oval Office. It’s exhausting for all involved. When the essay question tactic is too risky, which is becoming more common these days, they often chose silence.
But now, it’s pencils down for the GOP. The easy-to-dodge days for Senate Republicans are coming to an end. Voters deserve stark clarity in the wake of Trump’s dealings with Ukraine, and there is one certain way to get it. The Democratic House must impeach the president and force the question on the Senate: yea or nay on Donald Trump?
The startling revelations surrounding the president’s July 25 call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have forced this unforgiving moment in our history. If Trump indeed pressured the Ukrainian government to assist his reelection campaign by interfering with our elections — and the facts, so far, suggest that he did exactly that — the president has violated his oath of office and committed a vividly impeachable offense. If he is innocent of all charges, the president could instantly exonerate himself by releasing the tape and transcript of his now-infamous phone call; instead, he has begun his usual pattern of divert, obfuscate and deny, raising anew old questions about his contempt for the rule of law.
The president’s actions are highly likely to buffalo House Democrats into voting on impeachment. The argument heard earlier this year about impeachment being a political gift to the GOP no longer holds. The new sins are too big and too obvious. Our entire national political debate is now centered squarely upon Trump and his fitness for office. It is a time for clarity, no matter what the cost. . .
This test would create an existential question for every Republican senator and representative: Why am I here? To serve my future or my country?
My Democratic friends assume the worst, seeing most elected Republicans as little more than a corrupt cartel of Trump bitter-enders. I think they underestimate the character of many of the men and women I know well who serve the Republican Party. But now is the time the country must find out. Force the question with impeachment.'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/09/24/im-republican-its-time-put-gop-senators-spot-with-impeachment/?
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