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Is This America?

John Micek on

In an emotional moment among emotional moments, lead House Impeachment Manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) shared the story of a Black Capitol police officer and the racist abuse he endured when a mob with murder on its mind sacked the seat of government last month.

“I sat down with one of my buddies, another Black guy, and tears just started streaming down my face,” the officer said, according to BuzzFeed News, which first reported it. “I said, ‘What the f**k, man? Is this America? What the f**k just happened? I’m so sick and tired of this s**t.’”

Is this America? Are we a country that normalizes political violence, that abandons its sacred traditions of representative democracy and gives into the lies and fabrications of a narcissistic, would-be strongman?

Do we turn our back on the heroic sacrifices of U.S. Capitol police officers that were literally the last line of defense between members of Congress and a mob that had marched on the Capitol, with ideas of handing former Vice President Mike Pence murdering U.S. House Speaker Nancy Peolsi?

As much as this is an exercise in holding Trump accountable for the months he spent laying the groundwork that led to the deadly Capitol riot, it is also a vote on who we are as a people and the choices we’re making about our future as a nation.

Some Republicans, still in thrall to Trump, have already shown their hand. Even with Mitch McConnell apparently on the fence, it’s unlikely that there are the 17 GOP votes needed for a conviction.

 

That apparently includes Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who, after viewing newly released and gut-wrenching video of the siege, told reporters that the trial was a “complete waste of time.”

“Look, I’ve been clear that I wish the president had said something faster when they broke into it, but, you know, I’ve watched what he said. He’s never said when somebody should break in - [he] actually said that people should do this peacefully,” Scott said, seizing on the one qualifier that Republicans have used to give Trump a free pass on months of gaslighting and direct and baseless attacks on the foundations of our democracy.

“This is a complete waste of time,” Scott continued. “It’s not doing anything to help American families, it’s not helping people get jobs, it’s not helping get the vaccine out… it’s vindictive.”

It’s not a waste of time, Sen. Scott. It’s about making sure the sacrifices of Capitol Police officers that day were not in vain. It’s about honoring the oath that you and your colleagues swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, and not the “weird worship of one dude,” as fellow Republican Sen. Ben Sasse so strikingly said.

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Copyright 2021 John Micek, All Rights Reserved. Credit: Cagle.com

 

 

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