There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution. Liz Cheney
Cynics are saying that when David Valadao voted to impeach Donald Trump — he was one of only ten House Republicans to do so — he was acting on a political calculation. Valadao’s 21st Congressional District is purple — its voting demographic is almost equally balanced between Republicans and Democrats. Some political insiders are saying Valadao was only trying to garner votes from Democrats when he voted for impeachment.
While it’s easy to be cynical in this era of “alternative facts,” we would like to believe that when he voted to impeach, David Valadao was simply doing his duty to uphold the Constitution. We’d like to believe David Valadao knows you can’t claim the moral high ground when your judgment and principles have sunk to subterranean depths.
We’d also like to believe that David Valadao knows that the common ground America has always stood on is formed of certain unshakeable beliefs, including the proposition that no one is above the law; that he is committed to free and fair elections and majority rule and that he chooses science, reason, and law, instead of superstition, privilege, and power, and that he believes the truth shall set us free.
This common ground we stand on has endured civil and world wars, racism, hate, and xenophobia; it has withstood greed, envy, and anger, and borne the weight of lies, calumny, and rancor without crumbling. We’d like to believe that when he voted to impeach, David Valadao, like Liz Cheney and eight other brave Congressmembers, was using the evidence of his eyes and ears to reject lies and treason and uphold the law.
While Kevin McCarthy, Devin Nunes and other Valley Republicans cowered under Donald Trump’s dark shadow, David Valadao had the courage to stand on the solid ground of principle and reject the fickle winds of favor.
Valley Republicans who are calling for unity and compromise without condemning sedition and insurrection will never convince anyone other than themselves that they value or even understand the most the most fundamental principles of our nation, including the peaceful transition of power and the supremacy of the rule of law.
Those same Valley Republicans who condemn violence without acknowledging the stark truths spoken by Republican Liz Cheney when she said,
“The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing,”
will forever be haunted by the knowledge that they quailed and ran when a brave few of their fellow party members stood strong.
As for those who question David Valadao’s sincerity solely on the basis of his party preference, may we all remember that common ground is by definition shared by all our people, regardless of race, color, creed or party. Instead of questioning the motives of those who defend it, we should celebrate their valor, for as soon as we attempt to undermine the foundation they stand on, so do we undermine our own.
The soul of this nation has always been animated by those few leaders who choose courage over fear and principle over party. History will show that David Valadao was one of a minimal few Republicans who stood strong for duty, truth and honor. It will remind us that it is always those minimal few who consolidate our common ground so that we can continue our long march forward toward liberty and justice for all.
So, you are saying that every other Republican is not honorable? Too bad responsible journalism is gone in this venue. I can assure you, that most of the Democrats don’t utilize honesty and integrity as a basis for ‘serving’. Why is it, that the entire state is shutdown, except of course Sacramento. ? Hmm, Honor among thieves is the order of the day with both sides of the aisle.
How can you call someone honorable if they refuse to call out literal treason?
Why the ‘whataboutism’? If your point is to challenge the assertion that “every other Republican is not honorable”, then let’s stick to that. Do you agree that he stood out from the Republican crowd and agreed with most Americans that this was a treasonist attack on our Congress, our country? If not, why?
Well said. We shouldn’t question his motives. I’m no fan of Valadao’s stances on major issues, but in this case he did the right thing. Good for him.
You make a good point, one we forget too quickly. First we are all human beings, then we grow up in a political party or religion and believe it is the one and only true answer. Let us commend him for his actions, he did do the right thing.
What happened on that day of Epiphany was shocking to anyone who believes in our constitutional democracy and the rule of law and it was heart stopping to the legislators who were present in congress that day . The attack had the potential to destroy our country’s peaceful transition of power if the terrorist attackers had found the lawmakers inside the house. The attack was encouraged and supported by the president of the United States. I am delighted by David Valadao and the other nine republican who voted to impeach the president. It saddens me that the other house republicans coward to the pressure of a lying and corrupt president and his handlers.