Constitutional responsibility

As a Republican dreading the 2018 elections, I’m genuinely concerned about the course of democracy in our nation.

If Americans read about a world leader who censored government agencies, demanded “loyalty oaths” from public officials, called for investigating and jailing political enemies and suggested suppression of the free press, there would be a public outcry against “fascist dictatorships”. Yet we continue to enable our current president in these very behaviors.

The U.S. Constitution declares that “Senators and Representatives…and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution.” This president repeatedly demonstrates contempt for the Constitution, in violation of his oath of office. Our elected representatives have abdicated their responsibility by failing to hold the president accountable.

In the military, I swore an oath to “protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” (several times). If I failed to do my duty, I’d be court-martialed and/or discharged. Any elected representative who fails to protect our Constitution from assaults by this president cannot claim to be faithfully executing the responsibilities of their own offices.

Joanne Huffstutter

Cheney