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Every day, hundreds of Americans perish from the coronavirus. It didn’t need to be this way. America didn’t need to have the highest viral count and number of casualties. But the toxic mix of Donald Trump’s hostility to science, incompetence and malignant narcissism has made it tragically so.
Because the consequences to our personal health and the health of our economy have been so severe, it can be easy to overlook the other major damage that Trump is doing to our country, and that is, to the health of our democracy. But this too demands our attention.
Last week, after a campaign of smears and bullying by the White House and the President of the United States, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman retired from the U.S. Army. A lifetime of patriotic service – cut short because he had the audacity to speak out about the corruption of the President of the United States.
When he saw the President abusing the power of his office by coercing Ukraine in order to get help in the upcoming election, Lt. Col. Vindman did what he was supposed to, what any good officer would do – he spoke up and told the truth. He did the right thing, and helped expose Trump’s effort to extort an ally at war with Russia.
In perhaps the most striking moment of the impeachment hearings, Vindman was asked why he was speaking up, even though his family feared retribution by the most powerful person in the country. He offered this reassurance to his father:
“Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth.” And when pressed why he believed that, he answered confidently, “because this is America, this is the country I have served and defended, that all of my brothers have served, and here, right matters.”
Here, right matters.
And it does. That is why when Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Roger Stone late Friday night, so many of you spoke out to say, enough.
With this commutation, Trump is telling his cronies and accomplices, if you lie for me, if you cover up for me, if you obstruct and intimidate others for me, then I will make sure to give you a get-out-of-jail-free card. And trust me, they're hearing the message loud and clear.
Because that’s exactly what Trump did for Roger Stone. Stone refused to divulge information needed by investigators, in order to cover up for Trump and protect him. Likewise, Trump and the man who carries his dirty water at the Justice Department — Bill Barr — did everything they could to make the case against Michael Flynn, another convicted felon, go away.
Republicans won’t stand up to Trump, won’t defend the rule of law, won’t demand an independent justice system — not even when someone is convicted of lying to Congress. Because Stone and Flynn committed crimes to cover up for the president of their party. Trump has them so scared, they would rather remain mute in the face of overwhelming and historic corruption than do what is right or defend their own institution.
With the Stone and Flynn cases, Trump has created two systems of justice: one for Trump and his criminal cronies and friends, and one for everyone else.
And just yesterday, Trump turned the Rose Garden of the White House into the latest backdrop to launch false attacks on Joe Biden and his family. And let’s not kid ourselves, Trump’s attacks are only going to get nastier and dirtier as we get closer to November.
But even with this bleak picture, I’m still hopeful.
I’m still hopeful because as Trump continues to abuse his office, public servants are still speaking out – and in greater numbers.
Speaking truth to power, and telling the American public what they deserve to know before November: that Trump is amoral, unethical and an utter failure.
I’m still hopeful because our democratic system – though tested and battered – is still holding.
Congress is still investigating him. And the people are holding him, and those who enable him, to account.
I’m still hopeful because of you. Because here, right matters. Truth matters. And decency matters.
It may not matter to Donald Trump. It may not matter to those who enable him in Congress. But it matters to us and it always will.
Together, let’s make it clear that right matters at the ballot box this November.
Thanks for all you do,
Adam
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