Is Impeachment the New Political Weapon? – “The Sunday Political Brunch” – February 14, 2021

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Mark Curtis, MINDSETTER™

 

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Former President Bill Clinton

A question I often get is, “What was the biggest, or most important story you ever covered?” It’s a tough call. I covered the Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta in 1996; the inauguration of the first African-American president in 2009; significant portions of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001; numerous natural disasters; and, even a College National Championship football game and Joe DiMaggio’s funeral in the world of sports. But topping them all was my gavel-to-gavel coverage of President Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998 and 1999. I find it instructive today, so let’s “brunch” on that this week!

 

“When it’s History!” – One of my favorite phrases is, “Some days I just get to cover the news; on other days I get to cover history!” It’s humbling, really, when you have a front-row seat to history. When I woke up to a Washington Post headline about President Clinton having an affair with a White House intern, I knew we were going down a rarely charted road. I mean President Andrew Johnson was impeached and acquitted in 1868, and articles of impeachment were approved against President Richard Nixon in 1974, but he resigned. So, I knew a Clinton impeachment effort might be the only one I’d ever cover. Guess I was wrong.

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Former President Richard Nixon

“How Much of Impeachment is Political versus Constitutional?” – It’s a fair question, and the answer is both. Look, in the cases of Johnson, Nixon, Clinton, and now Trump twice, there were many people on the other side of the aisle who just hated their guts and would do anything to get them out. All four men were highly polarizing figures in their day, with enemies holding daggers just a foot away.

 

“But Were There Real Legal Concerns?” – In all cases, I say yes. In Clinton’s case, many still argue that having a consensual affair is not illegal, but in truth he was impeached for lying under oath to a federal judge about the matter. In Nixon’s case, there were claims of rouge supporters breaking into the Democratic National Committee HQ, but when there was proof of hush money to “stonewall this thing” from the Oval Office, he was toast. In Trump’s second impeachment, he sent out messages from a rally on January 6th urging supporters to “walk down to the Capitol… Now it is up to Congress to confront this egregious assault on our democracy. After this, we’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you… We’re going to walk down.” The crowd went to the Capitol, but Trump did not.

 

“Contradictions” - But, shortly after his supporters violently breached the building, at 2:38pm, Trump tweeted: "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!” At 3:13 he tweeted, “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!” Democrats insist, this is like ordering the barn door locked after the wild horses have already escaped.

 

“Incitement” – The big legal question is, did President Trump “incite” the violence or “insurrection” by his mere words and should he be punished for it? And did urging peace after the violence was already in progress, give him a pass? It reminds me of the rigorous debate over the years about the parameters of free speech. “You can say anything you want, but you can’t shout ‘fire in a crowded theatre’ if there isn’t one.” Ultimately, this may be the yardstick used to measure Trump’s words and actions. If you falsely shout “fire” and people are hurt or killed there can be consequences and even legal liability.

 

“But…Back to the Politics of it All” – I’ll stick with my prediction from last week that no more than nine Republicans will join Democrats in voting to convict and punish Trump (they already have six GOP commitments). But with Republicans defending 20 Senate seats in 2022, their strategy must be looking forward, not backwards. The GOP has a very good chance of retaking control of the Senate (and even the House), in the midterm elections. That’s the real goal and prize here, and not the defense (or punishment) of a president who was impeached twice and voted out of office. As the old saying goes, “political loyalty s often a mile wide, but an inch deep.” Republicans are voting on self-preservation, not loyalty to a disgraced ex-president.

 

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Mark Curtis, Ed.D., is Chief Political Reporter for the seven Nexstar Media TV stations serving West Virginia, its five neighboring states and all the Washington, DC media market. He is a MINDSETTER columnist for www.GoLocalProv.com and its affiliates.

 

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