We need to deal with the bully

Archived Opinion

We need to deal with the bully

To the Editor:

“No person shall be a senator or representative in Congress, or elector of president or vice-president, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

But, Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability.”

Wake! Up! America! The operative clause here to prevent Donald Trump from becoming President is: “… or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” When Donald Trump watched the Capitol rioters delay the 2020 vote count for over three hours before finally taking action to disburse the mob he had assembled (for the rebellion) surely Americans can agree that those three hours plus were “aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

Taking action under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment does not even require a trial. Members of Congress or state legislators can frame a question based on the operative clause: Did Donald Trump give aid or comfort to the rioters on January 6, 2021? Let our elected leaders vote on the question. If some choose to support Trump, let them say so publicly. If they choose to follow the wisdom of the Fourteenth Amendment, then the problem will have been solved for the good of the country.

Why have our state legislatures and, even Congress, allowed bully Trump to remain a candidate? You hold the key. Insert it and turn it. Deal with the bully!