Silence is craven, not golden

It probably won’t surprise you that I’m not likely to vote for either of our senators. What may surprise you, however, is that I think, as wrong as they are on issues I care about, they are probably decent people who don’t swear or belch loudly in church, never litter, don’t drive above speed limits, and pay their taxes on time.

But before I nominate either one for sainthood, I have a simple question for them: Do you agree with Donald Trump who recently said, “ … we pledge to you that we will root out the Communists, Marxists, Racists, and Radical Left Thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our Country, lie, steal, and cheat on Elections, and will do anything possible, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America, and the American dream …. Despite the hatred and anger of the Radical Left Lunatics who want to destroy our country, we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”

Senators, do you believe Communists and Marxists are stealing our elections? Do you see a lot of “vermin” or “lunatics” wandering our streets or in the countryside? I don’t know how smart Donald Trump is, but I do know he is ignorant and a danger. You have an obligation to speak out, to save your political party and our democracy. You will not be judged, by how long you serve, but how courageous you were in saving your party and the country from the curse of Donald Trump.

That is not a partisan view. Here is what a Republican who worked in the White House for Mr. Trump recently said, “He lacks any shred of human decency, humility or caring. He is morally bankrupt, breathtakingly dishonest, lethally incompetent, and stunningly ignorant of virtually anything related to governing, history, geography, human events, or world affairs. He is a traitor and a malignancy in our nation and represents a clear and present danger to our democracy and the rule of law.”

Trump’s probable cabinet members, Steve Bannon and Mike Davis, talk of deporting 10 million people in a second Trump term. When Jenna Ellis lamented that their election challenges failed, Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff in Trump’s White House, apparently answered: “‘Well, we don’t care, … the boss is not going to leave under any circumstances. We are just going to stay in power.” When Ellis responded “Well, it doesn’t quite work that way, you realize?” he answered: “We don’t care.”

They really don’t care about things you must consider as citizens and senators. They would build “sprawling camps” housing people and families waiting to be expelled, include Muslims who came legally. Trump refers to this, with pride, as “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”

Since 1860, newly elected Senators take an oath that begins “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, …”

Donald Trump is a domestic enemy of our democracy. Sens. Ernst's and Grassley’s silence is the luxury of political cowards and makes your oath meaningless. Please speak out to maintain your honor and democracy.

Norman Sherman of Coralville has worked extensively in politics, including as Vice President Hubert Humphrey’s press secretary.