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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHandy Guide to the GOP Impeachment Fog Machine
>Not snipped as it's from a pair of e-mail<
BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE GOP MISINFORMATION
by Dan Kovats, IDCCA Executive Director
@ILDCCA @dankovats
KEY CONCEPTS:
Remember: Betrayal of America, Betrayal of the Constitution, Betrayal of our National Security System.
Trumps actions were so serious that patriotic whistle blowers have come forward to expose his betrayal of America. As President, Trump orchestrated a mobster-like scheme to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless they investigated and reported on a political rival. Think about that; the President directly threatened another nation that, if they didnt dig up or make up information to help attack a political opponent, he would see to it that the United States government would stop supporting their efforts at self-defense.
Republicans are exposing themselves not as patriots but as small-minded Trump loyalists who are willing to betray the Constitution. Trump and his Republicans have treated the proven Russian election manipulation as no big deal. But today, influence in the election process from foreign governments is on Donald Trumps request list. Thats a blatant betrayal of the Constitution.
Trump betrayed our nation.
He has betrayed the basic elements of national security;
Hes betrayed the Constitution;
Hes betrayed the citizens of the United States.
RESPONSES TO GOP TALKING POINTS
CLAIM: Democrats held secret hearings where Republicans were not allowed to participate
RESPOND: Democrats deposed several witnesses to investigate the allegations made against Donald Trump. Normally these depositions are conducted with the Justice Department. Since the Justice Department would rather serve Donald Trump than the American public, they have refused to conduct these depositions. Furthermore, these depositions were conducted by the Foreign Affairs, Oversight & Reform, and Intelligence Committees. Republicans who are on those committees were not only invited; they were expected to participate. They choose to make a political stunt instead of engaging in the process.
CLAIM: Democrats were not transparent about the process from the start and this has tainted the inquiry. Since they did this, the entire process is a sham.
RESPOND: Democrats were following the impeachment inquiry procedures that were approved by the Republican controlled House of Representatives in 2015. To say that Democrats were not transparent about the process would mean that the Republicans own rules were not transparent.
CLAIM: Speaker Pelosi was against impeachment in the spring but is now in favor of it. What has changed?
RESPOND: Its true that Speaker Pelosi stated that an impeachment is divisive to the country that unless theres something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan. What has changed since that statement is Donald Trump attempted to bribe the leader of a foreign country. By trying to engage in a quid pro quo, Donald Trump put his needs over the needs of our country.
CLAIM: The President of the United States sets our foreign policy and Donald Trump is well within his right to conduct whatever policy he believes is in our best interest.
RESPOND: While the Constitution grants the President the authority to set our foreign policy, it does stipulate that the foreign policy must be in the nations best interest. The summary of the call between Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky & Donald Trump clearly shows that an attempt was made to withhold military aide unless Ukraine started an investigation into Vice President Joe Bidens son.
CLAIM: Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman is a Never Trumper and his testimony should be considered slanted
RESPOND: Lt Colonel is a 20-plus year Army veteran who served honorably in the Iraq War. He is a decorated soldier who was awarded a Purple Heart for being injured in battle. He was doing his job as a military officer working in the Situation Room. He was so alarmed by what he heard on the call between Zelensky & Trump, he was compelled to provide information the NSCs top lawyer.
CLAIM: Donald Trump didnt understand what a Quid Pro Quo was when he spoke with Ukrainian President Zelensky
RESPOND: Just because Donald Trump doesnt understand that he broke the law doesnt mean that he didnt break the law. Ignorance is not a defense when it comes to violating our Constitution and putting our national security at risk.
CLAIM: The whole impeachment is a witch hunt.
RESPOND: Call it what you want. The impeachment is a serious investigation about Donald Trumps corrupt abuse of power. IF Trump is the victim of congressional abuse, why has he been stopping witnesses from testifying to congress?
CLAIM: Democrats are just wasting time; mad they didnt win the election.
RESPOND: First, Democrats arent alone. There are Republicans who support the inquiry. Second this isnt revenge for winning the 2016 election. It is enforcement for potentially violating the trust of the American people and betrayal of our Constitution.
CLAIM: Joe Biden and his son are corrupt, that was President Trumps point.
RESPOND: There isnt an ounce of evidence that Biden or his son did anything illegal or corrupt. The Bidens have been nothing but transparent and clear. It is Trump who has engaged in a lifetime of corruption and a stunning display of continued abuse of power.
CLAIM: Voters dont want the impeachment inquiry and Democrats are going to lose their elections.
RESPOND: Thats false. The latest surveys and polls are revealing a growing number of Americans who support the investigation. Its now over 54% of support for some kind of inquiry.
CLAIM: Trump is just doing what any other Presidents have done.
RESPONSE: Um, no. Trump is abusing his power and betraying our country.
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)NoMoreRepugs
(9,260 posts)Botany
(70,291 posts)Link to tweet
He hit just about all of these points.
BTW as per his claim this AM that the Dems wanted impeachment from day one w/Trump
and to that I plead guilty. Trump was installed after a dirty election by Russia and Trump
was well aware of Russia's actions and worked with Russia too.
roscoeroscoe
(1,369 posts)Appreciate the effort and time to sum this up.
murielm99
(30,656 posts)he is the executive director and chair of the Illinois Democratic Chair's Association. He is very effective.
safeinOhio
(32,527 posts)What would you do if Obama had done it?
Fiendish Thingy
(15,367 posts)Trump didn't attempt to bribe a foreign leader, he committed extortion upon that leader, which is a form of bribery (seeking something of personal value) which is an impeachable offense.
That may seem nuanced, but if we're attempting to respond to Republicans' hair-splitting false narratives, nuance and precision is important.
usaf-vet
(6,094 posts).... put on the investigation panel. He surely wasn't chosen for his high intellect. Nor was he chosen for his integrity. He was clearly chosen because he has displayed his willingness to be disruptive.
I hope the Democrats are ready for his disruptions. And don't let him make a mockery of this necessary impeachment of a corrupt president and his administration.
calimary
(80,693 posts)SayItLoud
(1,696 posts)this is a civil discussion you are putting forth. Any discussions and interactions I've tried to have with the cult have never been focused on facts and for sure not civil. I've tried but they are so defensive the facts are never of use. I just have to walk away.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,786 posts)1) quid and quo in same phone call.
2) "Memorandum" is not a complete unredacted transcript, testified by Vindman.
3) Hiding complete transcript on server is a coverup.
4) Not just one phone call.
5) Parallel off-the-books Giuliani operation tightening the screws.
6) Trump did hold up aid for weeks or months, until lawyers determined he had no authority.
The facts in the excellent OP may be summarized as these:
A) Republicans attended the so-called secret hearings, except those who boycotted them.
B) Democrats are using Republican impeachment rules approved 2015.
C) Trump's own secretive actions regarding Ukraine changed Pelosi's mind as to timing.
D) Extorting manufactured political dirt is not legal foreign policy or use of Congressionally approved funds.
E) Decorated wounded veteran Lt Col Vindman was following proper procedure reporting the call to the NSC's top lawyer.
F) Ignorance of a crime is not a defence, not even for a self-styled "stable genius".
G) If it is a witch hunt testimony would soon show it. Don't hold your breath.
H) The winners of the 2018 election are enforcing the Constitution. Elections have consequences.
I) Nothing Bidens did was corrupt so there is no evidence. Getting a job based on a name is not corrupt, right Jarvanka?
J) If you think the Democrats are overplaying a hand then you should welcome the impeachment. Bring 2020.
K) As stated: "Trump is abusing his power and betraying our country".
angrychair
(8,593 posts)If Biden is corrupt than why has he, for years, released decades of tax returns but trump is still fighting the release of his in court?
RainCaster
(10,679 posts)Like a naughty monkey, it is his job to throw feces around the room.
No accuracy.
No truth.