Unheralded

TOM DAVIES: The Verdict — How Low Can We Go?

You have to ask yourself how low the national GOP will go to obtain its goals.

Roy Moore of Alabama has been removed from his state’s Supreme Court twice by the U,S. Supreme Court for violating its order and the law of this country.

He met his wife when she was a minor. He was in his 30s when he spotted her during a school event. Years later, he married her.

He has been accused by a number of women of sexual impropriety, much like the president who supports him. In the case of the president, the women were of legal age; but in the case of Moore, they were minors ranging from 14 to 17 years of age.

On Sunday, another of Moore’s victims came forward … but for an entirely different reason than the rest. The lady in question had not planned to get involved until the disgraced judge called all of his accusers liars. Unluckily for him, that included this woman. She knew who and what he was.

The latest accuser said that, while she met and dated him as a minor, he did nothing inappropriate while they dated. What prompted her to speak up was Moore’s assertion that all people who said he dated minors were liars. Then she came forward. In that moment, she knew he was a liar.

Mitch McConnell, the GOP Senate majority leader, originally said he believed the women who accused Moore. He said Moore should withdraw and, if he didn’t and won, he should be removed from office.

But the Senate GOP places winning above their country and their agenda above people. Both McConnell and the GOP have flip-flopped and now support Moore. The Republican Party, which initially withdrew its support, is now funding his Senate campaign. Now McConnell shrugs it off, saying that “it is up to the people of Alabama.”

I would normally agree that the results from any state election should be honored. But these are not normal times. While several members of the Democratic Party have also been accused of sexual harassment, it appears that the GOP position is to give the Republican bad boys a pass — while going after the Democrat bad boys.

In a normal world, we should not be discriminating about which party members did the wrongful deed. Sexual harassment of both men and women should be condemned. There should be zero tolerance for all.

But do not confuse sexual harassment of adults by adults with pedophilia, “a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children,” as defined by Wikipedia.

I believe the women accusing Moore. I have no doubt that the president’s accusers are worthy of being believed as well.

As a father of two daughters and grandfather of three granddaughters, what I find nearly unbelievable is how — in the United States of America, with our diverse religions and the Constitution in place — politicians and voters can have sunk so low as to support perverts for elective office.

What do parents tell their children? How can they justify support for these people?

To say that a Republican or Democrat should be elected regardless of his morals is insane. We are now paying the price.

When I see more than 50 ministers come out in support of Moore in Alabama, it tells me one thing: Theirs aren’t religions. They are cults and ought to be treated as such.

Note that this is not meant to be an anti-Republican rant or support for the Democratic candidate. It is a call to Americans, all Americans, to stand tall and do what is right for the people, not the party.

Given what is happening in Alabama, I find it frightening that 45, with a stroke of his pen, wants to allow church leaders to support political candidates from the pulpit. Separation of church and state is part of our heritage for good reason.

When our local, state and federal officials are sworn into office, they may place their hand on the Bible, but they are swearing to uphold the Constitution, not the Bible.

* * *

The current tax bill makes it obvious the average citizen does not count. Horrible statements have emerged from the debate.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa — with all of the class of a bull in a china shop — supports eliminating the estate tax (which benefits only the super-wealthy) because, in his words, “it recognizes the people who are investing as opposed to those that are just spending every darn penny they have, whether it’s on booze or women or movies.”

What this dimwit from Iowa doesn’t understand is that lower- and middle-income citizens (I hate to use the term “class”) who have families have to spend every dime on housing, food and living expenses. Too long in the Senate with its lavish perks, Grassley doesn’t understand what our fellow citizens face economically.

I used to respect Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, but he too is showing his age. He’s disconnected from the real world. He helped push a $l trillion tax bill through the Senate while at the same time allowing funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program to expire. He said he’s sorry that this program that pays for health care for 9 million children and costs about $14 billion a year hasn’t been funded. In fact, he helped create the CHIP program but at a time when he focused on people, not party. Now he says — after slashing taxes on corporations and the top 1 percent — that we just can’t afford it.

If the Democrats were doing to the budget what the Republicans are doing, I’d be on their case as well.

Here’s a question for you: Should Congress be required, as a matter of law, to vote on legislation only after they can certify they read and understand it?

The Republicans didn’t read or understand this convoluted, mixed up bill. They claim the Democrats did the same thing with the Affordable Care Act. That’s a damned lie. There were almost 80 public hearings on the ACA, and many Republican amendments were incorporated into the final measure. Yes, after the hearings, the Democrats did pass it without GOP support, but that’s just politics.

It’s long past the time where men must acknowledge women as their equals. Given the support for Moore, this is just a giant slap in the face to all women. The continual degrading of women must stop. Amen.




2 thoughts on “TOM DAVIES: The Verdict — How Low Can We Go?”

  • Esta Green (@redtailhawks65) December 6, 2017 at 8:55 pm

    I don’t see that this situation is about religion vs government, I see that it is about moral values. What has happened to them?? There are a few of us left who still believe in respect, honesty, and the value of life.
    Religious leaders are still people, and if they have lost their sense of truth and honesty, they are not fit to teach or preach. Creator is here for all of us, no matter what race color or creed. The names may be different, but the fact that we are all human and need guidance from a Spiritual Power (not person) remains.
    It seems that our “leaders” have become so corrupt that the values of our country have gone to hell in a hand basket.
    I find it hopeful that a REPUBLICAN SENATOR has taken the bullet and filed for articles of Impeachment. If one of his own Party is willing to stand up and be counted, then I applaud him, no matter what party I am involved with.
    As for the person in Alabama who is running for office. He needs to find a deep hole and crawl in with the rest of the worms.
    Wild Hawk.

    Reply
  • Thomas A. Davies December 7, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    Thanks and I couldn’t agree more

    Reply

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