By Berl Falbaum
This column might be described as a stream of consciousness, not tied to any one event, policy or Trump lie/corruption, covering questions I wanted to discuss throughout the scandal-ridden Trump years, but, sadly, for one reason or another, failed to do so.
The questions were prompted by a politician, a Republican -- please focus on Republican -- who from day one recognized the character-flawed Trump for what he was and refused to be complicit.
Unfortunately, he has faded from public view. I suspect many readers of this column have forgotten him. Indeed, he should be revered, held up as a symbol of courage, commitment to decency in government, and for what public service and democracy means.
His name? Jeff Flake, who in 2017, just 10 months into Trump’s first term, decided not to run for re-election for U.S. senator in Arizona. He knew that if sought office again, given his anti-Trump stance, he would lose. But he was prepared to make that sacrifice.
Flake delivered his speech to retire October 24, 2017. I have read his speech dozens of times as I have Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Given word-count limitations, I can only include some of what he said. Flake:
“I rise today to address a matter that has been much on my mind, at a moment when it seems that our democracy is more defined by our discord and our dysfunction than it is by our values and our principles.
“It must also be said that I rise today with no small measure of regret. Regret, because of the state of our disunion, regret because of the disrepair and destructiveness of our politics, regret because of the indecency of our discourse, regret because of the coarseness of our leadership, regret for the compromise of our moral authority, and by our -- all of our -- complicity in this alarming and dangerous state of affairs. It is time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end.
“In this century, a new phrase has entered the language to describe the accommodation of a new and undesirable order -- that phrase being ‘the new normal.’ But we must never adjust to the present coarseness of our national dialogue -- with the tone set at the top.
“We must never regard as ‘normal’ the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country -- the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with the fortunes of the people that we have all been elected to serve.
“None of these appalling features of our current politics should ever be regarded as normal. We must never allow ourselves to lapse into thinking that this is just the way things are now. If we simply become inured to this condition, thinking that this is just politics as usual, then heaven help us.
“Reckless, outrageous, and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as ‘telling it like it is,’ when it is actually just reckless, outrageous, and undignified.
“And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else: It is dangerous to a democracy. Such behavior does not project strength -- because our strength comes from our values. It instead projects a corruption of the spirit, and weakness.
“But what happens if ambition fails to counteract ambition? What happens if stability fails to assert itself in the face of chaos and instability? If decency fails to call out indecency?
“Now, I am aware that more politically savvy people than I caution against such talk. I am aware that a segment of my party believes that anything short of complete and unquestioning loyalty to a president who belongs to my party is unacceptable and suspect.
“If I have been critical, it is not because I relish criticizing the behavior of the president of the United States. If I have been critical, it is because I believe that it is my obligation to do so, as a matter of duty and conscience (emphasis supplied.)
“Acting on conscience and principle is the manner in which we express our moral selves, and as such, loyalty to conscience and principle should supersede loyalty to any man or party.
“Leadership knows where the buck stops. Humility helps. Character counts. Leadership does not knowingly encourage or feed ugly and debased appetites in us.
“It is also clear to me for the moment we have given in or given up on those core principles in favor of the more viscerally satisfying anger and resentment. To be clear, the anger and resentment that the people feel at the royal mess we have created are justified. But anger and resentment are not a governing philosophy.”
In his speech, Flake asked the following questions.
“When the next generation asks us, ‘Why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you speak up?’ What are we going to say? I have to answer to my children and grandchildren. I will not be complicit.”
How prescient he was. To emphasize: Flake delivered his speech long before we felt the full brunt of poisonous Trumpism.
Flake prompted the questions I had, all directed at Trump supporters in and out of government. While I was remiss in asking them before, I will do so now.
First, a general question:
What do you tell your children and grandchildren about the importance of truth, virtue, decency, honesty, civility, honor, rectitude, probity, and morality?
Specifically:
--How do you explain your support to your children, grandchildren, especially your daughters and granddaughters, and wives, for a man who bragged about grabbing women by their genitals; was found guilty of sexual assault; had several extra-marital affairs; paid a porn actress $130,000; made incestuous references about his daughter; and degraded women generally? This question would be especially appropriate for female Trumpites.
--How do you explain your support for a president who incited an insurrection; supported hanging his vice president; and called for the execution of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?
--How do you explain your support for a mythomaniac who has told tens of thousands of lies; was fined hundreds of millions of dollars for committing real estate fraud; and was convicted on 24 felony charges?
Of course, I have dozens and dozens of other such questions for Trump supporters and would love to hear their replies.
Unfortunately, the issue of “character” has never been thoroughly addressed. I don’t know of one high-paid celebrity host of a political talk show that challenged pro-Trump officeholders with these kinds of questions. Not one. (I am prepared to be corrected.)
What if they had asked pro-Trumpers if they believed that public officials should be people of good character (the answer would have to be ‘yes”) and then followed up with: “Do you believe Donald Trump is a decent, honest man, a man of good character?”
If only they had; just maybe ...
And just maybe if former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger had spoken out earlier and joined Flake in his condemnation? But they were silent for five years (the 2015 campaign and Trump 1.0). With their silence they were complicit and empowered Trump. Finally, after January 6, even they had had enough.
(I have always thought that August 23, 2023 will go down in history as the day our commitment to honesty, morality, integrity, etc. was officially abandoned. Why? That night six candidates for the GOP presidential nomination said they would support Trump even if he was convicted of felony charges he was facing.)
Flake’s must-read speech should be studied in civic and history classes. It should be required reading for any person seeking public office.
Most important, all Republicans in the House and Senate should be required to write a paper on the speech.
I expect they would all receive a failing grade.
————————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books.
This column might be described as a stream of consciousness, not tied to any one event, policy or Trump lie/corruption, covering questions I wanted to discuss throughout the scandal-ridden Trump years, but, sadly, for one reason or another, failed to do so.
The questions were prompted by a politician, a Republican -- please focus on Republican -- who from day one recognized the character-flawed Trump for what he was and refused to be complicit.
Unfortunately, he has faded from public view. I suspect many readers of this column have forgotten him. Indeed, he should be revered, held up as a symbol of courage, commitment to decency in government, and for what public service and democracy means.
His name? Jeff Flake, who in 2017, just 10 months into Trump’s first term, decided not to run for re-election for U.S. senator in Arizona. He knew that if sought office again, given his anti-Trump stance, he would lose. But he was prepared to make that sacrifice.
Flake delivered his speech to retire October 24, 2017. I have read his speech dozens of times as I have Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Given word-count limitations, I can only include some of what he said. Flake:
“I rise today to address a matter that has been much on my mind, at a moment when it seems that our democracy is more defined by our discord and our dysfunction than it is by our values and our principles.
“It must also be said that I rise today with no small measure of regret. Regret, because of the state of our disunion, regret because of the disrepair and destructiveness of our politics, regret because of the indecency of our discourse, regret because of the coarseness of our leadership, regret for the compromise of our moral authority, and by our -- all of our -- complicity in this alarming and dangerous state of affairs. It is time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end.
“In this century, a new phrase has entered the language to describe the accommodation of a new and undesirable order -- that phrase being ‘the new normal.’ But we must never adjust to the present coarseness of our national dialogue -- with the tone set at the top.
“We must never regard as ‘normal’ the regular and casual undermining of our democratic norms and ideals. We must never meekly accept the daily sundering of our country -- the personal attacks, the threats against principles, freedoms, and institutions, the flagrant disregard for truth or decency, the reckless provocations, most often for the pettiest and most personal reasons, reasons having nothing whatsoever to do with the fortunes of the people that we have all been elected to serve.
“None of these appalling features of our current politics should ever be regarded as normal. We must never allow ourselves to lapse into thinking that this is just the way things are now. If we simply become inured to this condition, thinking that this is just politics as usual, then heaven help us.
“Reckless, outrageous, and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as ‘telling it like it is,’ when it is actually just reckless, outrageous, and undignified.
“And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else: It is dangerous to a democracy. Such behavior does not project strength -- because our strength comes from our values. It instead projects a corruption of the spirit, and weakness.
“But what happens if ambition fails to counteract ambition? What happens if stability fails to assert itself in the face of chaos and instability? If decency fails to call out indecency?
“Now, I am aware that more politically savvy people than I caution against such talk. I am aware that a segment of my party believes that anything short of complete and unquestioning loyalty to a president who belongs to my party is unacceptable and suspect.
“If I have been critical, it is not because I relish criticizing the behavior of the president of the United States. If I have been critical, it is because I believe that it is my obligation to do so, as a matter of duty and conscience (emphasis supplied.)
“Acting on conscience and principle is the manner in which we express our moral selves, and as such, loyalty to conscience and principle should supersede loyalty to any man or party.
“Leadership knows where the buck stops. Humility helps. Character counts. Leadership does not knowingly encourage or feed ugly and debased appetites in us.
“It is also clear to me for the moment we have given in or given up on those core principles in favor of the more viscerally satisfying anger and resentment. To be clear, the anger and resentment that the people feel at the royal mess we have created are justified. But anger and resentment are not a governing philosophy.”
In his speech, Flake asked the following questions.
“When the next generation asks us, ‘Why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you speak up?’ What are we going to say? I have to answer to my children and grandchildren. I will not be complicit.”
How prescient he was. To emphasize: Flake delivered his speech long before we felt the full brunt of poisonous Trumpism.
Flake prompted the questions I had, all directed at Trump supporters in and out of government. While I was remiss in asking them before, I will do so now.
First, a general question:
What do you tell your children and grandchildren about the importance of truth, virtue, decency, honesty, civility, honor, rectitude, probity, and morality?
Specifically:
--How do you explain your support to your children, grandchildren, especially your daughters and granddaughters, and wives, for a man who bragged about grabbing women by their genitals; was found guilty of sexual assault; had several extra-marital affairs; paid a porn actress $130,000; made incestuous references about his daughter; and degraded women generally? This question would be especially appropriate for female Trumpites.
--How do you explain your support for a president who incited an insurrection; supported hanging his vice president; and called for the execution of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?
--How do you explain your support for a mythomaniac who has told tens of thousands of lies; was fined hundreds of millions of dollars for committing real estate fraud; and was convicted on 24 felony charges?
Of course, I have dozens and dozens of other such questions for Trump supporters and would love to hear their replies.
Unfortunately, the issue of “character” has never been thoroughly addressed. I don’t know of one high-paid celebrity host of a political talk show that challenged pro-Trump officeholders with these kinds of questions. Not one. (I am prepared to be corrected.)
What if they had asked pro-Trumpers if they believed that public officials should be people of good character (the answer would have to be ‘yes”) and then followed up with: “Do you believe Donald Trump is a decent, honest man, a man of good character?”
If only they had; just maybe ...
And just maybe if former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger had spoken out earlier and joined Flake in his condemnation? But they were silent for five years (the 2015 campaign and Trump 1.0). With their silence they were complicit and empowered Trump. Finally, after January 6, even they had had enough.
(I have always thought that August 23, 2023 will go down in history as the day our commitment to honesty, morality, integrity, etc. was officially abandoned. Why? That night six candidates for the GOP presidential nomination said they would support Trump even if he was convicted of felony charges he was facing.)
Flake’s must-read speech should be studied in civic and history classes. It should be required reading for any person seeking public office.
Most important, all Republicans in the House and Senate should be required to write a paper on the speech.
I expect they would all receive a failing grade.
————————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran journalist and author of 12 books.
