Statement On Defending The Constitution And The Country

On Monday I watched the shameful scene a block from the White House as the President of the United States ordered U.S. Park Police, backed by the D.C. National Guard and following threats throughout the day, to use the U.S. military against peaceful American protesters so he could have his photograph taken in front of St. John’s Church holding a Bible.  It was an appalling, almost surreal, abuse of power that showed a flagrant disregard not only for our Constitution, but for those who have devoted their lives to defend it.

Several of those patriots have spoken out forcefully and eloquently to reject the President’s grotesque display of force, and the way he has abused the office of the presidency, day after day, year after year, to stoke divisions in this country.  I am grateful to them for doing so, and I want to highlight in particular two of those voices, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, and former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.  In pieces, one published in the Atlantic and one released as a statement, both laid out an alternate vision for our country, a vision that so many Americans who were similarly outraged share and that I also share.