What Should We Think About the Trump Conviction?
The aftermath of the criminal trial for former president Donald Trump was predictable.
The aftermath of the criminal trial of former president Donald Trump was, unfortunately, predictable. Republican lawmakers reacted with outright fury to the Trump verdict and rallied to his defense. Many Democrat-leaning Americans reacted with a happy, gleeful, and perhaps even smug attitude about the conviction.
The more I think about yesterday's history-making events, the more I feel that one, specific point needs to be made about all of this. It is a huge mistake, by either side, to act this way because these vantage points reflect the views of the left- and right-wing extremist factions in both parties. If we all try very hard to recall how we were taught to behave and act as children and young adults, then we know quite well that this kind of behavior is not how reasonable people should position themselves. The fact of the matter is that this was a very somber event in American history. It was the first time in our history that a former president has been convicted of a felony. That is a sad day — regardless of what side of the political spectrum you reside in.
It goes without saying that former president Trump is not well-liked by the Democrats. That said, the true Democratic power-position is favoring the Rule of Law is (as it should be). Moderate Democrats strongly believe that the laws of this country should apply equally to everyone and that no individual, regardless of how influential, wealthy, or powerful they might be, should be above the law. Furthermore, most Democrats will argue that every citizen, including our former president, should be held to the same standard.
Republicans are predictably reacting with unabated furor and this rather remarkable and stunning outcry is being made almost exclusively by the hard-right wingers. It is also absent the usual restraints that lawmakers and political figures have observed in the past when they refrained from criticizing judges and juries. Unfortunately, this kind of behavior was probably to be expected from the MAGA folks, since that segment of the Republican Party tends to be driven almost exclusively by rhetoric and ignores, if not abhors, facts. Their vitriol was expected as was their immediate launch of a host of “whataboutisms” in an attempt to deflect and steer attention away from “their guy”, following his felony conviction. When Trump says that he’s going to defend the Constitution, we know that is precisely what he will NOT do. It seems that the right-wing of the Republican party would just as soon part ways with the Constitution. I’m sure Republicans who read this will all cringe with indigence when they read that, but the likelihood is high that Donald Trump and his MAGA adherents will make many attempts to fundamentally change our form of government, given a win in the 2024 general election. One need only read Project 2025 (the Republican campaign strategy document) to verify that intent (more about that here).
But there is some hope. Republicans still clearly fall into two camps. While the MAGA Republicans will not be convinced that the Trump trial was anything less than a politically motivated witch-hunt and a sham trial, there are many other Republicans who will take a more measured stance. Women, in particular, within the Republican party seem to align with this more “measured” segment.
It seems obvious that it would make sense to remind the far-right MAGA segment that, in a jury trial, both sides have equal opportunity to make their arguments and present evidence in front of a jury — and BOTH sides agreed or disagree on jurors until the full jury selection is completed prior to starting the trial. But it’s unlikely that this particular group of Republicans (representing some 40% of all Republicans) would listen to such a reasoned argument. They are unable to tell the forest for the trees.
At least one Republican stood up and said what all Americans who believe in our Constitution and the Rule of Law, upon which the Constitution is based, should be saying.
"A lone Republican voice, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, took that approach, saying ahead of the verdict that the public should “respect the verdict and the legal process.”
“At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders — regardless of party — must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship,” posted Hogan, who is running for the Senate in Maryland, before the verdict was announced. “We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.” Former governor Hogan’s stance gives me hope that the true conservatives in the Republican Party are still fighting to wrest control away from the extremists.
In the end, people can and will make whatever partisan comments they wish. It only seems fair that no American, regardless of their wealth or position in society should have unique benefits under the law. We are all citizens of this great country and are, therefore, subject to it's laws — and that is as it should be.
The fact is that a jury of ordinary Americans, who are generally ordinary people just like you and me, considered the evidence presented by both sides and made a decision — and that decision was that our former president was guilty on all 34 counts against him.
This is how the Rule of Law and our judicial system was intended to work. Regardless of what political forces were aligned, for or against the decision, to try our former president, those jurors were unlikely to have been influenced by it. Particularly since we know that those jurors were carefully screened in advance by BOTH the prosecution and the defense before finally being seated on the jury.
That said, the Trump conviction highlights a burning point at the very crux of our political differences at the moment — many Americans, certainly all of those at the center and on the left, have been vacillating over a fundamental issue at the heart of the 2024 election cycle — Should we allow someone of questionable character, morality and ethics (and now, a convicted felon) to hold the highest position in the land? And what will be the ultimate ramifications for the United States if we do?
I don’t think there will be any resolutions between Democrats and Republicans on political considerations, between now and November. But this fundamental consideration is still in play. The outcome of that soul-searching by the American public, could well be the determining factor in who our next president will be.
If you support the Constitution and the Rule of Law, May 30, 2024 was a good day. Perhaps, even more importantly, it was a good day for true American values. Time will tell whether our former president goes to jail or whether he will be allowed to avoid such an ignoble finality. But regardless, he deserves his day in court — and that includes an appeal, if that is what his legal team advises. We should let that play out, because that is how the American judicial system works. And that is how people of character act.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-verdict-republicans-guilty-reaction-congress-election-c8193404866565c55b093086890cbef8?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-conviction-gives-some-republicans-pause-key-pennsylvania-county-2024-05-31/