Dozens of leading Republicans warn Donald Trump is dangerous. Voters, listen to them | Opinion

Courage is so rare among politicians that we must celebrate it when we see it. President John F. Kennedy wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller titled “Profiles in Courage,” which recognized statesmen in both political parties who lost their office because they had the courage to take a principled position that they knew was unpopular but right for our country.

I am a Democrat, but I want to recognize the extraordinary courage of a friend on the other side of the political aisle. This Republican obeyed his oath of office, which provides: “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic … so help me God.”

By simply obeying his oath of office and blocking Donald Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional attempt to overturn the 2020 election, former Vice President Mike Pence may have ended his own promising political career. For this historic courageous act, he deserves his own profile in courage. He prevented Trump from violating the Constitution and nullifying the will of the voters.

“I think it’s important that the American people know what happened in the days before Jan. 6,” Pence said. “President Trump demanded that I use my authority as vice president presiding over the count of the Electoral College to essentially overturn the election by returning or literally rejecting votes. I had no authority to do that.”

In January 2021, Pence was under tremendous political pressure from Trump to override the results of the presidential election. In a democracy, invalidating the vote is political corruption of the worst kind. It is stealing an election and rejecting the will of the people. The strain became so intense that on Jan. 6, the mob that seized control of the U.S. Capitol Building was shouting, “Hang Mike Pence!”

“The mob was fed lies,” in the words of Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell. “They were provoked by the president and other powerful people. And they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like.” McConnell was referring to the official electoral vote count that is conducted by the U.S. Congress.

Are Americans listening? Do we care that according to his own vice president, an honorable Christian conservative, Trump pressured him to steal the 2020 election? Do evangelical and Catholic conservatives know that Pence has said he will not vote for Trump this year? Referring to Trump, Pence has said, “Anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president.” This is a simple and powerful statement. Someone who puts himself above the Constitution is claiming he is above the law. This should alarm all freedom-loving citizens who believe we are a nation of laws, and that no one is above the law.

We are witnessing remarkable American history. It is important for all voters to reflect on the fact that in addition to his own vice president, dozens of former high-ranking conservative Republican officials who worked closely with Trump are now refusing to support him. Along with Pence, they include:

• Former President George W. Bush

• Former Vice President Dick Cheney

• Former GOP presidential candidate Sen. Mitt Romney

• Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton
  
  

• Trump’s Secretary of Defense Mark Esper

• Trump’s chief of staff Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly

• Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, who was an elected Republican leader in the House of Representatives
  
  

None of them are RINOS, Republicans in name only.

Policy is important but character is essential. These Republicans don’t trust Trump. Congress will always push back on any presidential policy decisions, but no one can control a president’s character flaws,

They do not agree with Vice President Kamala Harris on all issues, but they all fear Trump’s demonstrated disrespect for the Constitution of the United States and what he might do if he is entrusted with the office of president again. We would all be wise to listen to the advice of these courageous conservative Republicans who served with Trump and saw firsthand who he is. They are all putting respect for the Constitution and the rule of law above loyalty to Donald Trump — and so should the rest of us.

This story was originally published October 17, 2024 at 7:05 AM with the headline "Dozens of leading Republicans warn Donald Trump is dangerous. Voters, listen to them | Opinion."