Impeachment is patriotic. It is one of the privileged responsibilities of Representatives elected to Congress. It is laid out clearly in the Constitution as the lawful remedy for officials engaged in unconstitutional actions. And there is no doubt that President Donald J. Trump and his administration are engaging in unconstitutional actions.
Representatives, however, have been slow to take action. And citizens, understandably, do not know much about the impeachment process. Various avenues and procedural choices make it hard to follow, especially in hectic news cycles. This causes a self-defeating prophecy – representatives claim that they do not have the political power to pursue impeachment and citizens, seeing that their leaders are not willing to fight, treat impeachment as an impossibility.
This is wrong.
While it’s true that we need bi-partisan collaboration for impeachment’s ultimate success, the process of impeachment is part of building that bi-partisan consensus. When representatives lead the way in filing impeachment resolutions, as Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13) and Rep. Al Green (TX-09) have, citizens and elected politicians alike learn, engage, and formulate new thoughts and paths forward.
Just two months separate Rep. Thanedar’s H. Res 353 and Rep. Greens’ H. Res 537. Although both resolutions call for the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, H. Res 353 was withdrawn due to lack of support and leadership opposition. H. Res 537 earned 79 votes to take up the question, plus a request to co-sponsor the legislation from Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07). These leaders know that impeachment is patriotic.
Citizens Make the Difference
The difference? Citizen pressure. Michigan Representatives took heavy heat for their vote to block Representative Al Green’s article of impeachment. Several others, like Rep. Sean Casten (MA-06), explained themselves, often in a bewilderingly inconsistent fashion. In just one week, Casten told voters that impeachment was not the right move, that it was imperative, and then, that impeachment required a broad political consensus that we did not have.
Rep. Casten was right once and wrong twice last week. Impeachment is imperative. There is already broad consensus among the American people since April – and now with new evidence – that it is past time to impeach Donald J. Trump both among Democrats and, increasingly, among rural Americans. To make this consensus known to representatives, citizens must speak up.
Many citizens do not see themselves as part of the impeachment process, and they even may think of impeachment as a spectator sport. But the truth is, all citizens can – and should – contribute to the patriotic call to protect and defend the Constitution and our American democracy by demanding impeachment of elected officials who act in illegal and anti-democratic ways. Standing for impeachment is patriotic.
Citizen Action for Impeachment
Each citizen has the power to influence their members of Congress through clear, unambiguous communication about the need for impeachment, as well as a persistent, patriotic insistence that their Representative uphold their oath of office. Voters can and should use the power of their vote to compel action on impeachment. As impeachment is normalized and discussed in public, members of Congress will be required to address it.
Calls and Emails
Everyone can contribute to elevating this conversation by calling and writing to their Representative and Senators on a regular basis. Members of Congress take note of the tallies reported back from staffers from constituent calls and emails. Citizens who voice their views on impeachment influence members’ decision making and prioritization. Citizens’ Impeachment was founded to help voters do just that with tailored guidelines on how to advocate for impeachment. You can find these guidelines here.
Speak Up
Speaking out within our local communities matters too. Letters to the editor publicize why impeachment is important and demonstrate to representatives that citizens are engaged and care about this issue. Participation in local protests with pro-impeachment messaging cultivates community wide understanding that impeachment, conviction and removal is the right path – including in local media coverage. Neighbors and friends voicing their views publicly make it easier for other community members to clarify their own understanding – and express their own opinions. Remind them that standing for impeachment is patriotic.
Be the Patriot You Are
We all have a role to play in protecting and defending the Constitution. Even if you didn’t serve in the military, or any part of the United States government that required you swear an oath to protect and defend the constitution, each citizen who makes their voice heard by their Representatives, Senators, neighbors and friends, is every bit a patriot too. Together we can impeach, convict and remove our lawless, corrupt president. Standing together for impeachment is patriotic. Sign up today with Citizens’ Impeachment!
What do you want to know about the impeachment process? Ask us here.
