An open letter to Sen. John Thune

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Dear Sen.Thune,

I read your letter to The Brookings Register last evening about your response to the impeachment trial of President Trump. Although I don’t agree with your decision not to call more witnesses, nor your decision to acquit, I can respect the reason you give for your position. “While we can debate the president’s judgment, or even conclude that his actions were inappropriate, I determined that this case did not meet the high threshold that our Founders envisioned.”

I appreciated the fact you left open the possibility the president used poor judgment. And as I understand it, his action in seeking foreign help to further his 2020 election, was not only inappropriate but against the law.

But the thing I was most pleased about in your letter was how a senator from across the aisle approached you and said, “I sure hope we can still work together when all of this is done.” More than anything, I believe your constituents and the whole country want to trust our Congress to function as a deliberative body, for the good of the country, not as a partisan street fight. I trust you will make the same effort crossing the aisle. That seems to be your promise at the end of your letter.

I say “trust” because I’m fearful many of us have lost trust. The blame game has become so much a part of the Washington scene that it seems highly unusual someone would walk across the aisle. Maybe that’s inaccurate, but the public perception is political parties only see and hear the other side speaking evil.

You may recall I wrote you in the summer of last year about the president and the political atmosphere in Washington. In your response you wrote, “Social media has been an effective way for elected officials to communicate directly with the American people. However, despite the opportunities social media has offered, I do not believe it should be used for personal attacks or to disparage any group of people or community. As elected officials we have a responsibility to work on behalf of all Americans. We should be respectful with our words, keep our discussions high-minded, and debate the merits of policies and ideas.” I couldn’t agree with you more! 

But my perception is the tweet wars have gotten worse, rather than better. Now we have a situation where tweets have raised questions about whether we can “trust” the promise of “impartial” justice. The president has made it clear he is not happy with the Roger Stone verdict and recommended sentence. He has publicly rebuked not only the four prosecutors (since resigned) but also the judge and the jury. He has undercut federal prosecutors all across the country who use federal guidelines in recommending sentences. He has used his influence to change personnel in the D.C. office where he is under some personal threat.

As to the “personal attacks” you cited in your letter to me, an impeachment acquittal has only seemed to embolden the president in his vindictiveness against his enemies. The protection of national monuments in Utah were lifted the day after Senator Romney became a party pariah. (I hope you have reached out to him, respecting his faith as the reason for his vote.) 

Lt. Col. Vindman was a White House employee, so one can partially understand his removal, but his brother? And why exactly, should the military prosecute the officer? Sondland and Bolton (and now Kelly) have all joined the long list of has-beens personally attacked by this president.

Many are looking to the 2020 election as an opportunity to restore some level of trust that Washington will get down to business for the American people. You allude to that yourself in your letter to the Register. You and your colleagues need to do all you can to ensure trust in the coming election. It is clear the heritage of one person, one vote is at risk. Foreign meddling in 2016 has been proven beyond a doubt. Warnings are abroad that the same can happen in 2020. We are already aware of how the purse skews political power at the voting booth. Add to that foreign influence and trust in the electoral process can all but evaporate. 

Any and all relationships are based on trust. Trust can be betrayed. Trust can be restored and forgiveness is always possible. But restoration and forgiveness require change and new behaviors. We’re waiting and watching!

Sincerely,

Rev. Carl Kline