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by Ken Kemp – Posted: February 4, 2020
Tonight, the President will make his 2020 State of the Union Address. Tomorrow, the Senate will vote on the Articles of Impeachment and his removal from office.
There is little debate about the outcome. This is the most recent of several letters I have written to Senator Thune, a graduate of Biola University and Majority Whip (the number two in Senate rank, just behind Mitch McConnell). I have hopes, but little confidence that the Senator will do anything more than rubber-stamp the foregone conclusion of his party – giving the President yet another opportunity to gloat, to play the victim and to continue to abuse the office and his sacred oath.
Open Letter #1 – August 20, 2018
Open Letter #2 – December 15, 2019
Open Letter #4 – February 6, 2020
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
To: Senator John Thune
From: Ken Kemp
Re: The Impeachment Vote
Dear John –
Well, we are in the final hour.
Your vote on additional witnesses is now part of the public record and history. Republicans are quick to complain about partisan rancor – as are Democrats – but the whole mess is an assault on democracy itself. Whatever happened to the sacred primacy of individual conscience? It has been trumped* by tribal loyalty.
The culprit? McConnell? Pelosi? Schiff? Sekulow? No, the prime mover in this culture of malice, bitterness, and acrimony is none other than the occupant of the White House who commands with impunity Marine One, Air Force One and a maleficent Twitter feed (not to mention the nuclear codes).
Here are the familiar defenses:
“Yes, what he did was despicable, but the faulty Ukraine ‘deal’ just does not rise to the level of impeachment (a convenient phrase)” Really? If not impeachment, then what?
“But look at all the amazing things he’s done as President!”
“Those Democrats are obsessed with undoing the results of 2016 and subverting the 2020 election.” Really? But we have a criminal in the White House. The proverbial fox is in the hen house. Are Republicans really blind to this?
You learned better back there as an undergraduate at Biola (College) from those compelling Dr. David Peters lectures.
I could go on. But you’ve heard all this.
They tried every which way to convict Al Capone of his crimes, but he was too slippery; a master of plausible deniability. Finally, they got him on tax evasion – the only crime blatant enough to hold him to account.
There are just two Articles of Impeachment – they are proof enough.
Senator Thune, you are better than this. There is still time for you to be the Senator you are.
It was painful to hear your familiar voice on the witness vote: “No.” I didn’t hear an exclamation point. Rather, I heard reticence.
It’s true, I am not a constituent. Rather, I am a friend; going back to the seventies when your brother and I were fellow pastors in Southern California.
I doubt that you hear from many of us who share these convictions – but I pray that you will be strong; that you will cast a vote that is consistent with what you know to be just and true and right.
Vote for removal and an end to this national nightmare.
Most sincerely,
Ken Kemp
Cc: Dr. Peters, retired
*pun intended
Wednesday, February 5, 2020, the United States Senate voted “not guilty” to the two Articles of Impeachment along party lines.
Only Mitt Romney broke ranks from the Republican party. His powerful speech is worth watching in full. See it here. Also, you can listen to a powerful interview with the New York Times’ THE DAILY just before he made this speech. He is indeed, a Profile in Courage.
I had (naively) hoped that John Thune might be that courageous Republican. It was wishful thinking. Here is the letter I wrote to him the day after the aquittal*.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
To: Senator John Thune
From: Ken Kemp
Re: The Impeachment Vote – The Day After
Dear John –
Well, it’s over. The Presidential crowing begins. Thank God for Mitt Romney. He’s restored my faith in, well, faith.
I wrote because I held on to the (naïve) belief that you just might be that Profile in Courage – and stand up against this Presidential assault on everything we were taught. But it took a man whose faith is rooted in the Church of Latter-Day Saints to model the connection between faith and conscience. May his tribe increase.
We know now what Romney will tell his children and grandchildren. How about the rest of the Republicans who unanimously sold out to the Trump’s bowl of lukewarm porridge? Romney was right: the President’s behavior was wrong and “rose to the level” (a well-worn phrase these days) of an impeachable offense. But Republicans, following McConnell’s lead (some taking his bribes), shrugged it off.
No, it’s not a “complete and total exoneration.” We all know that. But truth doesn’t matter to this President, so he’ll repeat it and tweet it over and over again until it becomes the truth in the minds of those who gleefully skip down the Yellow Brick Road at the command of this Wizard of Oz.
Certainly, there are others who have expressed their disappointment in your vote for acquittal, in your stand-up call for “Four More Years!” and your quiet, loyal identification with (perhaps by necessity) the Majority Leader of the Senate (who should be ashamed of himself).
We (critics) are, most likely, a distinct minority. In all likelihood, your South Dakotan Republicans are celebrating the “victory,” and assuring you of their continued support; writing checks and slapping you on the back with cheery “attaboy”s.
But I’ve got to wonder what it’s like to be just you in the room, with your thoughts, after spending the day in that chamber surrounded by aging white guys who have devoted their lives to protecting their power and wealth – demonizing that collection of diverse Americans on the other side of the aisle as though they are some sort of threat to The Flag.
I understand that leadership is hard. It’s complicated.
When I first wrote, we talked about maybe sitting down for a long conversation about your journey from the classroom in La Mirada to halls of power in Washington. If the offer still stands, I’d like to see it happen.
You remain in my prayers. It’s going to be a rough year.
Sincerely,
Ken Kemp