Elaine Harris Spearman Commentary: GOP's zombie-like loyalty to one individual
“There ought to be a law.” How many times have you choked this phrase out, or heard someone else say it, utterly exasperated?
The times that you have said it, or heard it said, was after observing behavior or deeds that simply shocked the conscience, or were so outrageous that the actor should be most likely jailed or otherwise held to account.
The disgraced former president fits into one or all of the categories you can think of that would make you say, “there ought to be a law.”
Well, there is a law. It is contained in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
I know that most people only reference one section of this important amendment because it outlines the civil rights of American citizens. But about three paragraphs down, it says, “Anyone who took an oath to defend the constitution of the United States and then fought against the United States in a civil war, or other insurrection (emphasis added) is ineligible to hold high office unless approved by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of Congress.”
The last line of the amendment says, “Congress may enact laws to enforce these provisions.”
The 14th Amendment was added in 1868 as part of a trio of amendments following the Civil War. It is obvious that what we are witnessing in 2022 was not unanticipated. The drafters of the amendments understood men and their quest for power. They knew that some men have no boundaries and that they would have no shame in the pursuit of this country's highest office.
Albeit perverse to witness, it makes one come face to face with the depths of individual disturbances, and the deeply embedded desire for power, control and authority. What we are witnessing is the same perverse desire that creates megalomaniacs, dictators and really scary authoritarian leadership.
There are several American males who place themselves above the law; 81 million people rejected this form of leadership in 2020. What would drive a person to ignore the vote and plunge forward, knowing full well that he did not win the election?
What would make men of the Republican Party so fearful of one man that they would bow to his will, and think nothing of their own legacy?
As we are shown one news clip after another of Republican males, many smug and almost salivating to get to the microphone, it is a pathetic picture. Many of them are zombie-like. It is a telling, frightening picture.
Kevin McCarthy, poised to become speaker after Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, seemingly now believes that he has “his place.” The first thing he talked about was launching investigations into Biden and anyone else they have their sights on. The zombie crowd around him gave affirmation and had their turn at the mic.
What about their plans for this country and its people? What about a willingness to work “across the aisle?” All of the hatred and mean-spiritedness that has completely dammed up in the GOP is now spilling forth in a very vindictive way.
It is chilling to see and hear the zombie-like men brag, preen and have much pomp and circumstance about Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney. These two women are probably the smartest and bravest that I, among others, have witnessed for a very long time. I would vote for either as president.
The two of them could teach a class on how to find a backbone, or a spine, if you will. It would be my honor to assist.
As McCarthy speaks loftily about his group’s planned investigations, my mind went back to my history classes. Really sorry if you weren’t attentive but Joseph R. McCarthy (1909-1957) was the U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. (1946-1957).
A reminder: This senator is where the word “McCarthyism” came from. It is the political practice of publicizing accusations of disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence. McCarthyism also is described as the use of investigations and accusation regarded as unfair in order to suppress opposition.
I believe McCarthy is digging up his own personal brand of McCarthyism.
The American people have got to link what they see to what has passed, and to what they cannot see coming. We cannot see behind closed doors, or attend secret meetings aboard airplanes and in private clubs.
We did see a mob tearing up the Capitol on Jan. 6, yelling for lawmakers and bearing weapons. We do know that top secret documents were taken to a private club and that some documents are missing from the envelopes that belong to the American people.
We did not see the leader, at that time, of the free world attempting to bring peace and issuing a call for the mobsters to stand down in their hunt for our elected officials on hallowed ground.
Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq., a Gadsden native, is an attorney and is the retired legal advisor to the comptroller of the City of St. Louis. The opinions reflected are her own.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Elaine H. Spearman looks at GOP's plans for control of House
