Opinion: To heal the country, stop putting party politics ahead of the Constitution

We are looking at the demise of the United States of America. The flag is being used as a symbol for hatred, bigotry, lies and anti-democracy. Donald Trump supporters, including the far-right militia groups, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, Boogaloo Bois and Neo-Nazi groups that believe in the ideas and policies of Adolf Hitler and white supremacy, all use the American flag along with Nazi and Confederate flags as a sign for Trump support. Trump appeals to every outcast group out there today.

On January 6, we saw Trump and his supporters attempt to overthrow our government. The attempt was a well-planned, well-funded endeavor that saw participation of people in high levels of government, including elected officials.

Ali Alexander, one of the organizers of the violent coup attempt, claimed that he specifically had help from members of Congress in planning the breach of the Capital. Alexander named three Trump-friendly Congress members who he says helped him plan the “Stop the Steal” mob: Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Alabama) and Arizona Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs. Brooks wore a bulletproof vest at his infamous “start taking down names and kicking ass” speech the morning of the insurrection. Other Trump supporters who spoke that morning are (“one religion for all”) Michael Flynn and one-time America’s favorite mayor Rudy ("Truth isn't truth”) Giuliani. They and many other members of Congress were involved in planning Trump’s efforts to overturn his election loss and should be arrested and charged with sedition in addition to treason.

Many of these individuals are now defining Congressional subpoenas claiming executive privilege. Only one person has authority to execute executive privilege and that is our president, Joe Biden. What are these individuals trying to hide with their attempts at obstruction of justice?

Why have the Republicans fought so hard to try to evade a congressional investigation of the events of Jan. 6? They know that they were complicit. They know that they were at fault. They therefore know that some of them will be facing consequences, and that’s exactly what should happen.

Folks like Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger, pure true Conservatives, saw what Jan. 6 was all about and are speaking the truth of who was responsible for the attack on our Capital, even though by speaking the truth it will affect or end their political careers. Other Republicans afraid to speak out against Trump are criminal in their neglect of ethics and decency. True Conservatives are now viewed as RINOs (Republicans in name only) or anti-Trump, when in fact a true Conservative is not Anti-Trump nor Pro-Trump but loyal to the Constitution of the United States.

For this country to ever heal from Trump’s policies, we must view our fellow Americans based on the content of one’s character, not on who was loyal to whom, and who will defend the Constitution of the United States of America.

Joe Soares

Fall River

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Opinion: To heal the country, defend Constitution, not party politics