Witch hunts' seem to have found exactly what they were looking for

To The Daily Sun,

I would like to begin by agreeing with Mr. Meade that “you reap what you sow,” or, "what goes around, comes around." No matter the vernacular, the meaning is the same — actions, whether good or bad, will have consequences.

With that having been said, I’d like Mr. Meade to consider the actions of Republican/conservatives on the day of President Obama’s inauguration. At a Congressional Republican gathering, Mitch McConnell, Senate majority leader, explained to Republican leaders that “our top political priority over the next four years should be to deny Barack Obama a second term.” True to their strategy, they would employ maximum confrontation and obstruction rather than cooperation.

Mr. Meade, does this sound like “resistance?” The Republicans created and implemented this movement against Obama — they may not have labeled it as a “resistance” movement, but that is exactly what McConnell was advocating. They marinated for eight years in a toxic show of resentment and hatred. Stop your whining Mr. Meade. Although you’d like to blame Hillary, you got what you sowed. This “resistance” that you perseverate over has been accepted and has led to “national unrest.”

Mr. Meade, once again, rehashes his claim that academia is responsible for “the march to anarchy and the destruction of our democratic republic.” He fails to understand that when students demonstrate, as they always have, they are not demonstrating in opposition to the First Amendment, but against racism, hatred and other actions they may deem unjust. I’m sure Meade is as upset with Trump’s abuse of the First Amendment as he is with those of academia. Trump, who has sworn an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, has suggested that because the media reports news he doesn’t like, they should be silenced — threatening to “challenge” broadcast networks' licenses. This would be a restriction on the practice of the First Amendment rights of those who that report news disagreeable to the highest office in the land.

Trump has no particular reverence for the First Amendment; it’s quite obvious he doesn’t understand it very well. He and his executive branch routinely engage in a systematic effort to create a climate of opinion against the news media; once claiming that the media “is the enemy of the American people.” Are you “concerned” Mr. Meade?

Trump has been attacking the First Amendment along with the rest of the Constitution ever since his days as a candidate. He attacks the media, but also the Judicial Branch, the intelligence community, and the military, previous presidents, several of the Executive Branch’s cabinet departments, scientists, Pope Francis, and anyone with whom he disagrees. He has innumerable “enemies,” but enemies of “the people” they are not.

Another statement by Mr. Meade that I find very disconcerting was that he felt the federal employees were using their powers for “trivial matters.” Mr. Meade, it has been proven and documented by our intelligence agencies and those of our allies that a foreign nation, Russia, interfered in our national election. Did it have an impact on the outcome? Was there collusion? That remains to be resolved. In any case, I would hardly categorize this investigation as “trivial.”

Four Trump associates have been charged, and three have pleaded guilty to lying to authorities. Overall 19 people, including 13 Russians, have been charged. Trump is considered a subject of this criminal investigation. And, Mr. Meade, this investigation is about more issues than collusion; it involves obstruction of justice, money laundering, as well as election law and wire fraud violations.

Trump has continually attacked the Justice Department for being part of the “deep state,” but the top officials in the department were selected by him, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray. He has condemned their actions as “phony” and “sad,” thereby challenging the integrity of the department he created.

Trump tries to minimize these investigations as a “witch hunt,” and guess what — they’ve found witches!

Robert Miller

Alton