BS News from the NY Times
DALLAS
— I am a Republican presidential elector, one of the 538 people asked
to choose officially the president of the United States. Since the
election, people have asked me to change my vote based on policy
disagreements with Donald J. Trump. In some cases, they cite the popular
vote difference. I do not think presidents-elect should be disqualified
for policy disagreements. I do not think they should be disqualified
because they won the Electoral College instead of the popular vote.
However, now I am asked to cast a vote on Dec. 19 for someone who shows
daily he is not qualified for the office.
Fifteen
years ago, as a firefighter, I was part of the response to the Sept. 11
attacks against our nation. That attack and this year’s election may
seem unrelated, but for me the relationship becomes clearer every day.
George
W. Bush is an imperfect man, but he led us through the tragic days
following the attacks. His leadership showed that America was a great
nation. That was also the last time I remember the nation united. I
watch Mr. Trump fail to unite America and drive a wedge between us.
Mr.
Trump goes out of his way to attack the cast of “Saturday Night Live”
for bias. He tweets day and night, but waited two days to offer sympathy
to the Ohio State community after an attack there. He does not
encourage civil discourse, but chooses to stoke fear and create outrage.
This
is unacceptable. For me, America is that shining city on a hill that
Ronald Reagan envisioned. It has problems. It has challenges. These can
be met and overcome just as our nation overcame Sept. 11.
The
United States was set up as a republic. Alexander Hamilton provided a
blueprint for states’ votes. Federalist 68 argued that an Electoral
College should determine if candidates are qualified, not engaged in
demagogy, and independent from foreign influence. Mr. Trump shows us
again and again that he does not meet these standards. Given his own
public statements, it isn’t clear how the Electoral College can ignore
these issues, and so it should reject him.
I
have poured countless hours into serving the party of Lincoln and
electing its candidates. I will pour many more into being more faithful
to my party than some in its leadership. But I owe no debt to a party. I
owe a debt to my children to leave them a nation they can trust.
Mr.
Trump lacks the foreign policy experience and demeanor needed to be
commander in chief. During the campaign more than 50 Republican former
national security officials and foreign policy experts co-signed a
letter opposing him. In their words, “he would be a dangerous
president.” During the campaign Mr. Trump even said Russia should hack
Hillary Clinton’s emails. This encouragement of an illegal act has
troubled many members of Congress and troubles me.
Hamilton
also reminded us that a president cannot be a demagogue. Mr. Trump
urged violence against protesters at his rallies during the campaign. He
speaks of retribution against his critics. He has surrounded himself
with advisers such as Stephen K. Bannon, who claims to be a Leninist and
lauds villains and their thirst for power, including Darth Vader.
“Rogue One,” the latest “Star Wars” installment, arrives later this
month. I am not taking my children to see it to celebrate evil, but to
show them that light can overcome it.
Gen.
Michael T. Flynn, Mr. Trump’s pick for national security adviser, has
his own checkered past about rules. He installed a secret internet
connection in his Pentagon office despite rules to the contrary. Sound
familiar?
Finally,
Mr. Trump does not understand that the Constitution expressly forbids a
president to receive payments or gifts from foreign governments. We
have reports that Mr. Trump’s organization has business dealings in
Argentina, Bahrain, Taiwan and elsewhere. Mr. Trump could be impeached
in his first year given his dismissive responses to financial conflicts
of interest. He has played fast and loose with the law for years. He may
have violated the Cuban embargo, and there are reports of improprieties
involving his foundation and actions he took against minority tenants
in New York. Mr. Trump still seems to think that pattern of behavior can
continue.
The
election of the next president is not yet a done deal. Electors of
conscience can still do the right thing for the good of the country.
Presidential electors have the legal right and a constitutional duty to
vote their conscience. I believe electors should unify behind a
Republican alternative, an honorable and qualified man or woman such as
Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. I pray my fellow electors will do their job
and join with me in discovering who that person should be.
Fifteen
years ago, I swore an oath to defend my country and Constitution
against all enemies, foreign and domestic. On Dec. 19, I will do it
again.
Christopher Suprun lives in Texas and works as a paramedic.
This is the sort of BS I hear on a daily basis on CNN. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy were CIA. Notice how he wrote his name on Twitter: (((Chris Suprun))) ROFL
