The latest CNN poll finds that 60 percent of Americans believe that if an elected official faced credible allegations of sexual harassment, he ought to resign, although only 50 percent think President Donald Trump should resign. (Hmm. Don’t expect voters to be logically consistent.)
Sixty-four percent think that the way Trump treats women is reflective of his character and ability to be president. By a huge 63 percent to 36 percent margin, Americans think there should be a congressional investigation of his alleged sexual misconduct; 61 percent think the allegations against Trump are mostly true, while 32 percent do not.
Trump is in no immediate danger from an investigation or public forum for his accusers because Republicans ignore or discount the women’s allegations. While they may talk a good game, they have absolutely no interest in subjecting Trump to scrutiny.
And it’s not just sexual predation but also financial corruption and self-dealing that elected Republicans and conservative cheerleaders (Great year, Mr. President!) refuse to acknowledge. In federal court on Thursday, a judge in one of three emoluments suits against the president for alleged receipt of foreign monies held that the plaintiffs lacked standing — the ability to show they were directly harmed. In essence, the judge found alleged injuries claimed by other hotels who lost business to Trump to be wholly speculative. That leaves open the possibility that members of Congress pursuing a separate case in court could still prevail. But there is, of course, another way to proceed: Run on an anti-corruption platform and win the majority in the House and/or Senate.
In addition to Trump’s history of alleged sexual assault, voters should be deeply troubled by his current practice of concealing his tax returns, hawking business for his properties, cozying up to dictators in whose countries he owns properties, hiring of other officials (e.g. Wilbur Ross) who have interests in foreign companies, misrepresentation that he had no business ties to Russia and hiring of his son-in-law, who repeatedly failed to identify meetings with foreign officials and financial holdings. This conduct, stemming from his refusing to separate from his businesses and abide by practices of former presidents, represents an unprecedented threat to honest, transparent and clean government.
Republicans have refused and will continue to refuse to do their jobs and to exercise appropriate oversight, so the task falls to Democrats. Democrats should be unequivocal in their 2018 campaign: They will root out Trump family corruption and force Trump and senior advisers Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner to reveal how they benefit from the recent tax bill. They should, as the Constitution provides, refuse to approve receipt of foreign emoluments by Trump. If he does not divest himself of these interests, then clear grounds for impeachment will exist.
Understandably, Democrats want to focus in 2018 on the president’s betrayal of his base — his reverse Robin Hood tax plan and his effort to increase costs of premiums for insurance purchased in the Affordable Care Act exchanges (by repealing the individual mandate). However, that should not be the only issue. It would be a mistake to ignore the issues driving anger and outrage over the president’s conduct and character. The public thirsts for normal, decent government, and so long as there is one-party government, they won’t get it.
Right-wing toadies delighting in the financial benefits of pass-through companies have given up any claim to be guardians of the rule of law, which includes the principle that the presidency is not a private piggy bank but a public trust. They cannot claim to be constitutional conservatives while refusing to address protections against corruption.
The questions for voters in 2018 therefore should be: Do they want clean government or Trump’s banana republic? Do they want the president of the United States to be held accountable for his alleged assaults against women?
Jennifer Rubin | The Washington Post