We the people

The United States Constitution begins with this paragraph, “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

This opening paragraph of the Constitution states a noble purpose for the United States. These values have been guarded and followed by the people of this country for 250 years.

Until now.

A reading of the First Amendment of the Constitution sheds light on just how far the current administration is veering from Constitutional principles. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Donald Trump has taken great delight in denying the press pool of reporters of major networks to cover the visit of Xi, the Communist President of China. He stood on the red carpet, welcoming Xi and was inaudible because microphones were across the street, not allowed to come closer.

For a president who finds television to be his oxygen, does he realize he shot himself in the foot through his childish actions toward the free press?

 Trump has always called the press, “fake news.” He gripes that nobody reports better stories about him. He does not realize that there are very few good stories about him. Even his MAGA base is growing weary of his impulsive temperament.

A free press is necessary to inform an electorate of the actions and inactions of the president., and not just the president but all elected officials. There are other presidents who did not like the coverage they got.

Johnson did not like Walter Cronkite reporting the truth about the Viet Nam War. Biden did not like the reports of his frailty. Richard Nixon didn’t like Watergate coverage. Clinton did not like the slutty stories of Monica Lewinski in the Oval Office.

Guess what? If you don’t like bad press, don’t do bad things. Perhaps Trump could try being a better president. Instead, he is gaining the notoriety of being the worst president in the history of the United States.

He is the butt of jokes. A laughingstock for late night comics. SNL has had quite a comeback in its portrayal of Trump by John Austin Johnson and Alec Baldwin. Trump is a caricature who has risen above his competence level.

People are finding pain at the gas pumps and the grocery store. Inflation is rising. The stock market is volatile. Metrics and polls are increasingly negative for Trump.

We are a few weeks from the mid-term election. Democrats are polling well in Texas and Iowa, and North Carolina. In the years we had a yellow Lab, I would tie a red, white, and blue kerchief around her neck and walk to the polls.

I don’t have a yellow dog now, but I do have signs for Democratic candidates to put in the yard. Early voting in North Carolina begins October 15^th.  Prayers for a strong Democratic turnout and a steadfast show of resistance for all the wrong that is happening in our government.

I married into a broadcasting family 61 years ago. In the radio stations we owned, election night was a party. We had refreshments in the lobby. Candidates would come in and out all night. We had reporters at every county Election Board who would call in vote numbers as they were counted. We knew in real time how the elections were going. Nobody ever tried to silence our reporting.

The masthead of The Washington Post, proclaims “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” We need to shine a light on the grift and corruption happening before our eyes. Not one of us could get away with the behavior we see elected leaders exhibiting.

Maybe Donald Trump’s point is to destroy democracy. He finds great delight in himself and his actions. His Congress and his base must be happy.

We the people will keep working for freedom. In the press. In our elections. We will sing a chorus of America the Beautiful and keep the faith. Goodness wins in the end.

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist, and host of the blogsite Avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com.