To Impeach or Not to Impeach, That is the Question

A case is being made by a significant segment of the incoming majority Democratic Party that the leadership should ignore the crescendo of calls from their base for the impeachment of President Bush, instead, focusing on passing legislation pleasing to most Americans. Thus they could impress on their minds how much better Democrats are for the country than the Republicans have been. There’s something attractive about the idea that Democrats should win friends and secure their future power by focusing on passing popular and needed legislation. It would probably be the easier course to take and must seem less risky to the careers of incumbents.

But I believe those who want to choose the expedient path would be doing a vast disservice to our country and failing to live up to their sworn promise to uphold, preserve, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.

Ignoring Constitutional issues sets a precedent for future presidents, that one can violate laws and the U.S. Constitution with impunity. Is that really a good message to send to our country (not to mention future presidents)? Do we really want to say to Republicans (many of whom have been alarmed at the violations of the Constitution), as well as to Democrats and Independents, that the Constitution doesn’t matter that much? “We’ve stopped ‘em so let’s just leave it there.”?

Just consider: holding hearings on the numerous violations of the Constitution by the Bush Administration would hold accountable the person who most disrespected the rule of law and its provisions (which violate his Oath of Office). It would serve as a brake on future administrations. It would also provide a thorough, public examination of policies that have received remarkably little scrutiny so far, like denying habeas corpus to those the Administration accuses of being a terrorist or a supporter of terrorism. Those policies probably could not stand the light of day, were they ever to receive the serious scrutiny they ought to have had before they were enacted into law. Public hearings also would have an enormous impact on the public’s understanding of our Constitution and its many provisions.

Christians are called to live in the light and to shun the darkness. That way we can repent where we've fallen short, be restored to live rightly and follow God's will. It's a good model for nations as well.

Will holding hearings that could lead to the impeachment of the President have a cost? Undoubtedly, and they are not without risk. Democrats currently don’t have the votes to successfully implement impeachment proceedings alone , nor do they yet have the American people solidly behind them, although polls show a majority think impeachment might be required. Televised hearings would, step by step, build the case, as it did during the Nixon era, until a bipartisan consensus forms that demands impeachment.

Should those pushing for hearings hold back lest Bush resign and Cheney become president? I think not. With the many pointers indicating the Veep has probably been in violation of many laws himself, it seems most likely that Mr. Cheney could be impeached or forced to resign first.

What happens if Democrats ignore Bush’s many violations and focus on enacting popular programs? They would do so at great cost to our country. Think of it: our Constitution would be permanently undermined. Whatever check the threat of impeachment had would lose any power in the face of being applied to an attempt to oust one president for a personal peccadillo but actively avoided in the face of numerous flagrant violations of U.S. law and the Constitution. Our country would miss the opportunity of bringing the Administration’s “dirty, little secrets” into the light of day where scrutiny could nullify their festering toxin and promote the adoption of policies that would bring healing. Most of all, Americans would have lost the opportunity to learn the lessons of how vigilant we must be to preserve our great treasure embodied in our Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Let the hearings begin, and let the sunshine in!