The Assault on Truth
A View of Dramatic American Politics
To be objective is to be impartial and mature. It is to be rigid and right, nonpartisan and neutral. Objective truths are recognized as facts; they are recognized by means of history, precedent, laws, and science. They are not to be argued with or altered, because they establish the foundations of any functioning system. Truth, when observed or revealed, is crystal clear. It is the revered standard by which the entire legislative system roots from. It is often sharp, brilliant, devastating, and unrelenting. Above all, it is always correct. Truth is humbling and necessary. Truth unveils the face of valor and it allows for justice to thrive. Knowing the definition of truth, and what it stands for, also helps us define the antithesis: falsehood and fiction.
Current American political affairs are messy. There is an apparent widening rift between the two major political parties. Two weeks ago, House Speaker Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry against President Trump. Since then, the news has widely been a confusing spectacle — a blizzard of both reality and fabrication.
Here is the truth:
— In an exclusive interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in June, President Trump admitted that he’d be open to accepting damaging information from foreign powers.
Stephanopoulos asked, “Your campaign this time around, if foreigners, if Russia, if China, if someone else offers you information on opponents, should they accept it or should they call the FBI?”
Trump answered, “I think maybe you do both. I think you might want to listen. I don’t — There’s nothing wrong with listening. If somebody called from a country — Norway — ‘We have information on your opponent.’ Oh. I think I’d want to hear it.”
Stephanopoulos: “You want that kind of interference in our elections?”
Trump: “It’s not interference. They have information. I think I’d take it.”
— On August 12th, a whistleblower filed a complaint of “urgent concern” to the Senate and House chairmen of the Intelligence Committees. The complaint accuses the president of “using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election.” The letter names Rudy Guiliani and Attorney General Barr in these interference efforts.
— The White House has been trying to identify the original whistleblower.
— According to law, an intelligence whistleblower is protected from retaliation as long as they follow protocol when filing a complaint.
— The White House and Justice Department advised the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that the complaint involving President Trump wasn’t governed by laws covering intelligence whistleblowers.
— The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump repeatedly asked the President of Ukraine to look into Joe and Hunter Biden. This is based on a phone call the two leaders had on the 25th of July.
— This phone call took place literally a day after Mueller testified before Congress.
— Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was asked about the Ukraine phone call and seemingly sounded to have little to no knowledge of the details. He, in fact, was in on the call.
— According to a memo of the call, President Zelensky asked to purchase American-made anti-tank weapons. In return, while withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid, President Trump asked for Zelenksy’s cooperation in working with American officials to investigate a political rival.
— The “transcript” of the phone call released by the White House is “not a verbatim transcript of a discussion.” This is the same administration that released the infamous magic marker edit of Hurricane Dorian’s path.
— The intent and purpose of this phone call are illegal. The United States does not operate by means of bribery and illegal favors. This is practically gambling the safety and knowledge of the Union. It jeopardizes the homeland’s security and interests. Furthermore, it sets an extremely dangerous precedent. Every U.S. president takes an oath of office that states that he or she will — to the best of their ability — preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Article II, Section IV: “ The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
— President Trump ordered the removal of the Ukraine Ambassador, Marie Yovanovitch, after allies of his said she was impeding the Biden probe and speaking poorly of him.
— The top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine (following the removal of Marie Yovanovitch), Bill Taylor, expressed serious concern over foreign policy moves being connected to political motives. In a text-message exchange with E.U. Ambassador Sondland, he wrote: “As I said on the phone, I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.”
— Before replying to Taylor, Gordon Sondland called President Trump and denied any quid-pro-quo. E.U. Ambassador Sondland texted: “I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions.” Sondland then suggested that he and Taylor stop the back and forth via text.
— Gordon Sondland was handpicked by Trump himself to be Ambassador to the European Union. Sondland donated $1 million to the president’s inaugural committee. Before being confirmed as an ambassador by the Senate, Sondland worked as a boutique hotel founder; he previously had no formal diplomatic experience.
— Sondland was barred by the State Department to testify before three House panels.
— On October 3rd, President Trump publicly called on China to investigate the Bidens.
— President Trump has baselessly accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Representative Adam Schiff of committing “treason.”
— President Trump has repeatedly lashed out against the whistleblower and the media on his Twitter account.
— The White House is flat-out refusing to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry.
— These actions by the President and some of his administration officials spell out abuse of power and an abuse of the office. They have forfeited their right to sit in such remarkable positions of power and they have been compromised by recklessness and an erroneous sense of impunity. Therefore, an impeachment inquiry, at the very least, is warranted.
The administration’s strategy is to deny, deflect, distort, pivot, attack, scramble, and scream. They are trying to tie their executive power to an exemption. They are attempting to paint the Intelligence and Oversight Committees as appendages of a corrupt conspiracy to illegally oust a sitting president. This is a cheap distraction— an aberration. And it is perilous.
Checks and balances are in place to prevent a single branch of government from directing with total rule. When the truth is attacked, integrity is chipped away at. When everything is a lie, nothing is. The once sharp blade of the truth becomes blunt and recognized as fiction. When facts die, order begins to crumble. Faith in institutions is lost. The faith in news media is lost. The faith in government is lost. Faith in universities is lost. Faith in libraries is lost. This is how the pillars of society are knocked over and it is how society, in response, fails and falls. Chaos is the byproduct. Mischief will thrive. Mass hysteria takes place. Conspiracy theories will grow like weeds on a once humble and well-kept garden. Liars will prosper and revel in their new environment. Nevermind the threats of biological warfare and climate change. Suddenly we are reminded of how young the United States is.
The remedy in unsure and turbulent times is to fight for the truth. This is something decent people are taught as children. We are told to always tell the truth, no matter how self-damaging. These times beckon for a wave of truth-seekers. It’s a call to find a reputable outlet and support it. Defend the integrity and hard work behind journalism. Ignite healthy debate and unearth undeniable truths with people who hold opposing ideologies and who hold the same respect for all things just. Until then, nothing of positive movement will occur. It’s long overdue that our representatives are held to a higher standard than comedians, actors, officers, doctors, and teachers. Until then, corruption will continue eating away at objective truth in the same way termites invade and destroy wood.
The remedy for ridding of such corruption in the government is simply spelled out in the Constitution. If and when the articles of impeachment are voted upon in the House, the eyes of the nation — and the fate of a presidency — will descend on the Senate. If the hypocrites and sycophants do nothing, a fatal self-inflicted precedent will be set. It won’t be long before citizens will longingly cry for a Trump administration once more — because what was once horrible will be viewed as sanctuary. Only the crazies are willing to follow the elephants in the parade.
Hugo is a writer of politics and culture. Follow him on Twitter (@hugosaysgo) for humor and recommended reading — and on Instagram (@hugosnaps) for photography. Happy reading.
