A wake-up call to 'Walis' Man and my AAPI Republican friends

• Acquittal does not mean Trump is innocent
• True patriots support democracy, not subvert it

A Filipino American carried a FIlipino broom as he joined insurrectionists during 1/6

OPINION

Well, AAPI Republicans, it's time for some honest reflection.

As expected, 43 Republican Senators voted to acquit Donald Trump from the charge of inciting the 1/6 Insurrection that saw a mob take over the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's victory over Donald Trump.

The Senate's vote Saturday was preordained despite videotaped evidence and a seemingly endless stream of subversive Trump tweets. Conviction would have required 17 GOP Senators to vote with the 50 Democrats. Only seven Republicans were principled enough to put country over party and voted to convict Trump.

It's  important to note, however, that acquittal does not mean Trump is innocent.

Republican leader Sen. Mitch McConnell said as much, when after voting for acquittal, he said: "Former President Trump's actions that preceded the riot were a disgraceful, disgraceful dereliction of duty. Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day."

His statement is not so ironic because McConnell intentionally provided the reason for Republicans hid behind justify Trump's acquittal by not calling the Senate back to work until Jan. 19, the day before President Biden was sworn into office.

With a straight face, McConnell the former Senate majority leader last month, ignored calls by Senate Democrats for a speedy trial during Trump's final days in office -- said Trump was constitutionally ineligible for conviction since the punishment is removal, and Trump was already out of office. 

Still, it is disappointing to see how democracy, which depends on men and women of good faith to follow the Senate's procedural rules instead of twisting the rules for their desired outcome: acquittal.

The flag of the former South Vietnam regime flew over the Capitol on 1/6.

More important, though, this posting is directed at to those AAPI voters who favored Trump last November. I ask you, isn't it about time to reconsider your support for a party that sought to overturn the government to which you pledged loyalty, and subvert democracy, which you love?

To the Filipino American known as the "Walis Man" because he carried  a Philippine broom known as a "walis" into the Capitol during the 1/6 Insurrection; to the Vietnamese American who carried the flag of the former South Vietnam or the people who waved the banner of India, the Asian American woman who posed with the noose and the other AAPI who gleefully chanted "Hang Mike Pence" or "Stop the Steal" when they took part in the failed coup last; take a look at those around you: the man with the swastika tattoo, the guy carrying the Confederate flag that represents  slavery, the dude with the "Camp Auswitz" t-shirt, the white supremacists who beat a policeman, who killed an officer of the law, who wanted to start a new civil war. 

Again ... do you really think these people will accept you, your culture, your history,  your accent, or your language?

Seven people died as a result of the 1/6 coup attempt, including three police officers: one who was bludgeoned to death and two by suicide.

There are honest debates to be had over immigration and economic strategies to heal our country ...  OUR country ... even though I may be on the opposite side of the political spectrum than you, I love our country as much as you. I am as patriotic as you. Those policy discussions can be had if we realize, we are not enemies.

Perhaps this message my Republican friends from award-winning film maker Matthew Cooke will help you reflect on the future of your party and the future of our country and help you rethink on who and what you are supporting.

From the Editor, a word of caution: This post is news laced with my opinion. You are encouraged to seek other news outlets to form your own opinion.

 

Impeaching Donald Trump: AAPI members of Congress vote along party lines

SCREEN CAPTURE / C-SPAN

Rep. Ted Lieu will manage Donald Trump's impeachment in front of the U.S. Senate.

On Korean American Day, the four Korean American Congressmembers split along party lines on the initiative to impeach Donald Trump. The day commemorates the arrival of the first Koreans to the U.S. in 1903.

Democrats Andy Kim (NJ) and Marilyn Strickland (WA) voted Wednesday (Jan. 13)  for impeachment and California Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Steel voted no.

With a vote of 232 to 197, the House of Representatives charged Trump with "incitement of insurrection" for his role in the violent takeover byTrump supporters and white supremacists of the U.S. Capitol building that left five people dead and terrorized lawmakers as they sought to confirm the Electoral College votes that gave President-elect Joe Biden a victory last Nov. 3.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA, to manage the impeachment and argue for conviction in front of the Senate.

Unlike 13 months ago when the House voted for the first impeachment of Trump and the vote was strictly along party lines, 10 Republicans crossed party lines this time to vote with the Democrats, including Rep. Liz Cheney, the third highest ranking Republican in the House.

With the exception of first-term lawmakers Young Kim and Steel, the other  AAPI Representatives are Democrats and voted for impeachment along party lines. Besides the aforementioned Strickland, Andy Kim. They include: Californians Ted Lieu, Ro Khanna, Mark Takano, Judy Chu, Ami Bera, Doris Matsui and newly installed Kai Kahele of Hawaii, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Grace Meng of New York, Virginia's Bobby Scott and Stephanie Murphy of Florida.

"The bipartisan vote reaffirms that security of our democracy is our first priority," said Congressman Scott, who is of Filipino descent. "I hope the Senate will convict/remove Donald Trump and we can move forward from this dark chapter."

“It is not with joy that I have voted to impeach the President for a second time. I am taking a stand to ensure the future for our children and grandchildren," said Rep. Matsui. "When we are asked by future generations what we did, we must be able to tell them that we fulfilled our obligation to keep our democracy strong. (Trump) remains a clear and present danger to our nation as long as he is able to hold elected office, and that is why we acted to impeach him immediately.”

“Today’s impeachment is not about dividing this country. It’s about uniting all patriotic Americans against the unconstitutional actions of an out-of-control president—a president who incited insurrection against our great nation,” said Florida's Murphy. (Murphy's full statement is below.)

Trump is the only U.S. President to be impeached twice. Trump's was impeached in 2019 for trying to get Ukraine officials to dig up dirt of alleged corrupt business dealings = by Hunter Biden, the son of President-elect Joe Biden. The allegations, which proved untrue, were, nevertheless, raised by Trump against Biden during the campaign. The Senate rejected the impeachment.

The current charge of impeachment against Trump claims Trump "incited an insurrection" against Congress when he spoke at a rally of people who believed Trump's lies claiming that the 2020 Presidential election was rigged and that he actually won. 

The "incitement of insurrection" article of impeachment was introduced Monday by three House Democrats: Ted Lieu of California , Jaime Raskin of Maryland and David Cicilline of Rhode Island.

Lieu got the impeachment ball rolling while insurrectionists were roaming the halls of the Capitol after breaking through the lines of overwhelmed police officers  He texted the Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee about the need to impeach.

“I was just super pissed off,” said Lieu, an officer in the Air Force Reserves and represents a district that includes parts of  Los Angeles and Hollywood.

The impeachment is like an indictment and the hearing before the U.S. Senate is like a trial. Chief Justice Roberts will preside and two-thirds of the Senators present is needed for a conviction. The Senate is not set to meet until Jan.1 19, a day before Biden's inauguration so the articles of impeachment would likely be presented to the newly constituted Senate that will be controlled by the Democrats.

A former president can still be found guilty by the Senate. While the main penalty for a guilty verdict in an impeachment trial is removal from office, senators could vote to bar Trump from holding office in the future. That's an important incentive for both parties becuase Trump has not ruled out running for president in 2024. He could also lose his six-figure pension and other post-presidential perks.

The final text for impeachment states: “President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He thereby betrayed his trust as president, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.”