Pelosi’s comments on impeachment are inspiring

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has shown us the difference between partisan political wrangling and much deeper spiritual and Constitutional imperatives.

Acting on principle, the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives is moving resolutely toward impeachment.

In a formal statement on Dec. 5, Speaker Pelosi summarized the case: “The facts are uncontested. The president abused his power for his own personal political benefit, at the expense of our national security. Sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders and a heart full of love for America, today, I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment.”

But later, as she was leaving her weekly news conference, a reporter for Sinclair Broadcast Group, a conservative television network, loudly broached a derisive GOP talking point: “Do you hate the president?”

Speaker Pelosi’s immediate response was heartfelt and indignant: “This is about the Constitution of the United States and the facts that led to the President’s violation of his oath of office. And as a Catholic, I resent your using the word hate in a sentence that addresses me. I don’t hate anyone. I was raised in a way that is a heart full of love and always prayed for the president. And I still pray for the president. I pray for the president all the time. So, don’t mess with me when it comes to words like that.”

To me, this is a call to our deeper, shared, common humanity and destiny. It is this awareness that I believe is essential if we are to successfully meet the grave challenges we face.

The Constitution directs us to: “… form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity …”

Let us pause frequently to reflect on how we can implement that profound imperative.

To my mind, Speaker Pelosi has provided an inspiring example for us to follow.

Marshall McComb

Baker City