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By Jennie L. Ilustre
Americans of Asian descent, reflecting the nation’s increasing polarization, are strongly divided on the impeachment of President Trump by the House of Representatives on December 18. Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The impeachment issue has also galvanized Asian American groups from both political parties into intensifying their efforts in the 2020 presidential elections.
Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of over 220 national organizations, stressed: “Protecting our democracy is our elected leaders’ most important responsibility. But the facts are clear: our president has failed to do that. Instead, he has threatened the heart of our democracy by demanding foreign interference in our elections and obstructing Congress. That is illegal. ‘We the people’ need to trust that our vote matters – and that it can’t be bought or stolen.
She added: “Every member of Congress has sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. At this critical moment, they must fulfill their solemn duty and vote to impeach. No one is above the law, not even the president.” (See full text of statement in this story.)
On the other hand, Filipino American Republicans of Virginia (FARV) President Felipe Cabacoy issued the group’s statement, which pointed out: “The impeachment of Pres. Trump on grounds of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress reflects the inability of Democrats to marshal facts that would clearly support the constitutional grounds for impeachment – treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanor…”
The statement added: “We are now in the midst of an economic boom. We have the lowest unemployment going back five decades, surging stock market reaching historic highs, trade deals that will only spike exports and create more jobs, energy independence and America not engaged in large scale war. Thanks to President Donald J. Trump… America cares more about issues that have direct impact on their daily lives.” (See full text of statement in this story.)
Remarked Irene Bueno, Partner at the Nueva Vista Group, LLC, and former Presidential Assistant on Domestic Policy in the Clinton White House: “The impeachment of President Trump demonstrates that no one is above the law and any President who violates the oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution will be held accountable.”
Asked how the impeachment vote would affect the 2020 elections, she replied: “The impeachment provides the voters in the United States a clear contrast between a President who violates the U.S. Constitution and puts his interest before the American people and a candidate who puts the interest of Americans first. While we do not know yet who will be the Democratic candidate for President, any of the front runners for President would be a vast improvement over the current President.”
Historic Impeachment
Trump is the third president in the nation’s history to be impeached, after Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. (Richard Nixon resigned rather than get impeached.) Trump was impeached for abuse of power, based on charges of calling the president of a foreign country (Ukraine) to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son for his job in Ukraine, Joe Biden being his potential rival in the 2020 presidential elections; and also for withholding nearly $400 million in military aid to a U.S. ally until this and an investigation of Ukraine’s 2016 election meddling (which was debunked by U.S. intelligence) are carried out. Neither Biden nor his son has been charged with any wrong-doing.
Trump was also impeached on the charge of obstruction of Congressional investigations in ordering White House aides and other officials not to testify in committee hearings. The two Articles of Impeachment are headed to the Senate, where the Republicans, with their 53-45 majority (two Independents caucus with the Democrats), are expected to acquit Trump in January.
The Democrats, who have majority in the House, needed only 216 votes to pass the two Articles of Impeachment, which recommend Trump’s removal from office, with Democrats labeling him as a threat to national security.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the vote results: 230 to 197 on the charge of Abuse of Power, and 229-198 on Obstruction of Congress. Republicans were remarkably united in voting against impeachment. On obstruction charge, two Democrats voted No, while Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is seeking the party’s presidential nomination, voted “present” (neither Yes nor No).
Strong Reaction
The passion from both sides is evident in their reaction. Former FARV President Vellie Dietrich-Hall commented: “The nation’s swamp is eager to stop the U.S. President who DELIVERS and fights for its people. The Democrats’ action has divided this country further and further, thus creating a theater of hate. Majority of voters against impeachment have increased because the injustice done to President Trump is so obvious, not to mention that it has no constitutional merits.”
“What this all boils down to is the Democrats’ desperate attempt to stop Trump from being re-elected,” she stressed.
Tung Nguyen, Chair of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Progressive Action noted: “Donald Trump has abused his power one too many times. We are glad that the House has done its job by impeaching him to protect our country from someone who wishes to become a tyrant.”
“But we know that a compromised and cynical majority in the Senate will not do its job to protect us. It is up to all Americans, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, to finish the job between now and November 2020,” he added. “Progressive Action will continue to organize and get out the AAPI vote, which is critical to removing Trump and protecting our democracy.”
The Asian American Action Fund (AAA-FUND) noted: “As a Political Action Committee (PAC), we are involved because we believe deeply in a healthy democracy and civic participation…Trump is being impeached because he has committed ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ which rise to the level of impeachment. We believe strongly that NO ONE is above the law.” (See full text of statement in this story.)
FARV statement
Full text of the FARV statement follows: “The impeachment of Pres. Trump on grounds of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress reflects the inability of Democrats to marshal facts that would clearly support the constitutional grounds for impeachment – treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanor. They are deviating from and rewriting the Constitution and are simply grasping for straws.
“After the Mueller report debunked the Russian collusion narrative promoted by the Democrats, they just would not stop even as the recent Horowitz report makes Trump a victim of FISA abuse. (Note: FISA refers to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act)
“We are now in the midst of an economic boom. We have the lowest unemployment going back five decades, surging stock market reaching historic highs, trade deals that will only spike exports and create more jobs, energy independence and America not engaged in large scale war. Thanks to President Donald J. Trump.
“While America is on the march to unprecedented prosperity and peace, the Democrats are still frozen in hatred of the duly elected President whose unconventional ways deliver results.
“Reality has sunk in. America cares more about issues that have direct impact on their daily lives. Public support for impeachment is dwindling.”
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights “is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals.”
Below are excerpts from the statement by Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: “Protecting our democracy is our elected leaders’ most important responsibility. But the facts are clear: our president has failed to do that. Instead, he has threatened the heart of our democracy by demanding foreign interference in our elections and obstructing Congress. That is illegal. ‘We the people’ need to trust that our vote matters – and that it can’t be bought or stolen.
”Because this interference in our elections poses a direct threat to our democracy, for the first time in our history The Leadership Conference has called for the impeachment of a president.
“Every member of Congress has sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. At this critical moment, they must fulfill their solemn duty and vote to impeach. No one is above the law, not even the president. If Congress fails to address this, they are declaring that anyone in elected office can hurt our country to secure personal gain.”
AAA-FUND
Full text of the statement by the Asian American Action Fund (AAA-FUND) follows: “Impeachment is a grave issue. This country has launched impeachment proceedings against a total of four Presidents in its history as a nation. As a Political Action Committee (PAC), we are involved because we believe deeply in a healthy democracy and civic participation, and don’t want the American Dream our parents, grandparents, and elders came for to disappear. Trump is being impeached because he has committed ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ which rise to the level of impeachment. We believe strongly that NO ONE is above the law. We will be active participants in the 2020 election to preserve our democracy for immigrants and citizens alike.”
RNC Statement
Marina Tse, Director of APA Media Affairs of the Republican National Committee (RNC), sent the statement by RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on December 18 as follows: “History was made today, but not in a way Democrats had hoped. With this vote, Nancy Pelosi and her fellow impeachment crusaders have ensured the reelection of President Trump and a return of a Republican majority in the House.
“The American people have turned on this partisan sham and see Democrats in Congress for what they truly are: politicians whose sole focus is to overturn the result for the 2016 election, not on the real issues they promised to address. In 2020, voters will re-elect President Trump and choose candidates who will truly work on their behalf instead of obsessing over destroying a duly-elected President.”
