California’s Republican congressmen have a lot to answer for in their defense of Trump

The party of law and order. The party of fiscal responsibility. The party of moral authority. The party of conservatism in all things. This was once the Republican Party. In just three years, Republicans in Congress have sacrificed their ideology, their ideals, and their oaths on the altar of President Donald Trump.

As the impeachment hearings unfolded, congressional Republicans complained about the process, claimed the president did nothing wrong and generally walked in lock step with the White House. Not one of them, though, ever defended Trump’s character.

How could they? President Trump displays no moral center. His behavior, from Ukraine to insulting Speaker Nancy Pelosi to his cavalier cruelty, is indefensible. And yet, two of California’s remaining seven Republican members of Congress are willing to do and say anything to please this president.

When House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, led Republicans in the California Legislature, he was known as an affable guy, someone who would try to make the best deal for his caucus given the Democrats’ large majorities.

Just three years ago, before Trump was elected, McCarthy, in a leaked conversation, said he believed the Republican nominee must be on the Russian payroll. In spite of all the president’s words and deeds since that day, McCarthy has transformed himself from an honest critic to fawning toady; a political chameleon only Washington, D.C. could love.

McCarthy has become a key cog in the Trump Defense Machine. Given his one-time status as a protégé of former Rep. Bill Thomas — who never allowed any to push him around — it’s hard to watch McCarthy get his jollies by bringing Donald Trump pink Starbursts.

Not to be outdone, though, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, has ensured his place in the pantheon of members of Congress who have humiliated themselves in pursuit of Trump’s favor. As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Nunes repeatedly acted inappropriately, whether disappearing in the middle of the night, keeping his committee counterparts in the dark or cancelling hearings he knew would damage Trump’s already paper-thin credibility.

Over time, Nunes’ behavior has become increasingly bizarre. He has threatened to sue an anonymous Twitter account called @DevinCow, (it’s actually very entertaining) to Republican consultants, to major broadcast media outlets (including McClatchy, the owner of The Fresno Bee) for “defaming” his character.

The cherry on top of Nunes’ sundae of wackiness came earlier this month. As part of the ongoing investigation into the president’s suspicious dealings in Ukraine and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s activities, phone records came to light that showed Nunes held phone calls with both Giuliani and Lev Parnas, the Soviet born “fixer” who is now under federal indictment for attempting to make illegal foreign campaign donations.

On Sean Hannity’s Fox News program, Nunes said he didn’t know how Parnas’ phone number showed up in his records.

Both McCarthy and Nunes have betrayed their oaths of office. Congress is supposed to be a co-equal branch of government that is charged, in part, with the duty of upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States.

When confronted with the choice to either do the right thing and defend the Constitution, or protect a corrupt president, they chose the latter.

All Californians should be, at best, embarrassed by the behavior of these congressmen, and at worst, seriously concerned about the consequences of their actions. Defending the president of the United States from his own moral failings and his destructive lack of judgment is not in the job description of U.S. representatives.

Nunes and Mc Carthy are charged with representing you, not Donald Trump.

It is because of politicians like McCarthy and Nunes that this past week a group of current and former Republicans announced the formation of The Lincoln Project. Our goal, between now and next November, is to defeat Donald Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box. We will hold accountable those who have aided and abetted this president’s destructive, divisive actions at the expense of the rule of law and the Constitution.

On Election Day next year, those that put party and loyalty to an individual over their oaths of office and the good of their constituents, will have to answer for their failures.

This story was originally published December 19, 2019 at 6:16 PM with the headline "California’s Republican congressmen have a lot to answer for in their defense of Trump."