Have you ever changed your mind? I have, many times over. What I thought about a person, an event, or a situation 25 years ago has often changed with the passage of time. It is the prerogative of every thinking person to change their mind on occasion. Our perspective, our point of view should change as we read, learn, think, and grow.
Senator Lindsey Graham said in February 2016, “I’m not going to try to get into the mind of Donald Trump because I don’t think there’s a whole lot of space there. I think he’s a kook. I think he’s crazy. I think he’s unfit for office.” Then after a game of golf with Mr. Trump, Graham changed his mind. His point of view in 2016 is no longer his perspective in 2019. In November 2017 (after the golf game) Graham lamented, “I’m concerned by the media’s attempt to label Trump as a kook or not fit to be President.”
Twenty years ago (1998) Graham said in reference to the Clinton impeachment proceedings, “The depositions (behind closed doors), I think, will determine whether or not we go forward with hearings. I think it is a very smart thing to do, to depose these people and find out what they’ve got to say and not drag this thing out unnecessarily…”. He has changed his mind and has slammed House Democrats for conducting their impeachment inquiry with depositions behind closed doors.
Two decades ago, Graham said in a press conference that impeachment was all “about overturning an election.” He has changed his mind now and with fellow Republicans has attacked the impeachment inquiry as an evil attempt to “overturn an election.”
In 1999, Graham said, “You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job in this constitutional republic if this body (Congress) determines your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role…Impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.” Graham went on to say back then, “The day Richard Nixon failed to answer that subpoena is that day that he was subject to impeachment because he took the power from Congress over the impeachment process away from Congress and he became the judge and jury.” But Lindsey has changed his mind in his maturity. Now he ignores (even tacitly supports) Mr. Trump’s defiance of multiple congressional subpoenas!
Everyone has the prerogative to change their minds. Most of us do. But that isn’t really the issue in Mr. Graham’s change of mind and heart. He has not just changed his mind, he has abandoned the very principles he once proclaimed.
No comments:
Post a Comment