Party over country? Thune, Rounds and Johnson need to explain their support for Trump’s dangerous policies

To our men in Washington — it’s time to show us who you are.

It's been entertaining watching Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds (seen above in a 2015 public domain photo posted on wikimedia commons), along with Rep. Dusty Johnson, dance around Donald Trump questions in order to survive in what is now the Trump party. All three have actually tiptoed into light criticism at times. We weren’t fooled, though, by their phony courage as they pretended other candidates had any chance for the Republican nomination.

They’ve never wavered from being Trump enablers, and now it’s time to face the music. As the senators support the Trump 2024 campaign, they become connected to specific things promised by the candidate.

Here are some of Trump’s publicly stated intentions now attached to our three guys:

Pardon and release all jailed felons convicted of crimes related to Jan. 6, 2021.

End aid to Ukraine and support Putin’s efforts to claim territory there.

End USA commitment to defend NATO countries.

Charge importers a 10% tariff on all products.

Arrest and deport millions who do not have residency documentation.

Stop schools from requiring polio and/or other vaccinations.

Impose more nationwide restrictions on abortion.

Cancel renewable energy programs and promote fossil fuels.

Deploy active armed forces troops to suppress demonstrations.

Bomb Mexican areas supplying drugs for USA users.

Fire 50,000 career civil servants and replace with only loyal supporters.

Fire all Department of Justice staff who prosecuted him. 

Order new Department of Justice to prosecute Biden administration.

Make unspecified reductions in Social Security and Medicare benefits.

There are more, of course. 

And, for this, let’s not even touch on any of his personal behavior.

Does our three representatives’ support of Trump indicate they agree with all of that? Certainly not, they have the right to disagree with parts of a campaign; that’s typical and understandable.

However, this time, any claim of independent thinking about details is irrelevant. No one can say with integrity that they support Trump and equivocate by saying it’s OK because they oppose some of his policies.

Why is it different? Because this time there’s very little chance of stopping those policy changes if he does win. A markedly changed nation will be the result and if you want him to win, you can’t disconnect from the result.

Trump needs to get around 80 million people to the polls to win. If he does, those voters will fall in line down the ballot and expand the Republican majority in the House of Representatives and easily establish a majority in the Senate, too. (They will get around the filibuster, too).

He already placed a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Trump will have power to do all the things he says he’s going to do, much simply through executive order. Former members of his administration are all telling us how incompetent, unethical, and dangerous he will be with no limitations.

Oh, relax, you say; calmer heads will save us from the worst. Really? What have you seen from the Republican Party members to elicit any hope they will grow backbones now after eight years of rolling over like dogs. When it comes down to their integrity or their jobs, we know how those votes go.

If anything, the party is even more subservient now than when Trump was in office. New cabinet members and appointees will be 100% obedient Trump loyalists.

So, Tim, John, and Dusty — most South Dakotans generally regard you as well-intentioned and reasonable fellows. Probably most also think you have common sense. That’s my impression from personal interactions. To so many who know you, it seems just not possible that you are actually buying what this guy is selling, and not just the Trump Bibles and sneakers.

Are you sincere in saying you hope he will be president for four more years? It would be comforting to think you secretly want Trump to go away so you can go back to being responsible Republican public servants. That may be just a dream; the party you have served for so long may be gone forever.

Suppose this thinking is off base, and you thoughtfully, honestly do want a nation that resembles one of those Trump rallies. If so, then lots of folks are just mistaken about you. Unfortunately for you, there is no middle ground.

If you really do want Trump to win, at least be honest and admit what that means. Describe the end game by 2028 as you see it. What kind of nation will we be? Your fingerprints will be on everything he does; your legacy welded to the consequences.

If it’s now hard to face yourself in that mirror every morning knowing how you’ve enabled him already, think about looking back when it comes time for you to leave office.

For perspective, ask Liz Cheney how she feels about herself each day.

Mike Levsen is a former mayor of Aberdeen and a regular contributor to The South Dakota Standard.