Jan 12, 2021
Senate Defends Constitution Against Overwhelming Pressure
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer put the events of January 6th 2021 into perspective with his words on the floor of the Senate. “Franklin Roosevelt set aside December 7th 1941 as a day that will live in infamy. Unfortunately, we can now add January 6th to that very short list of dates that will live in infamy.” Earlier that day, the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. was attacked and raided by armed rioters and insurrectionist at the behest of President Donald Trump. The world watched as a symbol of democracy was desecrated and elected officials were put in harm’s way. This was nothing short of a deeply humiliating and sad day to be an American. To see our fellow Americans spit on the democratic process that had once made this country great.
As the tallying of the Electoral votes continued into the night of January 6th and early morning of January 7th, many Republican and Democratic Senators spoke out against the actions of President Trump and the rioters themselves. Senator from New Jersey Cory Booker stated, “What is interesting about the parallel between the two, is they both were waving flags to a sole sovereign. To an individual, surrendering democratic principles to the cult of personality. One was a monarch in England, the other with flags I saw over our Capitol, including in the hallways and in this room, to a single person named Donald Trump.” Senators on both sides urged for their colleagues to rescind their objections and declare President Elect Joseph Biden the rightful and lawful winner of the 2020 Presidential Election. Many of whom, cited their duty to uphold the Constitution especially in the face of overwhelming pressure and danger.
“We should be venerating the peaceful transition of power, even if our own preferred candidate didn’t win.”
Those were the words of New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Senator Shaheen cited her experiences in the country of Georgia as she and another senator witness and observed the peaceful transition of power between President Mikheil Saakashvili and President Elect Giorgi Margvelashvili. Shaheen urged her fellow Senators to recognize the legitimacy of the election and allow the transition of power to take place in our divided country.
Floor Leader Schumer was spot on in his assessment. January 6th will live in infamy for the heinous events that unfolded at the Capitol and in Washington D.C. The Electoral votes were ratified by the members of the Senate and the election is all but over. Joseph Biden will be the next President of the United States and the next steps to healing this wounded country have been made.
