Former VP Pence has a clear message for voters

Former Vice President Mike Pence delivered a sobering reflection that underscored a pivotal moment in modern American history: "The American people deserve to know on that fateful day (January 6, 2021), President Trump also demanded I choose between him and our Constitution. Now, voters will be faced with the same choice. I chose the Constitution, and I always will."

Pence's words carry a weight that should not be overlooked. On that day, while the world watched in disbelief, Donald Trump sought to disrupt the democratic process. According to his own Vice President, Trump pressured Pence to defy the Constitution and overturn the will of the people. This revelation is both stunning and necessary to examine as we approach another election.

Donald J. Trump, once again seeking the nation's highest office, stands accused by his former closest ally of attempting to overthrow democracy. This is not a mere political dispute—it is a fundamental reckoning with the principles that define the United States. Trump’s rhetoric continues to divide, inflaming passions with language that echoes the darkest moments of history. His reference to certain groups as "poisoning the blood of our country" is eerily reminiscent of dangerous ideologies from the past, including those propagated by Adolf Hitler.

Mike Pence, who has long positioned himself as a man of deep Christian faith, spoke of how those very values guided his decision to stand against Trump on January 6. For Pence, his faith and the Constitution are intertwined, guiding principles that he could not abandon even under immense pressure. This raises an essential question: Why do so many other Christians remain aligned with Trump, even as his version of Christian nationalism threatens the very foundations of both the church and the country?

The answer may lie in the complex intersection of faith, identity, and politics in today's America. For many, Trump represents a strongman figure, someone who promises protection from perceived threats, even at the cost of democratic principles. But at what point does that allegiance shift from protecting faith to undermining it?

As Pence alluded to, voters now face a critical choice. This isn't just a matter of partisan politics. It’s a decision about the kind of country we want to live in, about whether we uphold the rule of law, the Constitution, and the values that have long guided us. Will we choose to follow a man who seeks division and power at any cost? Or will we, like Pence, choose to stand by the Constitution and the principles that make America what it is?

The American people deserve clear answers, and they deserve leaders who prioritize the country over personal ambition. The time for ambiguity has passed. The future of the nation depends on the choices we make in the face of such stark challenges. Notice Trump picked a person with no morales this time to be his Vice President so that an overthrow of democracy might be successful if Trump is given any kind of power.

Go vote on November 5.

The hollow ring of performative patriotism

In the annals of American political leadership, we have witnessed a precipitous decline from the lofty ideals once espoused by the Republican Party. Where once stood men who spoke of duty, honor, and country, we now find ourselves confronted with a spectacle of self-aggrandizement masquerading as patriotism. The recent foray of Donald Trump into Arlington National Cemetery serves as a stark reminder of how far the pendulum has swung. This hallowed ground, where rest the nation's fallen heroes including Audie Murphy and Medgar Evers was reduced to a mere backdrop for political theater. The very rules that govern this sacred space—prohibitions on campaigning and photography—were summarily dismissed in favor of a grinning thumbs-up over the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This alone is a violation of federal law. This is not leadership; it is a crass exploitation of the very values Republicans once held dear. George W. Bush, for all his flaws, understood that power was a tool to serve the people, not a means to self-promotion. Trump, in contrast, views the trappings of office and the symbols of our nation as props in his ongoing reality show. The pattern is clear and disturbing. From his disparagement of John McCain's war record to his callous remarks about "suckers and losers," Trump has consistently demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to serve. His equation of personal business "sacrifices" with the loss of life in combat is not merely tone-deaf—it is an affront to every Gold Star family and every veteran who has worn the uniform. The Republican Party, once a bastion of patriotic values, now finds itself complicit in this degradation of national service. By repeatedly nominating a man who conflates personal gain with public service, the party has abdicated its moral authority on matters of national sacrifice. True patriotism is not measured in photo ops or flag embraces. It is reflected in the quiet dignity of those who serve without expectation of reward or recognition. It is embodied in the grief of families who have lost loved ones in defense of our freedoms. These are the realities that Trump's performative displays fail to capture and honor. As we approach another election cycle, we must ask ourselves: What do we truly value in our leaders? Do we seek those who understand the weight of sacrifice, or do we content ourselves with hollow gestures and empty rhetoric? The choice before us is clear. We can either reclaim the mantle of principled leadership or continue down this path of degraded discourse and self-serving spectacle. The souls interred at Arlington deserve better. The nation deserves better. It is time for the Republican Party to rediscover its conscience and for the American people to demand leadership that honors sacrifice rather than exploits it. Only then can we hope to restore the true meaning of patriotism and ensure that the sacrifices made by our bravest are never reduced to mere political capital.