Decency is the core of democracy

Hot damn! I turned 88 this year. I was astounded. After three cancers starting at age 43, then 11 surgeries, a pacemaker and a plethora of more mundane ailments, well, you can see why I was astounded.

The other source of my astoundment: I never thought I would live to see a day when a major political party found its “best” candidate in a man convicted of 34 felonies, of a man who is a proven liar, a sexual predator, a fraudster and breaker of every vow he ever took — including his marital vow of fidelity, and the presidential vow of protector of the Constitution. Yes, there are men in prison who were convicted of ONE felony. And here this candidate is, clothed in 34!

The GOP has gone from Grand Old Party to GOPP — Grand Old Pathetic Party.

It is sad. But it’s also terrifying. Here is a man who unabashedly admires brutal dictators, e.g. Putin ; who fervently vows to punish his “enemies” on his first day in office, and who perpetually portrays himself as the “victim” — it’s a witch hunt, people rigged the voting machines against him, the election officials were crooked, etc.

Asked if he would accept the election results if he lost, he said, “It depends….” This is like a baseball/ basketball/football team saying they will accept the scoreboard tally “if they win,” or if they lose, insisting the scoreboard was rigged, referees were biased, coaches were crooked, etc.

What is at stake here is the Big D. Democracy, yes. Priority No. 1. But what is the core of democracy? Decency. Most nations want a decent person to bear their flag, to represent them to the world, to go toe-totoe with the dictators of the world and to show that decency is not a negotiable commodity.

To quote the late and great lawyer Joseph Welch, “Have you no decency, sir?” He asked that withering question of the notorious Sen. Joseph McCarthy, R.-Wis., who was on a Communist witch hunt in the 1950s. According to History.com, “McCarthy became the leader of the so-called Red Scare, when millions of Americans became convinced that Communists had infiltrated every aspect of American life.

“Behind closed-door hearings, McCarthy bullied, lied, and smeared his way to power, destroying many careers and lives in the process. Prior to 1953, the Republican Party tolerated his antics because his attacks were directed against the Democratic administration of Harry S. Truman.”

After the historic confrontation with Welch, the U.S. Senate censured McCarthy, who lost his reputation in a meteoric fall from power and popularity.

The reason for that peek into 1950s history is that it showcased the many bad — and good — aspects we still see today.

We are already a great nation, Mr. Trump. There are reasons people flock to get into the United States — and reasons they flock to get out of Russia. We don’t need another brutal dictator as president.

We DO need a person of decency, mental wealth and levelheadedness. We need someone who will protect our democracy. Kamala Harris is that person.

Shirley Ruedy is a longtime Cedar Rapids resident who remembers the glory days of Immaculate Conception High School and Armstrong’s and Killian’s department stores. She is now a retired journalist.

GUEST COLUMN

SHIRLEY RUEDY