[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       LETTER FROM A CONSTITUENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Ms. Fudge) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to read a letter from my 
constituent, Pastor Dr. Ronald S. Williams.
  Mr. Williams writes: ``A mobster, con man, gangster in the White 
House? I think so.
  ``This past week, Special Counsel Robert Mueller gave a verbal 
synopsis of his 2-year investigative report. He is quoted as saying: 
`If we had confidence that the President clearly did not commit a 
crime, we would have said so.' He also said: `The Constitution requires 
a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a 
sitting President of wrongdoing.'
  ``This process would be impeachment. The question is, why hasn't the 
United States Congress started a formal impeachment investigation?
  ``In our Nation's Pledge of Allegiance, we state that the United 
States of America is `one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty 
and justice for all.' Many of us have been taught to recite this pledge 
since elementary school. Today's society compels one to ask the 
question: Are we truly one nation under God?
  ``Nancy Pelosi is a woman who I respect. However, I do believe her 
hesitancy to impeach this President is her opinion, based upon polls 
and her belief that it would further polarize the country. However, the 
country is already divided and polarized, which can be greatly 
contributed to the madness of the present executive administration of 
the country.
  ``As a pastor, a father, a grandfather, and a friend of many, my 
answer to this question is, no, we are not.
  ``I recently engaged in a conversation with a pastor's wife who 
resided in the small community that I attended graduate school. I knew 
the town was small and malignant with bigotry, ignorance, and racism. 
As we conversed, I discovered that she, too, was a bigot. She stated 
that the present administration was the `smartest and most intelligent 
to ever reside in the White House.'
  ``I asked her if she was out of her mind. `What about Roosevelt and 
Kennedy?' she asked. I responded by asking her what was she talking 
about. She responded by saying, `They exploited women, and it was Obama 
that divided and polarized the Nation.'
  ``I knew at that point that she was steeped in her ignorant opinion. 
I responded by telling her that I was not alive during the Roosevelt 
years and during the administration of John F. Kennedy we did not have 
internet and the means of communication that we have today. Regardless, 
at least they both were sophisticated statesmen who publicly presented 
themselves as leaders. Secondly, the rightwing went after Clinton for 
his indiscretions and Obama was scandal free.
  ``It is glaringly apparent that many who support the present 
administration are either racist, steeped in religious beliefs, 
ignorant, or, as my mother used to say, `just plain dumb.' They have 
chosen to support a president who has a proven record of being sexually 
condescending to women, will not oppose the resurgence of the Ku Klux 
Klan and other hate organizations, is indecisive, condescending to 
anyone who challenges him, and hides behind his Twitter account, rather 
than dealing with the real issues in our country and around the world, 
and, to put icing on this cake, he is a proven liar.
  ``I believe the crooked ascension of Trump to the Oval Office is a 
gauge that measures the declining patriotic and moral values of many of 
the citizens of America, as well as being the revelation of the hidden 
bigotry, judgmental attitudes that yet exist in many of those who call 
themselves evangelicals.
  ``This President has surrounded himself with yes-men and -women who 
apparently refuse to challenge his madness for fear of his wrath. I 
believe I can safely assume that the United States is no longer a 
democracy. A democratic government is one that is governed by the 
people or their elected representatives. In 2 years, this man has 
turned the tide and the Nation is spiraling downhill quickly.
  ``My growing concern is that the Congress and Senate of these United 
States have more of a personal interest for themselves rather than a 
patriotic duty to the people they represent. The Republicans appear to 
have become a Trump cult, and the Democrats refuse to move against this 
man in a collective, decisive way.
  ``I remember the time that we were guided by principle and not by 
party. Congress, Senators, you were not elected to collect a paycheck, 
you were elected to be women and men of principle and maintain the 
health of a Democratic nation.
  ``It does not take a genius to discern that this man wants to be a 
dictator in the truest sense of the word. He appears to be drawn to the 
evil of tyrannical dictators and is alienating our country from our 
closest and most trusted allies. This President praises the leaders of 
Russia and North Korea, while at the same time has been condescending 
to the leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany, just to name 
a few. Something is wrong with this.
  ``Despite all of this, there are still many, including evangelicals 
and people of color, who are resolute in their support of this 
administration.
  ``Thomas Paine wrote:''

       Men must conquer their own spirits. Even in the shadows of 
     the guillotine, we must preserve and endure in spite of the 
     threat.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will remind Members that remarks 
in debate may not engage in personalities toward the President, 
including by repeating remarks made elsewhere that would be improper if 
spoken in the Member's own words.

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