Educators know the word asynchronous applies mainly to online learning. The original definition reminds me of politics today—not existing or happening simultaneously. The breathless coverage by the media comparing President Joe Biden to the former President is nonexistent and happening at the same time. Former President Trump spent almost two years moving, hiding, and denying the existence of his possession of classified documents. His [Trump] lawyers arguably were led to lie to the Department of Justice, culminating in a search warrant being issued for his resort home in Mar-a-Lago. Video evidence exists of his apparent efforts to conceal the documents by having them moved—more than once.
Contrast that to President Biden.
While Republicans sought to tighten the ever-closing circle around Trump’s corrupt nature or excuse what looks like deliberate efforts to hide the documents he allegedly stole, saying he thought or willed them into declassification, Democrats are publicly calling for accountability. Although flippant with a few of his answers, Biden has cooperated fully(to our knowledge). His legal representation instigated the DOJ’s last search of his home—at his request. “When that information is found, it diminishes the stature of any person who is in possession of it because it’s not supposed to happen,”said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). He concluded, “Whether it was the fault of a staffer or an attorney, it makes no difference. The elected official bears ultimate responsibility.”
Democratic Senator Joe Manchin weighed in, “To be held accountable and responsible is what we all are. And to put those in unsecured spaces is irresponsible,”said Manchin.Sure one might say there is a political calculation in both Durbin’s and Manchin’s statements. If so, one also has to admit that a calculus that comes down on the side of truth and accountability is a far cry from the GOP’s embrace of liars and corrupt actors for power. Perhaps something in the Democratic DNA sees accountability as a virtue, not a weakness. The late President Harry Truman popularized the idiom “ the buck stops here.”
There are a few simple facts that cannot be overlooked. Mr. Trump held more than 300 documents—gathered in four years as opposed to the estimated two dozen found in Biden’s possession after 50 years of public service. Once discovered, Biden immediately contacted the Department of Justice. Republicans are upset the document tranche was not publicly disclosed.
The media is along for the ride
Government oversight committees have not lived up to the title since the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, also known as the Watergate Committee. The most instructive question came from a Republican about a Republican president when Howard Baker asked, in what he thought was the defense of President Nixon, “What did the president know, and when did he know it?” Baker and the other GOP members of the Watergate committee defended Nixon until faced with irrefutable truth. Baker was not Liz Cheney or Adam Kinzinger, openness and searching for the truth were not looked upon as disloyalty.
Oversight committees have become fundraising performances and fodder for political attack ads. What is missing from oversight is an attempt to correct wrongs. I am still waiting on the question from either side of the aisle; why did our system for securing, recording, and ensuring the secrecy of classified documents not work?
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