“Congressman Bergman?”

To the Editor,

Where is “our” Congressman Jack Bergman when we need him to remember and act on the oath he’s taken as an academy cadet, military officer, and now congressman, to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States? He’s AWOL as there is no doubt that the Constitution is being trampled by Trump, his henchmen, and masked goon squads. The Constitution gives Congress the power to impeach Trump and remove him from office for unspecified high crimes and misdemeanors. Surely the Framers of the Constitution would consider wanton murder of folks on the high seas and the blatant selling of pardons for personal benefit high crimes. Accepting billions of dollars from foreign nationals and others by the purchase of his crypto crap or as “campaign contributions” would also be impeachable offenses. But where is Congressman Bergman? Nowhere to be seen, perhaps at his home in Louisiana wondering why his mail is late?

Where is Congressman Bergman when Trump, a three-time loser, and his corrupt cronies launch a white racist war on the people of Minnesota? Where is Congressman Bergman when the thugs in Trump’s ICE goon squad murder Renee Good, a cheerful mother, and Alex Pretti, a genuinely nice guy? As always, nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he’s never read Jesus’ message in the Gospel lesson of “Who is my Neighbor?” Where is Congressman Bergman when Trump launches a colonial war to steal the oil of another country and takes personal control of the revenue in an offshore bank, nowhere to be seen. As for swearing to support and defend the Constitution, I’m sure Jack found that easy when it wasn’t under any threat. Courage is fighting for our democracy when it is.

I may be naïve, but I thought General Officers were supposed to take leadership roles, not hide out when things got tough. I’m sure that Duty and Honor are also expected, not sitting back and watching the Constitution being trampled by the Trump gang. But then perhaps Jack Bergman doesn’t want to be remembered by history as “Lt. General, Congressman, and Patriot Bergman” by standing up for our country and defending our democracy and is content to just be remembered as “Absent Jack, the DeVos family dog robber”, who voted on January 6, 2021 in support of the Capitol Rioters while he collects two full pensions paid for by you and me.

Tom Snyder

Hancock