In a recent op-ed, Ken Buck, a U.S. Representative from Colorado and member of the Republican Party, laid out his staunch opposition to the impeachment inquiry and investigation into President Donald Trump. Buck argues in the opinion piece that the proceedings are a distraction from the nation’s urgent problems of “economic insecurity, crumbling infrastructure, and skyrocketing health care costs,” and a “waste of valuable time, money, and energy”.
In his unsparing argument, Buck sharply denounces the Democrats’ pursuit of Trump, claiming that they are simply trying to oust the president from office instead of looking for ways to address the concerns of American citizens. He goes on to describe the inquiry as a “partisan power grab,” suggesting that Democrats are using the proceedings as an opportunity to grab more political power. Buck additionally states that Democrats have not yet provided evidence to support their claims of wrongdoing by President Trump, describing the inquiry as baseless and a motivation born only from “the radicals” within the Democratic Party.
The opinion piece marks a notable shift from Buck’s past stance on impeachment. During the 2016 presidential election, for example, Buck expressed support for the impeachment proceedings against former president Bill Clinton. Buck defended then-candidate Donald Trump against the same claims from which he now seeks to defend him.
Ken Buck’s op-ed reveals a growing divide within the Republican Party and a severe lack of compromise between the two parties on the issue of impeachment. It is a bet that the Republican Party will be willing to stand behind the President regardless of the outcome of the proceedings. It is a bet on an increasingly polarized nation. Only time will tell if it was a gamble worth taking.
