"There is no moral equivalence between the repugnant peddlers of hate and violence, and those who bravely stand up to them."

Caledonia, WI — Randy Bryce today issued the following statement calling on Speaker Paul Ryan to initiate censure proceedings in the U.S. House of Representatives against President Donald Trump for his divisive and disturbing comments that vindicated the violent actions of white supremacists and neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, VA.

“There is no moral equivalence between the repugnant peddlers of hate and violence, and those who bravely stand up to them. Yesterday President Trump used the presidential seal to give political cover to vile racist extremists. The forces of deadly bigotry will only be emboldened by Trump’s comments.

“When former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke, thanks you for your remarks – as he did yesterday – you are on the wrong side of history, decency, and American values. These dangerous comments require more than statements of outrage. They demand an official expression of condemnation from Congress, on the record, for all the world to see, and made permanent for history.

“Speaker Ryan, it is time to put action behind your words. As the leader of the House, it is incumbent upon you to ensure that body moves decisively. Demonstrate courage and leadership, not only rhetoric. Initiate censure proceedings now in the U.S. House of Representatives against President Trump for the chief executive’s outrageous, unacceptable and un-Amercian remarks.”

Background

According to Legal Dictionary at thefreedictionary.com —

“Censure is a formal and public condemnation of an individual’s transgressions. It is stronger than a simple rebuke, but not as strong as expulsion.”

“While censure is not specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the right to adopt resolutions, and a resolution to invoke censure falls into this category.”

“Probably the most infamous censure case was the condemnation of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (R-WI) in 1954. McCarthy took the national stage at the height of the anti-Communist movement following World War II. McCarthy spent several years making claims that known Communists had infiltrated the U.S. government, and although he never offered proof of even one claim, his crusade was popular and powerful.”

Randy Bryce For Congress