In any country in the world, treason is the one unforgivable crime that is not tolerated regardless of the underlying reason. Treason is not acceptable when a citizen does it, and it is worse when a spy or government official engages in treason. In the past year, there have been political candidates from the Tea Party and Republican Party who made treasonous statements, and although it exposed the perpetrators as nut-jobs and maniacs, little else happened to hold them accountable for their actions.
It is astounding though, when sitting legislators engage in treason whether it is incitement to armed insurrection or threatening armed rebellion against the government for enforcing Federal laws.
Michelle Bachmann told her constituents in Minnesota that she wanted them “armed and dangerous” in case the Federal government tried to enforce laws; no-one questioned her loyalty. Sharron Angle said that people would use “Second Amendment remedies” if the government didn’t follow her crazy vision of America. Sarah Palin uses terms like, “don’t retreat, instead reload” as a veiled threat against anti-teabagger sentiments.
Now, Eric Cantor (R-VA) will soon be the Majority Leader of the House, and he has joined the ranks of treasonous legislators, and taken it further by breaking a Federal law. Cantor engaged in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the same day that the U.S. Secretary of State met with Netanyahu, and vowed that he and his GOP colleagues would protect and defend Israeli interests against his own Government; the United States of America.
Cantor didn’t make any attempt at hiding his actions, and his office issued a statement that said:
“Eric stressed that the new Republican majority will serve as a check on the Administration and what has been, up until this point, one party rule in Washington. He made clear that the Republican majority understands the special relationship between Israel and the United States, and that the security of each nation is reliant upon the other.”
It is against The Logan Act, a Federal Law, to deal with a foreign government against the government of the United States. Cantor’s actions are a direct violation of the Logan Act and he should be impeached, indicted, convicted and imprisoned to the full extent of the law. The Logan Act states:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
There is no question that Cantor broke the law, and the Attorney General should prosecute him for violation of the Logan Act, and for treason. Republicans do not get a pass because they are dealing with Israel, or because they are Republicans. Whether Cantor knew about the Logan Act or not, there is no excuse for taking the initiative to deal with Netanyahu outside the channels of government, and it is typical for Republicans to hold themselves above the law. George Bush and Dick Cheney authorized torture and are still free, setting a precedent for Cantor to break the law with assumed impunity.
If Darrel Issa (R-CA) is so intent on conducting investigations, the first investigation should be into Cantor’s activities. He will not have much to investigate because the audacity of Cantor, like Bush and Cheney, is in the public record, and, Cantor’s statement speaks for itself.
If a Democrat incited constituents to arm themselves against the Federal government, Republicans would prosecute without hesitation. If a Democrat went behind Bush’s back and colluded with a foreign government against the legally elected government, Republicans would prosecute with extreme prejudice. So here is the chance for Republicans to prove they are not hypocrites and prosecute a blatant traitor in their own ranks.
If Republicans truly care about America, they will prosecute Cantor for treason under the Logan Act for working with a foreign government against the interests of the United States of America. However, hypocrisy is the hallmark of the Republican Party, and they will be true to their hypocrisy by letting Eric Cantor get away with treason. It is the Republican way.
Born in the South, raised in the Mid-West and California for a well-rounded view of America; it doesn't look good.
Former minister, lifelong musician, Mahayana Zen-Buddhist.
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