The Lesser of Two Evils
Lots of Republicans quietly cheered last week when a Democrat won an election.
They’d been put into a tight spot, by having a naughty Republican on the ballot for that special election in Alabama to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
If Roy Moore had won, Republicans would’ve been forced into an even tighter spot.
They would have had to serve alongside a guy who was accused of having a particular fondness for girls half his age when he was in his 30’s.
He lost.
He’ll stay in Alabama.
He’ll not be added to the growing list of more than 40 high-profile men the New York Times has listed as having been accused of engaging in sexual misconduct – who either resigned or who’ve been fired.
For Republicans, Moore’s loss was the lesser of two evils.
When Doug Jones, the Democrat who beat Moore, takes his oath of office, he’ll shrink the Republican’s narrow majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49).
Of course, none of this will please President Trump.
He’d supported Moore.
I think he had a lot in common with him, with those allegations of sexual indiscretions and all.
If Moore had won, Trump could’ve invited him to the White House where they could compare notes.
Instead, Mr. Trump will have to stew over the fact that he’s thrown his support behind the second losing Alabama senatorial candidate in a row. (He campaigned for appointee Luther Strange – who lost to Moore in the Republican primary election)
Even if Trump hasn’t yet figured out that his endorsements don’t mean much these days, there are lots of Republicans in Washington who’re taking note.
They know that they have a president who is becoming increasingly unpopular, while he isn’t concerned about expanding his base of support.
They see the signs.
They’ve stood by while Trump helped Republican Moore snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a state that had been solidly Republican for many, many years.
It’s enough to make lots of Republicans run for the hills.
So far, record numbers of Republicans have announced they plan to leave Congress, either through retirement, or to run for office in their home states.
Chances are, in the coming months, there will be more.
They can certainly see the growing wave of energized Democrats, who’re eagerly preparing to take them on next November.
Meanwhile, there’s more pressure coming from Democrats to reopen those allegations about Trump’s alleged abuse of women that were leveled against him last fall.
Of course, while Republicans are in control of both houses of Congress, pressure is all it can be.
But there’s a slight chance that Democrats could regain control of the Senate, and an even greater chance they could win control of the U.S. House in 2018.
If that happens, we may not be able to get through any day without one of Trump’s accusers retelling their stories and, perhaps, during heated congressional hearings.
Those hearings might be tame if Democrats take control of the U.S. House, and they begin beating the drum for impeachment.
So, for now, Republicans are heaving a sigh of relief because Moore’s presence won’t distract them from their goal to lower taxes on the rich and eventually raise them on the middle class.
Yet, they’ve got to know they’re in a mighty tenuous place.
In the meantime, they won’t have to worry about Democrats conducting hearings. They have a special prosecutor problem to contend with.
Robert Mueller has already stuck a pin in the notion that Russians didn’t have some sort of clandestine contact with the Trump campaign before and after the 2016 election.
That’s why Fox News and Republicans are trying desperately to call foul on his investigation.
But that won’t work.
There’ve already been four people charged, and one of them has already pleaded guilty thanks to Mueller’s work.
Of course, Mr. Trump could try to get Mueller fired.
And if there was any question about his desire to obstruct justice, getting rid of Mueller would answer that question.
Edward A. Owens is a multi-Emmy Award winner, former reporter and anchor for Entertainment Tonight and 20-year TV news veteran. E-mail him at freedoms@bellatlantic.net.