OPINION:
The United States of America is arguably the most successful nation in the history of the world. You can measure success in a variety of ways — prosperity, standard of living, opportunity and more. But regardless, longevity and consistency matter. Stability and security are essential elements. The U.S. Constitution is the oldest codified constitution on the planet. So by virtually any measure, America jumps to the top of history’s success list.
With great power comes great responsibility. Those words were made famous in the “Spider-Man” comic series, but they are absolutely spot-on in real life. It seems fitting to quote a superhero story because each superhero is known for a superpower.
In the real world, America developed its own superpower with a stable, consistent approach to war, peace, economics, human rights and criminal justice for more than 200 years — a superpower known as the moral high ground.
By consistently putting the big picture and the good of the nation ahead of individual hunger for power, America made itself a light to which the rest of the world could aspire. Free and fair elections, an unwavering commitment to the rule of law, and the peaceful transition of power every four years were a marvel for much of the world to behold.
When the world’s economic bubble burst in 2009, for better or for worse, governments around the world followed America’s idea of creating some sort of economic “stimulus package.” When human rights violations were exposed as common in many Asian factories, it was the red, white and blue that developed minimum standards for workers worldwide. America took the moral high ground and the world followed.
In recent history, however, the United States has stumbled in its ongoing quest for the moral high ground.
Hillary Clinton, in her desperate desire for power in 2016, conjured up a fictional file purported to show opponent Donald Trump had colluded with Russian efforts to interfere in the presidential race. Never mind the absurd narrative that Russian assistance would help any candidate win an American election. The more important part is that it was no mystery that the Russia file was phony. Then-CIA Director John Brennan sat down with President Barack Obama while he was still in the White House and told him so, point blank.
Despite that knowledge, no one spoke up to stop a two-year, $30 million investigation that not only cut into Mr. Trump’s presidency but also cut deeply into the collective American trust. Mrs. Clinton didn’t speak up. Mr. Obama didn’t speak up. Mr. Brennan not only didn’t speak up, he did just the opposite. He fanned the flames of the Trump/Russia narrative almost daily on CNN despite knowing the file was bogus.
Politics is a rough sport. That may have been the simple conclusion after four years of accusations against Mr. Trump, none of which actually panned out. Then, however, the justice system decided to take its turn targeting Mr. Trump.
Whether you love him or loathe him, one has to admit it is an amazing coincidence that investigations were completed just in time for the 2024 elections by four different jurisdictions from three different governments on a wide variety of unrelated criminal offenses that are 2 to 8 years old.
To political opponents, the logic was simple. Keep Mr. Trump tied up in court, using his time, money and resources there rather than being focused on his presidential campaign. If they could muster a guilty verdict, it would just be icing on the cake. Whether said convictions would hold up on appeal would hardly matter either.
Don’t get me wrong. Mr. Trump may not be a saint, but a federal prosecutor, a district attorney in Georgia and a district attorney in New York all bringing charges right at election time reeks of political motivation rather than blind justice. Toss in the fact that the No. 3 official at President Biden’s Justice Department left that top job to serve as special counsel to the Manhattan DA prosecuting Mr. Trump and … voila! America’s moral high ground is shattered.
America’s superpower, the moral high ground, allowed the United States to step in during dire circumstances around the globe and other nations would follow. Why? They trusted the United States was seeking to do the right thing.
No more.
America’s superpower has met its kryptonite. In their zest to get Mr. Trump at any cost, the leftists have permanently crippled America’s standing in the world. Stability? Gone. Credibility? Gone. Moral high ground? Poof!
Don’t be shocked when a world that has long followed America’s lead, does so again, but this time emulating the persecution of political opponents.
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