I had to laugh when I read Jay Spiegel’s letter suggesting that Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer violated their oaths of office by boycotting President Trump’s inauguration. I read the text of the oath Mr. Spiegel cited and failed to see any mention, implied or otherwise, of a requirement for members of Congress to attend presidential inaugurations. It would appear that Mr. Spiegel confused a traditional behavioral norm with a legal requirement. Newt Gingrich was under no such illusion when he stated, “The 70 Democrats who didn’t go to the inauguration were neither missed nor deeply regretted, and nobody, frankly, cared.” “And if they feel better about it, good for them.” From a Republican perspective, that pretty well sums it up.
Mr. Spiegel then went on to lament that the poor folks who voted against Mr. Connolly and Mr. Byer were not represented at the inauguration. At least Mr. Connolly and Mr. Beyer won the majority of the votes cast in
their elections. Mr. Spiegel may not have noticed but President Trump lost the popular vote and I suspect that there are going to be a lot of voters during the next four years who will feel that he is not effectively representing them. To them, as well as Mr. Spiegel, I can only say that elections have consequences. If Mr. Spiegel doesn’t like the way he is being represented, he will have a chance to vote accordingly in the next election.
John B. Allen
Alexandria