Tuesday, October 29th, 2019
It is easy in the chaos of Trumpworld to look askance at all politicians and view them all with disdain and disrespect like our President Donald Trump does to anyone who disagrees with him.
Clearly not all politicians are worthy of respect. But Baltimore's United States Representative Elijah Cummings was a man who was genuinely a good man and respected by almost all of his colleagues including not only Democrats but Republicans, as well.
Of Course Donald Trump had no use for Representative Cummings and trashed not only the Congressman himself, who was the Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, but Trump also trashed the City of Baltimore terming it "Rat Infested" among other slurs. It was a disrespect that hurt Elijah Cummings deeply his widow revealed at his Funeral last Friday.
As was evidenced by Congressman Cummings' personal Oversight and Reform Committee questioning of Trump's longtime Fixer, Michael Cohen, the Congressman was unwilling to trash Cohen's reputation any more than Donald Trump and Cohen, himself had done.
I watched the House Committee questioning of Cohen and was impressed by Congressman Cummings empathetic treatment of Cohen, who was on his way to jail for something he had done for Trump. Namely paying off Trump's Pornstar mistress, Stormy Daniels. Cummings clearly saw the same thing in Michael Cohen that I saw.
Michael Cohen was a man who was willing and almost anxious to go to prison to free himself from the shame of being "willing to take a bullet" for Donald Trump. Cummings could see, as I did, that Cohen was truly sorry for what he had done for Trump and was even willing to go to Prison in order to erase the STINK of Donald Trump on Cohen's life. Congressman Cummings knew full well that Cohen was no angel but Cummings was willing to give Michael Cohen some serious credit for coming forward to tell his Committee and the Nation the truth about Donald Trump.
Although Donald Trump had little use for Elijah Cummings, clearly his Congressional colleagues had great respect for Cummings. Nancy Pelosi not only showed up and spoke at Cummings Funeral, she also made sure that her Baltimore Colleague was given the honor of becoming the First African American Legislator to lie in state at the Capital, prior to his funeral.
Although Donald Trump did not show up at Cummings Funeral Elijah had a host of other Republicans including Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows, two of the more right wing characters on the Oversight Committee. But on this Funeral Day these two Trump Republican Hatchet men put down their hatchets to honor their Baltimore Friend.
The Funeral was a virtual "Who's Who" of Democratic All Stars including 2020 Democratic Party Presidential Candidates, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren. Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama and Nancy Pelosi all gave stirring tributes to Elijah Cummings as did Elijah's Wife and children.
All in all it was a First Rate Sendoff to a First Rate Legislator and a man who was highly deserving of the Extraordinary Tributes he received at his Funeral Celebration.
Elijah Cummings will be missed by many, if not all, of his colleagues. He was truly one of a kind and will not be easy to replace in this difficult political climate.
Sincerely Yours
Jerry Gallagher
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