Rep. Justin Amash Nails Trump’s Mercenary Fervor

Michigan Representative Justin Amash continues to be the voice we need in Congress, during this treacherous age of Trump.

Last year, the congressman, more Libertarian in his political leanings than Republican, made the choice to walk away from the Republican Party, and those of us who have seen the truth about the GOP cheered him on.

Amash is one of the more consistently conservative members of the House, with a particular emphasis on maintaining individual freedom and free markets. He has a score of 99% with FreedomWorks.

Amash has also been an outspoken and steadfast critic of the rise of Trumpism, often pushing against the tide of sycophantism arising from his then-party. Walking away from that association has only made him more vocal, and many who have avoided being stained in orange have clamored for him to launch an independent bid for the presidency.

To date, he has yet to announce any such plans, even though the Libertarian Party seem to have their eye on him as a potential candidate.

I’ll say this: I firmly believe that if Justin Amash were to join the Libertarian Party – officially – and run as their 2020 candidate, we would see an actual challenge to the hold of the “Big Two” in the presidential race and over this country.

Let’s not forget our history, oh, you many naysayers. At one time, the Republican Party was the third party underdog.

Of course, that was back when there was a discernible difference between Republicans and Democrats, but still, under the right circumstances, history could repeat itself.

This week, Amash stepped out and accused (rightly) President Trump of creating mercenaries out of our military.

For those who missed the president’s disgusting display, he sat with one of his loyal bootlicks, Laura Ingraham, for one of those “exclusive” interviews on American Pravda (Fox News, for those who haven’t figured it out, yet).

While Trump has pulled U.S. troops out of sensitive areas in the Middle East, creating a vacuum for his Russian pals to fill, he’s essentially sold their services to the highest bidder.

As Ingraham gazed at him adoringly, he boasted of pressuring Riyadh for payment for the troops he recently sent to Saudi Arabia.

“We have a very good relationship with Saudi Arabia. I said, listen, you’re a very rich country. You want more troops? I’m going to send them to you, but you’ve got to pay us. They’re paying us. They’ve already deposited $1 billion in the bank,” he said.

That’s great.

It’s not what our military is supposed to be used for, and Saudi Arabia is one of the most oppressive regimes in the Middle East, but, hey, no one sane is suggesting Donald Trump understands that, or cares one whit about freedom and human rights.

Representative Amash’s Saturday afternoon response was succinct and on point:

“He sells troops,” Amash tweeted in response.

He does. He treats our government as a dirty, under the table deal, just as he has always conducted himself in his many failed business ventures.

He is unfit to lead.

And Amash is not wrong.

He sells troops.

“We have a very good relationship with Saudi Arabia—I said, listen, you’re a very rich country. You want more troops? I’m going to send them to you, but you’ve got to pay us. They’re paying us. They’ve already deposited $1B in the bank.” pic.twitter.com/rc1f7heyCP

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) January 11, 2020

Donald Trump’s priorities are misplaced. His intentions are self-serving.

At what point do we say enough – or does Justin Amash stand alone in his outrage?

I pray not.

If it is our hope that our military’s dignity and purpose remain on the side of what is right, then the Commander-in-Chief must be someone who reflects the same values as those of our nation, from its founding.

Donald Trump is not that man.