If you value our Constitution and the rule of law, you must vote Trump

OPINION:

At the end of any campaign, especially a difficult and ugly campaign, voters rightfully expect a true accounting of both candidates.

Vice President Kamala Harris has argued that she is the candidate more likely to defend democracy, preserve the union and restore abortion rights. Former President Donald Trump has argued (accurately) that the economy, illegal immigration, crime and national security were all handled better when he was running the show.

The foundational and essential question remains: Which of these two is a real threat to the republic? An honest assessment of the present threat would at minimum require answers to the following questions:

Which administration and which party has turned federal law enforcement, especially the FBI, into a weapon wielded against their political competitors? Which party has had the FBI surveil competing campaigns, churches, congressional staff and the media? Which party has tolerated or encouraged abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act directed at their political enemies?

Which party’s leaders have explicitly threatened Supreme Court justices? Which party openly advocates packing the Supreme Court? Which party wants to federalize elections? Which party actively opposes voter ID?

Which administration and which party has consistently refused to follow the law and protect our southern border from invasion and allowed the widespread introduction of illegal drugs? Which person, despite being named border czar, has vitiated their oath of office by refusing to protect the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic?

Which party celebrated riots that resulted in billions of dollars’ worth of damage and hundreds of deaths? Which party and which administration has encouraged or allowed cities to endure surges in crime and homelessness? Which candidate and which party have advocated cutting funding to police departments, as well as gun confiscation and racial reparations?

Which party has used hundreds of millions of dollars from foreign-born advocates (George Soros, Hansjorg Wyss) to make our nation less safe and less prosperous?

Which party has acted as if major treaties (the Paris climate accord, the Iran nuclear deal) do not require Senate ratification? Which administration and party decided, without the benefit of a declaration of war, that the United States would support combat and special operations against a foreign adversary?

Which party has instituted the prosecutorial equivalent of a bill of attainder against a former president?

Which party consistently tries to minimize the text found in the Constitution’s First, Second, Fourth, Fifth and 10th amendments?

Which party’s leader set up a server with the intention of shielding her government work from transparency requirements and the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act?

Which person and which party have called citizens with whom they disagree “fascists,” “garbage” or “deplorables”? Which party’s leader has said that his political rivals would put Black people “back in chains” were they elected? Which party’s leader acknowledged that he lied about a presidential candidate’s tax returns? Which party directed the IRS to audit their political rivals?

Mussolini — who knew a thing or two about fascism — defined it as “All within the State, nothing outside of the State, nothing against the State.” Which party does that better describe and define in the United States?

Mr. Trump talks quite a bit about what he plans to do to his enemies. But when he was president, he sought no revenge on anyone (except for a handful of unfortunates who worked for him). Apart from calling some people unhappy names, he pretty much hewed to the standards of the office and tried his best to be a president for all Americans. He did not even retaliate against Hillary Clinton, who probably destroyed evidence.

On the other hand, since at least the Obama administration, the Democrats have consistently and routinely used the mechanisms of the federal government — especially those involving law enforcement — to harass their political competitors and have routinely violated the oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

The choice is clear. If you value the Constitution, care about the rule of law and believe that there are and should be limits to government power, you must vote for Donald Trump to be president. There is no other choice.

• Michael McKenna is a contributing editor at The Washington Times. He has taken an oath to defend the Constitution three times.