What disturbs me most about the ascendance of Donald Trump is how completely the Republican Party is failing us when it comes to enforcing historical democratic norms.
For example, Trump is refusing to address unprecedented conflicts of interest or to even disclose what interests he has — but I do not hear Republicans pressuring him to release his tax returns or divest himself of potential conflicts.
Republicans worked themselves into a lather over the possibility of foreign governments contributing to Hillary Clinton’s single charity for the purpose of gaining her favor in State Department business, but they somehow seem indifferent to the possibility that foreign governments might seek to win Trump’s favor by flowing business into his worldwide enterprises.
What the heck is the difference except that the risk has been multiplied by the size of Trump’s empire? Do we have to wait for an actual scandal before the Republicans will step up?
Douglas Willey, Thornton
Submit a letter to the editor via or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
