Trump tried to take away my vote

In October 2020, my wife and I arrived in Philadelphia just in time to be registered voters in our new home. We joined a long line of folks at our early voting location to be certain our vote was counted.

This being Philadelphia, the line was a blend of young and old, white and Black and Latinx, gay and straight. Despite the 45-minute wait, folks were patient, polite, and happy. It was obvious that the majority were excited to exercise their right to vote, and that Joe Biden was their choice for president — except for the elderly couple just in front of us. The husband and wife were frail, in their late 80s, and somewhat unsteady on their feet. Even without speaking much, it became obvious that the gentleman did not share his line-mates’ enthusiasm for the Democrat.

We struck up a conversation about nonpolitical stuff. He was a Marine Corps veteran who had seen combat in the Korean War. I mentioned that I, too, had combat service in the Middle East, and we thanked each other for that shared commitment to our Constitution. As we climbed the final few steps into the polling place, I reached my hand out behind his back every time he started to stumble. But thankfully he righted himself and pressed on, determined to complete the task at hand.

My wife and I finished voting and walked outside. Our Marine friend was already there, anxiously waiting for his wife to come out of the building. I assured him that I saw her just finishing up and that she would be out shortly. We bid him farewell.

I have thought of that experience often since the events of November 2020, and again on Jan. 6, 2021. I was proud of our new city and state for conducting a well-administered election. I was well aware that there were those who tried to upend that effort. While reading the entire federal indictment of former President Donald Trump released last week, those thoughts came rushing back.

The indictment is clear: Trump has been charged for his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Pennsylvania and six other battleground states.

Trump and his coconspirators tried to cancel my vote. They tried to cancel that Marine’s vote. They tried to cancel the votes of millions of folks from both parties and overrule the clear mandate of the electorate.

The fact that they did not succeed because other Americans would not let them is irrelevant. (Thank you, “too honest” Mike Pence.) Their nefarious goal was clear and unambiguous.

Read the indictment for yourself, and you will see that Trump tried in every way he could imagine to overturn a free and fair election. He knew it was free and fair despite every corrosive lie he told and continues to tell.

Those lies may be protected free speech. But his documented actions to subvert the election were not. Trump conspired to destroy the linchpin of our republic: our sacred vote.

Trump was abetted by numerous elected Pennsylvania Republicans, including State Sen. Doug Mastriano, in his attempt to reverse our decision. Their lack of fidelity to the Constitution and the laws of the land is a stain on their character that can never be erased. And one we should never forget.

Whatever you may think about our disagreements about politics, about President Biden, about Democrats or Republicans, or about policies you wish to support or not, remember this: Donald Trump tried to take away my vote and yours, disregarding my 32 years of service to the nation in support of the Constitution.

If that does not disgust and anger you, then you are no friend of mine. Worse, you are no friend of America if you do not walk away from Trump now. Because if he ever gets the chance, he’ll do it again.

Irv Halter is a retired U.S. Air Force major general and proud citizen of Philadelphia.