James Comey Calls On Voters To 'Uphold Our Nation's Values' In New York Times Op-ed
- 6 years ago
James Comey has penned a New York Times op-ed, calling on voters to "uphold our nation's values."
Former FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday urged voters to "uphold our nation's values." In a New York Times op-ed, he notes that "history shows us that America's progress in fulfilling our aspirations is an upward sloping line…Unfortunately, that line marking our progress is not a solid one. We make progress, then we regress, then we make progress again." After recalling the nation's recent great accomplishments, such as legalizing gay marriage and a "new approach to work and technology and families," he writes, "History shows us that with so much progress and change, a spasm of negativity and backlash was inevitable." So too, he says, is the return to upward movement. Comey states: "The awakening is slow, but it is underway. Torches and death in Charlottesville. Children in cages at the border. The lying, misogyny, racism and attacks on the rule of law from our president. These things poke the giant. It takes time, but the American people are stirring. They always do. And when they awaken, these fevers break very quickly." "It falls to all of us to awaken the giant so that we shorten the period before we resume our upward march," Comey also writes. "Every American should be speaking about our nation's values. Every American should be voting those values, which are far more important than even the most passionate policy differences. The history of America consoles us, but also calls us to action." Notably, former President Barack Obama conveyed a similar message on Monday. "Tomorrow's elections might be the most important of our lifetimes," Obama said in a tweet. "The health care of millions is on the ballot. Making sure working families get a fair shake is on the ballot. The character of our country is on the ballot."
Former FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday urged voters to "uphold our nation's values." In a New York Times op-ed, he notes that "history shows us that America's progress in fulfilling our aspirations is an upward sloping line…Unfortunately, that line marking our progress is not a solid one. We make progress, then we regress, then we make progress again." After recalling the nation's recent great accomplishments, such as legalizing gay marriage and a "new approach to work and technology and families," he writes, "History shows us that with so much progress and change, a spasm of negativity and backlash was inevitable." So too, he says, is the return to upward movement. Comey states: "The awakening is slow, but it is underway. Torches and death in Charlottesville. Children in cages at the border. The lying, misogyny, racism and attacks on the rule of law from our president. These things poke the giant. It takes time, but the American people are stirring. They always do. And when they awaken, these fevers break very quickly." "It falls to all of us to awaken the giant so that we shorten the period before we resume our upward march," Comey also writes. "Every American should be speaking about our nation's values. Every American should be voting those values, which are far more important than even the most passionate policy differences. The history of America consoles us, but also calls us to action." Notably, former President Barack Obama conveyed a similar message on Monday. "Tomorrow's elections might be the most important of our lifetimes," Obama said in a tweet. "The health care of millions is on the ballot. Making sure working families get a fair shake is on the ballot. The character of our country is on the ballot."