Curtis Hill, the former Elkhart County Prosecutor, who took office just last Monday replacing Greg Zoeller, said in a statement,

“The peaceful transfer of presidential power stands among our nation’s most cherished traditions. Whatever our political beliefs and affiliations, let us all join together as Americans to give thanks for the stability of our great republic. Let us do what Lincoln asked: ‘Let us be guided by the better angels of our nature.’ This is not the time for division nor is this the occasion for politics.”

First of all, if this is what we can expect for the next four years, I’d say Curtis Hill is already running for something else. It’s certainly his right to put out a statement on anything he wishes, and politicians do.  That said, I honestly wasn’t thinking, “Wonder what Indiana’s new Attorney General thinks about Donald Trump’s inauguration.”  Don’t take this as a slap or a slight.  I think it’s something interesting, and it signals something larger about Hill’s star in the Republican Party.  It’s going to rise.

Taken on merit, I disagree with parts of the Attorney General’s statement.

First off, I do agree with the peaceful transition of power being a cherished tradition. I also do absolutely agree that we should celebrate that power moves from one President to another in our democracy without tanks on the streets.  It’s been that way now since George Washington handed power to John Adams in 1797, and we should be absolutely proud of that.  I disagree with Mr. Hill on this being a time for politics.

An inaugruation is all about politics! Politics inherently run through the veins of this government, and President-Elect Trump will stand up and give a political speech today. The response of the opposing party and its leaders is a political decision even if that decision is to attend the festivities, watch politely, and enjoy the cold January afternoon.  It’s Donald Trump’s big political day.  After all, it’s his inauguration.

I also think that we can handle any dissent to Trump’s ascension to the highest office in the land because of the strength of our democracy. People can and will protest and that’s perfectly ok because they have the right to do so. Curtis Hill may not agree that the timing is right, but I believe the freedom to stand up against those in power in a peaceable manner is also what we celebrate about our country. 

 The right to peaceably assemble, the right to speak freely, and the right to the press to write and speak freely are all guaranteed under our Constitution. I’m sure that Attorney General Hill knows all of this, too.

Perhaps the “better angels of our nature” tell us that the appropriate action when something is wrong to not let it go unchecked. That, I suppose is in the eye of the beholder.

One way or another, it’s a big day in America.  I join AG Hill in wishing everyone in Washington a smooth day.