In the end, the only drama in the impeachment vote didn’t involve the Democrats and Donald Trump.
No, it involved Sen. Mitt Romney and Trump. If you looked at this from Romney’s stated point of view, the final decision came down to Trump vs. God — as in Romney’s oath to follow his faith and his conscience, as opposed to loyalty to his political party.
The most dramatic moment in Romney’s speech on the U.S. Senate floor — that long, long, long pause as he fought to control his emotions — came as he tried to explain how his decision was linked to his faith and his family.
So how did this obvious faith factor show up in the mainstream coverage of the political story of the day? The results, for better and for worse, were totally predictable.
Take the New York Times, for example. Here is the crucial passage, pushed deep into the main Romney story.
On the Senate floor on Wednesday, Mr. Romney placed his decision in the context of his faith, his family and how history would remember it.
And that was that.
The political desk team at The Washington Post managed to get one snippet of Godtalk into its Romney story. Readers who made it to the 12th paragraph read the following:
Romney said he couldn’t let concerns over breaking with his party guide his vote, which he cast as one of conscience and rooted in his religious beliefs.
“I am aware that there are people in my party and in my state who will strenuously disapprove of my decision, and in some quarters, I will be vehemently denounced,” Romney said on the Senate floor. “I am sure to hear abuse from the president and his supporters. Does anyone seriously believe I would consent to these consequences other than from an inescapable conviction that my oath before God demanded it of me?”
Readers will not be surprised to learn that this story was handled quite differently in The Salt Lake Tribune. Here is the lede and overture for that report, which moved quickly to link Romney’s political action to his personal convictions:
Sen. Mitt Romney voted Wednesday to convict President Donald Trump of abuse of power, arguing that the president violated the trust of the American people and the authority of his office for his own personal and political benefit.
The Utah senator was the only Republican to vote guilty on the first article of impeachment, which failed on a vote of 52 “not guilty” and 48 “guilty.” Romney says he knows the “enormous” repercussions he’ll face from the president, members of his own party and Trump supporters.
Romney insists he had no choice.
“I swore an oath before God to apply impartial justice. And, as you know, I’m a very religious person. I take that very seriously,” Romney, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told The Salt Lake Tribune ahead of his vote.
If there was a surprise, it was at the Associated Press — which included the faith-based language that was at the heart of he Romney speech. Thus, the wire-service coverage in most of America’s mainstream press (if shrinking local papers had room for this version of the story) included this strong passage:
Romney announced his decision during an eight-minute speech on the Senate floor two hours before the GOP-dominated chamber voted to absolve Trump. Romney cited the significance of the impeachment oath to render “impartial justice” sworn to by all senators.
“I am profoundly religious. My faith is at the heart of who I am,” Romney, a Mormon, said before pausing for about 11 seconds, seemingly struggling with his emotions. “The grave question the Constitution task senators to answer is whether the president committed an act so extreme, so egregious, that it rises to the level of a high crime and misdemeanor,” Romney said. “Yes, he did.”
Yes, there will be those in Utah who will note that the AP story identified Romney as “a Mormon,” as opposed to him being a “member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Those seeking deeper content on the religion angle in this event could look in two predictable places in the mainstream press — Religion News Service and The Atlantic Monthly. RNS did exactly what it should do, which was produce a story that covered the political basics while stressing the religious content in Romney’s remarks. You can read that right here.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic story — “How Mitt Romney Decided Trump Is Guilty” — was based on an exclusive interview between the senator and political reporter McKay Coppins (who also happens to be a Latter-day Saint). Coppins said he was surprised to find Romney “filled with what seemed like righteous indignation about the president’s misconduct — quoting hymns and scripture, expressing dismay at his party, and bracing for the political backlash.”
Here is one crucial passage, placed near the top of this first-person piece:
As his conscience tugged at him, he said, the exercise took on a spiritual dimension.
Romney, a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, described to me the power of taking an oath before God: “It’s something which I take very seriously.” Throughout the trial, he said, he was guided by his father’s favorite verse of Mormon scripture: “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good.”
“I have gone through a process of very thorough analysis and searching, and I have prayed through this process,” he told me. “But I don’t pretend that God told me what to do.” …
This was, of course, a political story. I get that.
But if Romney’s stand was the “big idea” of the day, why not include the most dramatic and personal moment of his Senate speech?
Just asking. Meanwhile, kudos to AP, RNS and The Atlantic.