Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told Jeremy Pelzer of cleveland.com that he was simply carrying out his usual response to requests for assistance from Republican and Democratic leaders by sending 150 Ohio National Guard troops to patrol Washington, D.C. This includes deployments to D.C., Cleveland, and Columbus during the George Floyd protests in 2020, as well as to Minnesota following the conviction of police officer Derek Chauvin for Floyd’s murder.
However, in a conflict that seems to stem from Trump’s ire over homeless camps, Democrats have seized on DeWine’s deployment as unjustified backing for President Donald Trump’s takeover of the D.C. police. According to Lucas Daprile of cleveland.com, the district had a lower violent crime rate last year than Cleveland, Toledo, and Dayton, according to FBI data.
Guard personnel were also supplied by a few additional red states, such as South Carolina, Mississippi, and West Virginia. However, Vermont public media claimed that Phil Scott, the Republican governor of Vermont, graciously rejected. According to Scott’s chief of staff, Jason Gibbs, the governor simply opposes using the guard for this purpose and does not believe that using the National Guard to enforce domestic law is appropriate.
What then drove DeWine? The Roundtable of the Editorial Board shares its opinions.
Leila Atassi, manager of advocacy and public interest:
One would assume that a governor nearing the end of his career would find the strength to speak up for what’s right. However, DeWine was beaten up by his fellow Republicans for having the audacity to protect Ohioans during the pandemic. He will now serve out his remaining tenure with the devotion of a lapdog and the constitution of a marshmallow. Phil Scott of Vermont demonstrated what true backbone looks like.
Editorial writer Thomas Suddes:
Ohio troops should not have been dispatched to the District of Columbia by Governor Mike DeWine merely because the president’s Army secretary asked for them. The president is attempting to divert attention from his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, who sexually exploited minors, and his recent out-flimflamming by Vladimir Putin over Russia’s rape of Ukraine—something that occurs more frequently than most Americans realize.
Ted Diadiun, writer of columns:
I’m not qualified to explain Mike DeWine’s motivations because I’m not a mind reader. I’ll only take notice of his assertion that he feels obligated to answer when a president of any party asks for his assistance. DeWine’s inclination to not question the president is the sensible and proper course for a governor to take, even though the response to his decision has unavoidably divided into the typical pro-Trump and anti-Trump camps.
Columnist Eric Foster:
Policies are not licenses to stop thinking, despite the fact that they are far too frequently employed as such. It’s one thing to send national guard members to stop protest-related violence. Another is sending them to stop a wave of fictitious crime. Would DeWine send troops to Springfield if Trump urged him to do so in order to prevent the violent Haitian immigrants from consuming local dogs? The answer would be yes if you trust DeWine.
Lisa Garvin, member of the editorial board:
DeWine had nothing to lose by turning down Trump’s request since he is a principled guy with a time limit. The governor who protected Springfield Haitians and guided us during the pandemic is nowhere to be found. It is unfortunate and frustrating that he should suddenly submit to bald-faced dictatorship. I no longer trust DeWine to defend us if Trump decides that military action is necessary in Cleveland. All Ohioans should be appalled by that.
Victor Ruiz, member of the editorial board:
Once more, Governor DeWine agrees with the Commander in Chief. I imagine these governors telling themselves that they are doing something constructive. As I’ve remarked many times, they are really just stroking the ego of a narcissistic, self-centered tyrant who only thinks about himself. Any favors they believe they will receive are merely illusions.
Mary Cay Doherty, member of the editorial board:
People suffer when elected leaders handcuff police instead of criminals. Unfortunately, some people seem to think that decent citizens should put up with certain amounts of crime, violence, and societal degradation. Fortunately, President Trump is aware of how important safety is to anyone who work, live, or travel in the nation’s capital, which is the epicenter of American exceptionalism and democracy. Governor DeWine was correct to send Ohio National Guard troops to aid in that endeavor.
Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinions:
Sending the troops as requested or risking Ohio being singled out for further ICE arrests and harassment of hardworking immigrants is probably how DeWine viewed this request. Those who believe that such retaliation is not possible have not been listening.
Do you have any thoughts on this subject?
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* Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, can be reached by email at [email protected] with general inquiries about our editorial board, comments, or corrections regarding this Editorial Board Roundtable.
