Allan and Kathy Baragona lived through the political turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s and believe that 2025 is much more serious.
“Because we have lived through Watergate, the Vietnam War and the Iraq War, and this is the greatest threat to Democracy,” Allan Baragona said of the Trump Administration.
The Baragonas, who have lived in Staunton since 1986, believe in government. Allan said that as a teacher he has lost students to military service. One of his students died at the Pentagon on 9/11.
“And Trump is destroying everything that they stood for,” Allan Baragona said.
They believe that Trump is the opposite of the government that they believe in.
“Nixon didn’t let the Russians into our cybersecurity systems,” Kathy Baragona said.
Her husband added that former President Richard Nixon did not try to destroy Americans in order to become wealthy.
The Baragonas were among more than 100 concerned constituents who protested outside the Staunton office of U.S. Rep. Ben Cline on Lewis Street Tuesday afternoon.
“The problem with Ben Cline is he supports him unquestionably and to support [Trump] is treasonous,” Allan Baragona said.
Protestors periodically shouted: “A man with no suit. A suit with no man;” “Ben Cline‘s got to go, hey hey, ho ho.”
They carried signs reading: “Where is Ben?” and “Defend Democracy, not dictators.”
Robert Horowitz of Waynesboro attended the meeting in Waynesboro held by staff members of Cline last Thursday. He expressed concern for Medicaid cuts.
“What you’re doing with Medicaid is an abomination,” Horowitz told Cline staff last week.
Horowitz said that regardless of political party affiliation, Cline has a responsibility as a member of Congress to defend the interests of his constituents.
“Your main job of all things is to defend the Constitution and all its branches [of government],” Horowitz said.
Barbara of Staunton said that members of Congress like Cline are giving away their political power.
“Definitely the Republican majority is handing over their legislative power by simply not resisting,” she said.
She said President Donald Trump is attempting to defund programs and agencies that are already allotted funding by the federal government.
“The balance of power with courts and Congress is falling in line with Trump,” she said.
She thinks that Cline and other legislators are intimidated by the Trump Administration.
Related stories:
Ben Cline doesn’t do town halls: You’ll have to yell at his staff
Ben Cline staffer to caller pressing for town hall: ‘I don’t f—ing care’
Ben Cline won’t hold a town hall: His constituents held one for him
Ben Cline’s constituents to protest outside his Staunton office
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Rebecca Barnabi
