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To the editor:
I'd like to submit the following as an open letter to Rep. Byron Donald's after last night's Town Hall.
Dear Congressman Donalds,
Wow. Monday night's town hall was -- how do I say this diplomatically? -- a masterclass in "intellectually honest" gaslighting. And yes, I put that term in quotation marks because you tossed it around so many times I started wondering if it was a nervous tic or just your way of saying, "Buckle up for some top-shelf condescension."
You really packed the night with moments, but there was one that rose above the rest for sheer audacity: your claim (cheered on by a few equally confused attendees) that the Constitution only applies to U.S. citizens and not to so-called "illegal aliens." You said it with such confidence, like a kid trying to pass off a book report on "Moby Dick" after watching "Free Willy."
Let's do something radical here and refer to the actual Constitution. The Fifth Amendment says: "No person shall be... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..."
And the Sixth Amendment? "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial..."
Notice anything? Like, say, the word "person"? Not "citizen." Not "only if you were born next to a bald eagle." Just person. That word -- "person" -- appears 28 times in the Constitution and its amendments, often carrying rights, responsibilities, and, yes, protections. The Founders weren't known for their subtlety. If they wanted to limit those rights to citizens only, they had a word for that. They chose not to use it here.
So when you say undocumented immigrants aren't covered, you're not being "intellectually honest" -- you're being intellectually… creative. And not in a cute way, like finger painting, but in a dangerous way, like trying to rewire your house using TikTok tutorials.
I'd really encourage you to spend some time -- like, maybe a full week or two -- sitting with a constitutional scholar or even just someone who's read it all the way through. And while you're at it, maybe take a breather from blaming literally everyone else for everything. You're in Congress. You are the government now. Blaming past presidents and the legislative branch while actively sitting in the legislative branch is like burning dinner and then yelling at the stove.
I will say this -- you've got guts. You showed up. You didn't shy away from tough questions; you just answered them with the grace of a man trying to defuse a bomb with a hammer. Still, kudos. It's more than your peers tend to do. But unfortunately, being brave and being right are two different things.
You've passed one bill. One. The rest of your legislative efforts are gathering dust in committees like forgotten New Year's resolutions. Is it because your views are too extreme? Too unpopular? Or maybe your colleagues just don't find "intellectually honest" as charming as you do.
You said you'll do more town halls. I'll be there. And I'll meditate beforehand to make space for your unique brand of word salad. I'll come ready -- with a smile, a notepad, and a pocket Constitution. Maybe I'll bring an extra copy for you.
Sincerely,
A concerned constituent who believes the Constitution isn't just for citizens -- it's for people. (You know, like the rest of us humans.)
India Palencia
Fort Myers