Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) visited Grant High School on May 27. She spoke with the Constitution Team, who placed first in the state and third at nationals in Washington, D.C.
Dexter congratulated the Constitution Team and presented them with a congressional folder. Earlier, she spoke about Grant’s team on the House floor, saying, “At a time when our democracy depends upon informed and engaged citizens, these students have demonstrated the very best of what civic education can inspire.”
At Grant, Dexter emphasized the importance of the Constitution in a time like today, saying, “students and young people understanding what we are supposed to be in the aspirational vision of our governance is critical to us coming back out of this and not falling into fascism.”
She also remained hopeful and discussed her perspective on the future of the Democratic Party. She says it is incredibly important to have a “robust primary” because “there’s plenty of talent in the Democratic Party.” As for a possible presidential candidate, Dexter thinks it is someone we don’t yet know. She says they will “rise to the top and meet the moment.”
Dexter spoke about her Republican colleagues, saying they “actually want in a lot of spaces to engage and to try to make policy better, but they won’t do it publicly, because it is a marginalizing endeavor to work across the aisle right now.”
Many Republicans in Congress fear political retribution and, in turn, don’t speak out against the President’s policies. In the past month, Republican incumbents, like John Cornyn, Bill Cassidy and Thomas Massie, who opposed Trump on certain issues, lost their primary elections. Dexter says, “Republicans are going to wake up and see that they are richer for disagreement and for having people who will stand up against tyranny.”
Dexter believes it is essential to be able to change one’s opinion on a subject, noting that “it’s important for people to feel like the power that you give me is something that I am willing to listen to you to change my perspective on. If not, then I don’t belong in the position of the power that you’ve given.”
Just as arguments are being made in the U.S. Congress, they are also being made by students on the Constitution Team. Dexter says, “We are all stronger when we listen to opinions that are different than ours.” And Grant High School’s Constitution team has proven this to be true.
