Attorney Robert McWhirter spoke with the PC Democratic Club in January.
Alisa Moore
The first 2021 meeting of the PebbleCreek Democratic Club took place in the evening after most members had anxiously spent the day glued to their televisions or computers as the Capitol was overrun by rioters while both houses of Congress were in session, requiring the evacuation of the nation’s leadership until calm was restored. Our speaker, Robert McWhirter, a Phoenix attorney who specializes in criminal defense law and Constitutional issues, helped put the day’s events into perspective.
Prior to his presentation, the club’s business was conducted. Officers were elected: John Moore, president; Chuck Veltri, vice president; Gary Halperin, treasurer; Alisa Moore, secretary; and Bill Tafs, member-at-large. President Moore thanked outgoing board member Shari Baer for her committed service to new members during 2019 and 2020, when the club grew exponentially. He also thanked the chair of the nominating committee, Becky Rodes, for the committee’s efficient and effective work, and Jan Race for organizing campaign volunteer activities for any and all members interested in participating.
Frank Veltri reported on upcoming activities of the social committee, to include another bingo night, a pizza evening, a picnic with an ice cream truck (for warmer weather), and trips to Bisbee, Tombstone, and Dana Point, and when we open up from the pandemic, a Welcome Back event, Halloween party, and Winter Wonderland celebration.
Judy Hart, on behalf of the community outreach committee, summarized all that the club members had done to support the Agua Fria Food and Clothing Bank over 2020, noting that in addition to the stunning amount of money and food we contributed in November and December, over the year we had given more than $3,000, 1,600 pounds of clothing, 2,400 pounds of food, and many hours of volunteer service.
Attorney McWhirter covered a substantial amount of material beginning with an explanation of the role and history of the Electoral College and why Congress had been meeting to certify the votes that day. He explained that the election of 1876 was even more hotly contested than this one. Then he moved into how the Constitution could be amended if the voters wanted to do so, when and how the President can utilize the pardon power, what the 25th Amendment means and how it is implemented, and what the consequence of a second impeachment could be. He also provided information on the ethics complaint filed with the Disciplinary Department of the State Bar of Arizona against the lawyers who filed suits in Arizona challenging the November election returns. Mr. McWhirter ended by saying that our branches of government and our institutions are fundamentally strong and that we will remain a beacon of freedom for the world, so long as our citizenry continue to participate in our processes.
The next meeting of the PC Dem Club is Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. Please visit PCDemClub.org for more information.