Scott W. Patton and Cheryl Iacono, Opinion contributors Published 3:15 a.m. ET Jan. 29, 2020

Sens.Romney, Portman and Burr, Susan Collins, Lamar Alexander and others, it is time for choosing. Which path will you choose for history to record?

In a March 2016 speech, four years after his own presidential bid,Mitt Romney recalledaspeech by another Republican leader. Ronald Reagan, he said, told America in 1964 that it was a time for choosing between two paths: lifting people out of poverty and helping create opportunity for all, or an oppressive government that would lead America down a darker, less free path. Today, Romney added,"I believe with all my heart and soul that we face another time for choosing, one that will have profound consequences for the Republican Party, and more importantly, for our country."

What wasRomney, now a senator from Utah, so worried about?Donald Trump's presidential candidacy.

Sen. Romney, what path are you on now? The path of opportunity or the path of darkness? Your grandchildren are watching.

Weve read the president's famoustranscript. It was not a "PERFECT PHONE CALL." Highly educated suburban moms in New Albany and Delaware County, Ohio, have read the transcript. Independent-minded moderates from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have also read the transcript. Service members and veterans from North Carolina, Texas and Virginia have read the transcript. Many have asked and answered: Was the presidents actions as it relates to Ukraine in our countrys best interest? Do the presidents actions put our diplomats and service members in a better position to carry out policy that is right for our republic?

Voters know right from wrong. We know how to differentiate abuse of power and election interference from legitimate and, most important,legal foreign policy carried out for the good of country.

The question playingout as the impeachment trial moves forward: Do members of the Senate, whohave sworn an oath to the Constitution and a Senate oath on impeachment, know the difference between right and wrong? Will they serve party or country? Will they be partial or impartial jurors? History is waiting to record the Senates choice.

Mitt Romney denounces Donald Trump in March 2016 in Salt Lake City.(Photo: Tom Smart/epa)

Sen.Rob Portman, R-Ohio, spent a career working to restrict gay rights. In the end, he ultimately found himself on the right side of history only after his son announced that he was gay. Portman spoke about his change of heart when he said, It allowed me to think of this issue from a new perspective, and thats of a dad who loves his son a lot, and the overriding message of love and compassion that I take from the Bible, and certainly the Golden Rule led to the change.

Sen.Portman, what path will you take? The path of compassion and the Golden Rule,or the path of lies and intimidation that Trump wields every day from his bully pulpit? Our children are watching.

Sen.Richard Burr, R-N.C.,says on his website that "we have witnessed the emergence of an aggressive Russia with ambitions to undermine our longstanding alliances abroad. He also says, North Carolina is home to the third largest community of veterans and military retirees(and) some of Americas premier Army, Air Force and Marine Corps quick response forces.

We have three family members who served in the quick response forces mentioned by Burr Scott, his brother (and Cheryls son) Jerry Patton, and Jerrys son (Cheryls grandson). We ask, does withholding congressionally approved military aid to a foreign ally engaged in combat with Russia strengthen or weaken our longstanding alliances? Does it help our national security? Does it make our war fighters forward deployed safer when working with our overseas allies?

Do not allow Trump or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to undermine your legacy of service to our military and veterans. Do not become a Russian pawn in Russian President Vladimir Putins desire to weaken our standing abroad. Do not be a negative force in our political domestic chaos caused by Trumps illegal actions. Our forefathers, and those who have fallen to preserve our freedoms, are watching.

Three-quarters of Americans saynew evidence and witness testimony should be heard at Trumps trial. About half say Trump should be removed from office. This is not about Democrats hijacking Trumps election,as argued by Trumps enablers. Its about the future of our democracy.

Sens.Romney, Portman and Burr, Susan Collinsand Lamar Alexander and others, it is time for choosing. Will you uphold your oath to be an impartial juroror take the path of party loyalist? Which will you choosefor history to record? The path of freedom,or the dark path of oppression?

Scott W. Patton isa combat veteran,real estate developer and moderate Democrat who lives in Columbus, Ohio. Cheryl Iacono, a political independent, is a Gold Star mother and a grandmother. Army Sgt.Maj.Jerry Patton, her son and Scott's brother, deployed to Afghanistan twice and died onOct. 15, 2008, in an accident while training to deploy there again.

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Romney called 2016 a time for choosing on Trump. What choice will senators make now? - USA TODAY