Eight of the 11 Republican candidates in Virginia working for seats within the U.S. Home of Representatives this fall are “election deniers,” The Washington Publish reported final week. They’re among the many practically 300 GOP nominees nationwide competing for the U.S. Home, Senate and main statewide workplaces who contend Joe Biden didn’t win the presidency in 2020.
I think the evaluation would’ve uncovered extra Republican Get together deniers within the commonwealth, however our Common Meeting contests aren’t this yr. Nor are Virginia’s two U.S. senators, each Democrats, up for reelection in November.
Biden received 306 electoral votes within the presidential contest towards Donald Trump (the magic quantity is 270). Biden’s in style vote totals had been 7 million greater than these of his opponent too. Apart from, quite a few courts and state officers dominated within the Democrat’s favor after Trump’s bogus claims.
Bupkis, the refuseniks say. They swallow “The Huge Lie” that Biden stole the election.
The Publish recognized election deniers primarily based on “public statements, social media posts and actions taken by the candidates to disclaim the legitimacy of the final presidential vote.” Whether or not these candidates really consider this rubbish, or as a substitute hew to what’s politically expedient, is one other story.
It’s all primarily based on an enormous lie by an egomaniac who can’t stand being a loser. Disgrace on him and his craven enablers across the nation. They’re betting Democrats and independents received’t be as ruthless and unhinged as they’re.
“Persevering with these lies erodes belief in authorities,” Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo, analysis director on the nonpartisan Wason Heart at Christopher Newport College, instructed me this week. The middle conducts surveys and political evaluation.
Officers would possibly change how they function, she added, if an election doesn’t go their social gathering’s manner, even when they run a supposedly nonpartisan workplace. They could name for costly election audits that aren’t mandatory.
But “we’ve got proof that it has been a reliable course of,” Bromley-Trujillo mentioned.
Virginia’s unpersuadables are candidates in protected GOP seats and aggressive ones. They embrace longtime incumbents – who should know higher – and would-be congresspeople.
This upside-down world may now not be dismissed after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol. The persevering with rejection of info is an assault on democracy, governance and the need of a majority of Individuals and the Electoral Faculty.
We may face civil unrest if a duly elected candidate doesn’t achieve workplace due to thuggery or political chicanery. The local weather for that’s much more attainable as a result of present nominees who win, as The Publish wrote, “will maintain some measure of energy overseeing American elections.”
In brief, america may devolve right into a banana republic. Political upheaval is perhaps steady. Western democracies overseas will surprise what the hell occurred.
That’s why I’ve created this questionnaire for the Addled Eight in Virginia. They’re incumbents Rob Wittman, Bob Good, Ben Cline and H. Morgan Griffith, and Home candidates Jen Kiggans, Yesli Vega, Leon Benjamin and Hung Cao.
I received’t maintain my breath ready for his or her responses. In contrast to them, I’m not delusional:
- For the incumbents: You say the presidential vote was rigged or stolen by Biden. Why, then, didn’t you instantly resign and demand a brand new contest after you received in 2020?
- For would-be congresspeople: Shouldn’t you welcome do-overs in your nominating contests? Does fraud occur solely while you lose?
- For state Sen. Jen Kiggans: You received a seat in Hampton Roads by lower than one share level in 2019. How odd did you’re feeling when your Democratic opponent conceded inside two days of the outcomes? Was she a chump?
- For all: If injected with fact serum, what would you say in regards to the 2020 presidential contest? Would it not jibe together with your public pronouncements?
- Do you are taking any duty for the truth that an amazing majority of Republicans nationwide, a mean of 64% over the course of 9 polls by Monmouth College for the reason that election, say Biden received solely attributable to voter fraud?
- Shelly Simonds, a Democrat, misplaced a 2017 Common Meeting contest that got here all the way down to selecting a canister out of a bowl. Judges needed to assess the validity of some ballots solid for the Newport Information seat within the Home of Delegates. Would you, going through comparable circumstances, spend the following two years whining in regards to the outcome and inflicting discord – à la Trump – or as a substitute keep within the background and put together for a successful marketing campaign later, as Simonds did?
- Former President Trump is a serial liar; he spouted greater than 30,000 falsehoods whereas in workplace. He’s been the topic of lawsuits relationship again many years alleging numerous unlawful or unethical enterprise practices. Household-run and different companies have mentioned Trump or his firms stiffed contractors for work they’d accomplished, typically resulting in the demise of their corporations. Why then do you belief Trump’s claims about 2020 – or any of his assertions?
- When you can not discern reality from fiction given the mountain of proof that Biden received honest and sq., why must you be entrusted to research points, move laws and influence the lives of thousands and thousands of Individuals?
- What’s extra essential: democracy or being in energy?
- What’s going to you say to Individuals in case your continued baseless assist of the Huge Lie results in violence, homicide and anarchy round america?
As I famous earlier, these GOP candidates received’t reply to my survey.
You, nonetheless, ought to demand solutions.
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