Just imagine if Republicans had done this 11 months ago
Opinion by Jennifer Rubin
Americans should find some of the recent statements from Republicans who refuse to overthrow the will of the people both heartening and infuriating. Their newfound willingness to stand up to President Trump and put country before party is lovely — and 11 months late.
Consider an extract of the 21-page memo from Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.): “By objecting to electoral slates, members are unavoidably asserting that Congress has the authority to overturn elections and overrule state and federal courts. Such objections set an exceptionally dangerous precedent, threatening to steal states’ explicit constitutional responsibility for choosing the President and bestowing it instead on Congress. This is directly at odds with the Constitution’s clear text and our core beliefs as Republicans.” She recounts in detail the multiple court cases and their holdings, demonstrating a full airing — and rejection — of specious claims of fraud. The reverence for objective reality, the structure of our government and the Founders’ intent is quite stirring.
Likewise, Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) declared: “A fundamental, defining feature of a democratic republic is the right of the people to elect their own leaders. The effort by Senators Hawley, Cruz, and others to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in swing states like Pennsylvania directly undermines this right.” Bravo. Stand up for democracy!
So where was their reverence for the Constitution when presented with replete evidence of Trump’s betrayal of national security and abuse of the powers of the office to extort a foreign leader to cook up smears on now-President-elect Joe Biden? Now, Republicans can see through the smokescreen of excuses and lies. They see the absence of evidence of any fraud or irregularities. They can even recognize Trump’s outlandish behavior in trying to extort Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to change his state’s vote count. Cheney found it “deeply troubling”; Toomey called it a “new low.” (One almost wonders if they would agree it is impeachable conduct.)
How different was Republicans’ grasp of reality and constitutional evaluation last January and February. Back then, they refused to acknowledge Trump’s plain words on the July 25, 2019, call transcript in which he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he needed “a favor.” Nor did they accept the uncontradicted testimony of patriots such as Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Marie Yovanovitch, Fiona Hill and others making clear that Trump was throwing overboard national security concerns to further his own ambitions (although Cheney did denounce smears disputing Vindman’s loyalty). Back then, they could not bring themselves to recognize what was under their noses.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/05/just-imagine-if-republicans-had-done-this-11-months-ago/
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