As Donald Trump continues to make the
dangerous, unsubstantiated
statement that
the election will be rigged, the leaders of the Republican
Party have divided into three camps; the supporters, the silent, and
those who disagree.
Paul Ryan, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Pence,
and Newt Gingrich have all offered their opinions. A number of
prominent Republicans, past and present, have refused to comment.
These include Mitch McConnell, Chris Christie, Presidents Bush and
Bush, and past candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain.
Giuliani and Gingrich have endorsed
Trump's claim, but at different magnitudes. While Gingrich has
certainly aided Trump's campaign during the primary and general
election, he also hasn't been afraid to criticize Trump's more
outrageous statements. Here,
he seems to agree with Trump's claim the election is rigged, but
while Trump intends that there will be voter fraud, Gingrich only
means that the media is biased.
Giuliani though, agrees
(a bit hesitantly perhaps) that voter fraud is a problem, and
Democrats are to blame.
Paul
Ryan, has explicitly rejected Trump's language, but since he
has not fully withdrawn his endorsement, his denunciation rings
hollow.
And finally, Trump's running-mate,
Pence has attempted to appear on both sides:
publicly rejecting a woman's call for “revolution” at a
rally, but has moved
closer to Trump's position recently.
Since Trump shows no sign of backing
down from his claim, the only question is, who will reject his story
if he loses?
Will we see Pence publicly denounce
Trump if they lose: will others who have remained silent come forward
to repudiate their candidate's ugly rhetoric? Or will they allow
Trump to continue his assault, unanswered, on the norms of our
democracy?
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