History will Scorn the Cowards who fear Trump!
David Axelrod Super Tuesday election results reported from CNN's Washington DC bureau on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in Washington, D.C. Photo by John Nowak/CNN
By David Axelrod, CNN Senior Political Commentator
Updated 2:16 PM ET, Fri December 11, 2020
History will scorn the cowards who meekly complied with Trump's scheme to tarnish and overturn the election -- and honor the many who showed courage and fidelity to the rule of law during this time of trial.
Rudy Giuliani and the Trump legal team have debased themselves, our legal system and democracy by filing one frivolous lawsuit after another, crying fraud on TV -- but not in the courtroom, where evidence is required.
Does Donald Trump really believe he lost the election?
Does Donald Trump really believe he lost the election?
And too many Republican officials, fearful of getting sideways with Trump's base, have dutifully echoed his dishonest charges of vote fraud.
A group of Republican state attorneys general lined up in support of a preposterous eleventh-hour filing from the attorney general of Texas, asking the Supreme Court to overturn the results in four states Trump lost.
The suit was filed without standing, supporting evidence or a colorable argument. Nonetheless, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana circulated an email among his Republican House colleagues urging them to sign an amicus brief in support of this outrageous folly. Trump is "anxiously awaiting the final list" to see who signs on to the amicus brief, Johnson wrote, implying dire consequences for anyone who failed join.
Within 24 hours, more than 100 House Republicans complied.
Supporters of Trump have gone so far as to argue that Republicans may stage a battle on the House floor to reject the Biden electors from contested states, a symbolic gesture that would fail but set a chilling precedent.
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Almost as egregious have been the many Republican members of the House and Senate who have refused to acknowledge Biden's victory and countenanced weeks of delay in the transition.
Through their silence, they have given credence to Trump's blatant lies, which have now gained traction among a large majority of Republicans nationally.
It's crazy, authoritarian stuff. If it were occurring anywhere else, Americans would condemn it as an appalling attempt to undermine democracy.
History will scorn the cowards who meekly complied with Trump's scheme to tarnish and overturn the election -- and honor the many who showed courage and fidelity to the rule of law during this time of trial.
David Axelrod Super Tuesday election results reported from CNN's Washington DC bureau on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 in Washington, D.C. Photo by John Nowak/CNN
By David Axelrod, CNN Senior Political Commentator
Updated 2:16 PM ET, Fri December 11, 2020
History will scorn the cowards who meekly complied with Trump's scheme to tarnish and overturn the election -- and honor the many who showed courage and fidelity to the rule of law during this time of trial.
Rudy Giuliani and the Trump legal team have debased themselves, our legal system and democracy by filing one frivolous lawsuit after another, crying fraud on TV -- but not in the courtroom, where evidence is required.
Does Donald Trump really believe he lost the election?
Does Donald Trump really believe he lost the election?
And too many Republican officials, fearful of getting sideways with Trump's base, have dutifully echoed his dishonest charges of vote fraud.
A group of Republican state attorneys general lined up in support of a preposterous eleventh-hour filing from the attorney general of Texas, asking the Supreme Court to overturn the results in four states Trump lost.
The suit was filed without standing, supporting evidence or a colorable argument. Nonetheless, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana circulated an email among his Republican House colleagues urging them to sign an amicus brief in support of this outrageous folly. Trump is "anxiously awaiting the final list" to see who signs on to the amicus brief, Johnson wrote, implying dire consequences for anyone who failed join.
Within 24 hours, more than 100 House Republicans complied.
Supporters of Trump have gone so far as to argue that Republicans may stage a battle on the House floor to reject the Biden electors from contested states, a symbolic gesture that would fail but set a chilling precedent.
Get our free weekly newsletter
Sign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.
Join us on Twitter and Facebook
Almost as egregious have been the many Republican members of the House and Senate who have refused to acknowledge Biden's victory and countenanced weeks of delay in the transition.
Through their silence, they have given credence to Trump's blatant lies, which have now gained traction among a large majority of Republicans nationally.
It's crazy, authoritarian stuff. If it were occurring anywhere else, Americans would condemn it as an appalling attempt to undermine democracy.
History will scorn the cowards who meekly complied with Trump's scheme to tarnish and overturn the election -- and honor the many who showed courage and fidelity to the rule of law during this time of trial.
