After the Trumpster became more vociferous about attacking the integrity of our elections, an increasing chorus of Republicans are denouncing Trump’s attacks on democracy.
But something about their protests seemed a little shallow and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I expect I’m not the only one who thought of the election interference by the Republican-led Supreme Court in the 2000 election outcome. But that decision was made by an independent (cough) branch of the Federal government, not a political party.
Then I read these kinds of recent statements and my thoughts came into focus.
Republican campaign lawyer Chris Ashby said Trump's charges could foment unrest and were “unfounded” and “dangerous.”
"When you say an election is rigged, you’re telling voters, your supporters, their votes do not matter,” Ashby said in an interview. "I think some of Donald Trump’s comments could cause unrest at the polls."
“Unrest at the polls.” That’s it, we’ve seen it before. The Republican-organized Brooks Brother Riot in November 2009. For those who might not know about this event which precipitated the Supreme Court’s intervention...
The demonstration was organized by Republican operatives...to oppose the recount of 10,750 ballots during the Florida recount. … New York Rep. John Sweeney told an aide to "Shut it down." The demonstration turned violent, and according to the NY Times, "several people were trampled, punched or kicked when protesters tried to rush the doors outside the office of the Miami-Dade supervisor of elections. ….
Within two hours after the riot died down, the canvassing board unanimously voted to shut down the count, in part due to perceptions that the process wasn't open or fair, and in part because the court-mandated deadline was impossible to meet.
…
Some Bush supporters did acknowledge they hoped the recount would end. "We were trying to stop the recount; Bush had already won," said Evilio Cepero, a reporter for WAQI, an influential Spanish talk radio station in Miami. "We were urging people to come downtown and support and protest this injustice."
Urging people to come down and be unruly. Check. Because the system is rigged?
...Strayer, a top aide to New Mexico's Republican Congresswoman, Heather Wilson, and was one of hundreds of paid G.O.P. crusaders who descended on South Florida last Wednesday to protest the state's recounts. "The system is unfair, inaccurate, fraught with human error!" Strayer cried. In a Winnebago outside, G.O.P. operatives orchestrated the ranks up to the 19th floor, hoping to halt the tally of the largest potential lode of Gore votes.
Because the system is unfair. Check.
Donald Trump is promoting the same intimidation and interference attitude taken by Republicans in 2000.
Look, I’m glad that Republicans today are pushing back against Trump, but the Republican party has a huge stain in its not-so-distant past for violently disrupting an electoral process with severe consequences. If not for the grace shown by Al Gore, Republican actions could have led to a Constitutional crisis.
A crisis like Trump would inflict today if he could.
I don’t expect the Republican party will ever honestly own what its operatives did in 2000 and why they did it. However, one key person has expressed regrets for his essential role: current Trump advisor, Roger Stone! Stone isn’t really apologetic for his methods, just for the outcome. He doesn’t regret his mob scene orchestrations, but because they led to George Bush’s Iraq fiasco.
Trump’s call for intimidation in the electoral process is not a new tactic for the GOP. Until the Republican party acknowledges its undemocratic efforts to thwart the electoral process in 2000, I have no confidence that they won’t promote or resort to interference tactics again.