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Why Write to Discredit Critics of the 2020 Election Now?
Let me say first that I am not writing this to debate the legitimacy of the 2020 election. I’m writing this piece because I was intrigued by the AP article that was just written and appeared in the Orlando Sentinel, ridiculing those who support “conspiracy theories” about the aforementioned election. The article claims conferences that feed the conspiracy narrative through providing information about the election are misguided.
We are now in September 2022; why would she be writing this article now? I found a number of revealing hints about her possible motives, the multiple subtle attacks that characterize Republicans as deluded, and how her writing may further alienate non-Republicans from Republicans today.
Since we may have become inured to the attacks on us, I think it’s important to realize that there is a multitude of examples of discrediting us; these are important to be able to identify, not just to raise our ire even further, but to realize that the overwhelming number of attacks add up to an increasingly unfair and distorted image of Republicans as a whole. These kinds of attacks can lead to additional fear and rejection of Republicans and Conservatives and our agendas, suggesting we are even crazier and outside the mainstream than Democrats assume. What do those subtle attacks look like? Here are several examples of quotations from the article. (Quotations are italicized):
Some panelists called on those attending to join what they framed as a battle between good and evil. We are being characterized as religious extremists.
Nearly two years after that election, no evidence has emerged to suggest that widespread fraud or manipulation occurred while reviews in state after state have upheld the results showing President Joe Biden won. The illegitimacy of the election doesn’t require “widespread fraud,” whatever that means. State after state may have reviewed their results, but in March, for example, a new study stated that at least 255,00 excess votes were cast in six battleground states.
Even so, the attacks and falsehoods have made an impact: An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll from 2021 found that about two-thirds of Republicans say they do not think Biden was legitimately elected.
People don’t have to agree with these conclusions, but in a free society, people are allowed to question the results and not have them called “attacks and falsehoods.”
Numerous official reviews and audits in the six battleground states where Trump challenged his loss have upheld the validity of the results. Judges — including some appointed by Trump — dismissed lawsuits making various claims of fraud and wrongdoing. See the comment above on the six battleground states. Also, several lawsuits were dismissed on technical issues.
That any technology is vulnerable, including voting machines, is not in dispute. State and local election officials throughout the U.S. have been focused on improving their security defenses with help from the federal government. But Byrne and some of the other speakers said they believe government has been corrupted and can’t be trusted. I guess we should feel reassured that the states acknowledge the voting machines were/are vulnerable and are focusing on improving their security defenses [now] with the help of the federal government.
* * * *
So, why should we care about these biased attacks now? You can be assured that over the next two years, efforts to discredit, demonize and ridicule the Republicans will ramp up even more. They are trying to discourage those Republicans who are not satisfied with the reports and who want to continue to pursue additional information. Some of those attacks will be blatant, easily brushed off by some of us. But the number of subtle and offensive attacks will increase, creating an even more polarized and hostile environment.
If we are going to try to address these attacks (at least when we have the opportunity), we need to know what the enemy is saying and doing.
We must fight back.
[photo by Rebecca S. Gratz, Associated Press]
Published in Politics
The RNC recently put out the 10 minute video below of Democrats questioning and/or denying the results of the 2000, 2004 & 2016 presidential elections and the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. Apparently, the only election that can’t be be questioned is the 2020 presidential election which was as pure as the driven snow.
Excellent point! I like when we fight back!
If only the RNC would buy time on local tv in all the purple states.
This could be condensed into 30 second spots not all the same dived up through the coming election cycle. Run during football games college and pro .
The RNC plays at fighting back. Only the choir will see this add.
Kevin, I think they need you as a consultant!
That made me chuckle.
It is self evident they are not stupid . They have priorities that are not ours .
I would say fight forward. Promote a vision rather than derision. Getting involved in a back and forth is pointless, they’ll never concede a point, so put something in front of people to seize upon. This is precisely what the Senate Minority Leader does not want, but it is precisely what needs to happen.
They can offer insults, but we need only tell people to look around them and at prices at the grocery store, then tell them what we intend to do.
I keep waiting for this great pledge they’re supposed to be working on. What’s the delay! BTW, I like “fight forward”!
In Arizona, there was a great effort to discredit the election results. The best vignette that I remember is that great pressure was focused on House Speaker Rusty Bowers. He was called by many in the Trump orbit, and he repeatedly requested evidence of alleged fraud. Finally Rudy Giuliani admitted that while he had many theories, he didn’t have any evidence of fraud.
We cannot have a functioning democracy where there are only two choices: “I win” or “You cheated.”
I hope and pray that we leave Trump and the 2020 election behind. Trump has support in the Republican Party, but that does not extend to Independents. (Arizona is 35% Republican, 34% Independent and 31% Democrat.) We have nominated a number of candidates who have questioned the validity of the 2020 election, and they are losing in the polls. Since 1934, the opposition party has gained in every midterm, with a couple of exceptions. However, those candidates who have questioned the validity of the 2020 election are losing right now in the general election polls.
I respectfully suggest that every minute a Republican candidate questions the 2020 election results in one minute that they are not addressing inflation, taxes, the student-loan give-away, and the shameful Afghanistan withdrawal. If we lose seats in the Senate, we did it to ourselves by choosing candidates who can’t win general elections.
@kevinschulte, did you mean something like this ad?
Excellent.
Teddy Daniels lost. He got only 13% of the vote. https://ballotpedia.org/Teddy_Daniels The Democrats love to run against Republicans like him.
Another interesting outcome on ads: Democrats are distancing themselves from Biden and running Republican messages!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/campaign-ads-show-some-democrats-running-against-biden-often-touting-republican-messages
That’s a superficial analysis, Gary. Look what race he lost…you didn’t watch the commercial, did you? The commercial was for a different contest. I don’t know what happened, but I do know the ad is solid.
He probably seemed too far out of the mainstream, but he had good arguments.
I’d say the fact that he apparently switched from a district race to a statewide one in the middle of the primary season and managed to get 13.4% statewide is a remarkable achievement, particularly on the budget he had, which appeared to be under 18k. This guy sticks around for another cycle and he’s going to be electable.
Edit: Not to mention a crowded field, the winner finished with 26%. For those just reading the comments, the spot was for Congress, but he was on the ballot for Lt. Governor. Looks like Teddy was all word-of-mouth + that ad on YouTube, and he couldn’t have purchased much time for it. People like him.
As with ‘birthers’ the game is to get enough Republicans to talk about it that you can portray the whole of them as conspiracy theorists.
Well, after you ‘prove’ that it’s a conspiracy, of course.
Regardless, all Republicans believe ‘X’ are nuts, hate the government, and will destroy the nation unless you vote Democrat.
Yes I watched the commercial. If I were the Democrats I would have helped pay for the ad.
Both parties do their share of “nut picking.” See Ilhan Omar.
Not at all helpful to your position. Ilhan Omar has been elected and reelected, just like Maxine Waters. So, no, McCarthy and McConnell are not merely being realists or pragmatists in joining the left in smearing and undercutting Tea Party/ MAGA/ America First “unelectable” “nuts.”
The Turtle and the gang Hate, Hate , Hate candidates like this.
Funny thing is , Eric Greitens had adds just like this only Eric was more polished. The State GOP hated him. Helped a corrupt St. Louis City GS prosecutor run him out of the Governorship .
This is the thing. We not only have to run against the Democrats , We have to watch from being worked against and back stabbed from the GOP .
No change of leadership And their Lackies . No change. The Poo pile is tall and broad in the GOP.
Bloviation, Gary, that would be most unwise for the D’s. He used photos of people you like and held them up as poor examples. Get over it.
Objectively, I’d say $18k in a statewide garnering 13+ percent of the vote is someone to look at. If I’m on team R and want to flip the 8th in PA, I’m giving Teddy Daniels a look. Most likely the bulk of his support is localized within that district. The biggest likely obstacle? Some self-appointed gatekeeper’s prejudice.
The unconventional approach can be powerful. Hey, Trump won!
The point seems clear to me; to make any criticism of ballot practices tantamount to treason. That makes it easier for Democrats to get away with cheating.
Although it’s not as if they have had any trouble up until now.
Yes Trump won. In 2016. But not in 2020. The 2020 election was lost, not stolen. https://ricochet.com/1285677/lost-not-stolen-the-conservative-case-that-trump-lost-and-biden-won-the-2020-presidential-election/.
Susan, in her first sentence, specifically said she was making no assertions about 2020. No comments have referenced it, though some mention election cheating. That has gone on for ages.
Perhaps they’ll even try to justify cheating openly.
There is plenty of evidence to question the 2020 outcome. So it is not crazy to do so and insist that elections going forward are legitimate and credible. Too many establishment Republicans were all too happy to have election questions buried and discredited. That has given energy to the continuing claims. Why don’t our party operatives want free, fair and transparent elections recording the votes of currently eligible voters? Makes you wonder whether they want the option to cheat? The whole thing is disgusting.
I believe the dirty little secret is . The Republicans cheat in their own primaries. That’s how we get globalist r or globalist d.
Win Win.
The distinction you make is critical, Rodin! Why is it wrong to question, when the Dems have done so over and over? The reactions of GOPe and Dems certainly smells.
I don’t know that I agree, Kevin. But they are certainly reluctant to challenge the results.
I respect that . However, you need to remember the Republican party is a Club . Democrat is a club too. They play by there own rules and they don’t care what you think. You aren’t part of the club unless you tow the club line. Voter’s be damned.