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Republican Elector Won’t Vote for Trump
Texas elector and firefighter Christopher Suprun.
Following Donald Trump’s electoral upset over Hillary Clinton, and his lack of securing the popular vote, there’s been a lot of talk about “faithless electors.” These are members of the Electoral College who refuse to vote for their state’s chosen candidate, and in 2016 the left has worked hard to shake the faith among pro-Trump electors.
In American history there have only been 157 faithless electors, only half of whom changed their minds on personal initiative (the others resulted from a candidate dying before taking office or abstentions.) None of these renegades have changed the course of a presidential election. Could this year be the first?
Republican Texas elector Christopher Suprun took to the opinion pages of the New York Times to announce he will not cast his vote for Donald Trump:
I have poured countless hours into serving the party of Lincoln and electing its candidates. I will pour many more into being more faithful to my party than some in its leadership. But I owe no debt to a party. I owe a debt to my children to leave them a nation they can trust.
Mr. Trump lacks the foreign policy experience and demeanor needed to be commander in chief. During the campaign more than 50 Republican former national security officials and foreign policy experts co-signed a letter opposing him. In their words, “he would be a dangerous president.” During the campaign Mr. Trump even said Russia should hack Hillary Clinton’s emails. This encouragement of an illegal act has troubled many members of Congress and troubles me.
Hamilton also reminded us that a president cannot be a demagogue. Mr. Trump urged violence against protesters at his rallies during the campaign. He speaks of retribution against his critics. He has surrounded himself with advisers such as Stephen K. Bannon, who claims to be a Leninist and lauds villains and their thirst for power, including Darth Vader. “Rogue One,” the latest “Star Wars” installment, arrives later this month. I am not taking my children to see it to celebrate evil, but to show them that light can overcome it.
…The election of the next president is not yet a done deal. Electors of conscience can still do the right thing for the good of the country. Presidential electors have the legal right and a constitutional duty to vote their conscience. I believe electors should unify behind a Republican alternative, an honorable and qualified man or woman such as Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. I pray my fellow electors will do their job and join with me in discovering who that person should be.
Fifteen years ago, I swore an oath to defend my country and Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. On Dec. 19, I will do it again.
Many states place restrictions on electors from going rogue. But independent-minded Texas has no laws binding them to the will of their voters. Two questions: 1) Do you agree with Suprun’s decision, and 2) should he should face consequences?
Published in General
He’ll be a hero in Austin.
It is a problem to equate the good of one’s ideology with the good of one’s country.
Who vetted this guy? Sounds like he was an infil-trator from the get-go. That, or perhaps he is getting squeezed by the former prisoner and company; if so, I wonder what they know about him that we don’t know. Maybe working-over State Electors is one of the tactics the apparatchiks developed during the recent meetings with Soros in Washington. No matter, whatever the outcome of this, he is likely soiled for a good long time.
Don’t mess with Texas!!!
Don’t mess with Texas!!!!
I read that interview, and when I see this quote, I am reminded of this cartoon,
When people talk about the hyperliteralism of the media, this is what they have in mind.
…as is his subversive campaign. His “shocking” decision to stand against Trump is now revealed to be a “dog bites man” story: Leftist elector stands against Trump!
Well duh!! Trump could walk across the Hudson River, and this guy would criticize him because he couldn’t swim.
Ethics are not defined by the constitution.
You’re tired of the criticism? He isn’t even president yet. I fear you’re in for a long four years.
You plan to delegitimize the election for the next 4 years?
It’ll be something like birthirism: Banned on Ricochet.
@lazymillennial‘s comment on this thread got quoted in Wednesday’s Three Martini Lunch.
Seawriter
@seawriter thanks for the heads up. I reposted it on yesterday’s Three Martini Lunch
This guy isn’t going to impact the result. I would be just as upset if he were going the other way. His poison is primarily sickening the Constitutional arrangement and democracy rather than any partisan issue.
Yes, this is what happens when people place themselves into situations where they should not be then lose their sense of what they are doing and lose their grip entirely.