IT has been two weeks since reputable media outlets called the 2020 US election for Joe Biden. Despite Donald Trump’s own Department of Homeland Security saying it was the most transparent and safe vote in the country’s history, the president remains unconvinced that he has lost.
Thus far, Trump has not given Emily Murphy, the administrator of the General Services Administration, the okay to sign off on a transition that would allow funding, office space and access to government agencies for the Biden team. Also, Biden has not been given access to the all-important “Daily National Security” briefings that are key to any transition, nor has the Covid-19 Task Force been allowed to brief the president-elect on what needs to be done on that front.
Never before in US history has there been more reckless behaviour tolerated by an outgoing president. At this very critical point in time, when Covid-19 cases are on the rise, unemployment is at record levels, and it seems that Republican leaders are willing to allow Trump’s tantrum.
When all the votes are certified by December 13, Biden will have beaten Trump by six million votes – the biggest popular vote margin in US election history. He will have an Electoral College tally of 306 votes to Trump’s 232, well over the 270-vote threshold needed to secure the presidency.
Trump has refused to concede the election, making wild, baseless claims of voter fraud. He has broken all norms in the peaceful transition of power, and attempted to cast Biden as an illegitimate winner.
Here in the US, we have two courts. One is the legal system, where judges hear cases and issue rulings based on factual evidence to prove a case is indeed justified. The other is the court of public opinion, where people believe what they want based on their views of the issue, and not necessarily actual facts.
In the actual courts – the one where you must present evidence to a judge – the Trump campaign has filed 23 cases, and to date, has won only one, with the other 22 being tossed out by judges for lack of evidence. There were another four cases that the Trump campaign decided at the last minute to pull out of court, just before they were to be heard.
But in the court of public opinion, with his own supporters and some Republicans, the crazy and baseless assertion that Trump is the victim of the greatest voter scam in US history is actually resonating. That is frankly one of the most disturbing notions because for the first time in this country, some people do not trust our election system. It is chilling as it is dangerous.
How crazy have things gotten here in the US over the outcome of the 2020 election?
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 52% of Republicans believe that Trump won the election compared to just 29% who believe Biden won, and more than two-thirds of Republicans (68%) are concerned about “rigged” vote-counting processes that favoured Biden.
Among all Americans, about three-quarters (73%) believe that Biden, who received more than 270 electoral votes, won the vote, while 5% say Trump did.
The poll also found that more than half (55%) of Americans believe the election was “legitimate and accurate”, a seven-point decrease from a similar poll taken after the 2016 vote, and a sign that the president’s public – and unsubstantiated – claim of widespread voter fraud has had an impact on Americans’ opinions.
Attempts to claw back
Again, let me point out that Trump’s own Department of Homeland Security, along with election officials from across the country, have gone on record to say there is simply no evidence of voter fraud. It should also be said that many of the states that are certifying votes, like Arizona, Ohio and Maryland, have Republican governors.
Failing to win in the courts, Trump has taken to targeting states where Biden won, but have Republican legislatures. On Friday, the president summoned a delegation of the Republican leadership from the battleground state of Michigan, including the Senate majority leader and House speaker, in an apparent extension of his efforts to persuade judges and election officials to set aside Biden’s 154,000-vote margin of victory and grant Trump the state’s electors.
Trump’s attempt to persuade lawmakers to overturn the election seems to have failed, as the Michigan delegation issued the following statement. State Senate majority leader Mike Shirkey and House speaker Lee Chatfield said allegations of fraud should be investigated, but indicated that they are unmoved by Trump’s allegation thus far.
“We have not yet been made aware of any information that would change the outcome of the election in Michigan, and as legislative leaders, we will follow the law and follow the normal process regarding Michigan’s electors, just as we have said throughout this election.
“The candidates who win the most votes, win elections and Michigan’s electoral votes,” they said, adding that they used the meeting with Trump to press him for more pandemic aid for the state.
The board of state canvassers in Michigan is scheduled to meet today to certify the statewide outcome, and it is unclear whether Republican members of that panel will similarly balk.
Trump’s plans to invite legislators from two other battleground states, namely Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, are on hold at the moment. But, both are poised to certify Biden’s victories there.
Former members of the Trump admiration are urging him to give up this damaging process.
“The president could be calling Republican legislators and others to the White House to try and squeeze them,” tweeted former national security adviser John Bolton.
“Republicans at all levels – state, county, election boards, legislatures – must resist this political pressure.”
We will see in the coming days if the US can stand this assault on our democracy, or if that sacred bond of trust between the people and fairness has gone forever.
As an optimist, I am hopeful that one man cannot destroy the country’s trust in fair elections, but this is one very tough stress test that we are going through, to be sure. – The Vibes, November 23, 2020
Jim Williams is The Vibes’ US correspondent. He has covered every presidential election since 1976, and has won numerous awards for his work, including seven Emmys
