In a startlingly swift sequence of occasions, Vice President Kamala Harris has gained the assist of social gathering leaders, donors and — most necessary — delegates who had been anticipated to assist President Biden earlier than he deserted his quest for a second time period.
It’s a outstanding present of solidarity, however Republicans are mischaracterizing it as one thing else: a desecration of democracy.
Former President Trump, who’s miffed that he spent money and time campaigning in opposition to Biden and now has to face off in opposition to the youthful, extra polished Harris, asserted: “They stole the race from Biden after he gained it within the primaries — A First! These individuals are the actual THREAT TO DEMOCRACY!”
Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson chimed in: “Having invalidated the votes of greater than 14 million Individuals who chosen Joe Biden to be the Democrat nominee for president, the self-proclaimed ‘social gathering of democracy,’ has confirmed precisely the other.”
These feedback about threats to democracy are wealthy coming from Trump and Johnson.
The previous president’s outrageous try and overturn the 2020 election culminated in a riot on the U.S. Capitol. Johnson was instrumental in submitting a short by Republican Home members supporting a lawsuit by Texas in search of to have the Supreme Court docket block certification of election ends in 4 states the place the voters selected Biden. The courtroom rejected that meritless lawsuit, concluding that Texas lacked standing to contest how different states conduct their elections.
One can argue that the Democratic Get together ought to have had a extra aggressive course of to decide on a nominee after Biden withdrew. However the actuality is that critical opponents for Harris did not materialize. A number of of these talked about as attainable alternate options had been fast to endorse her. It’s comprehensible that Harris shortly cemented assist, given the lateness of the hour and the crucial of stopping Trump’s return to the White Home.
If Harris clinches the Democratic nomination, as now appears inevitable, she might want to persuade voters that she is preferable to Trump. The previous president will be anticipated to hurl varied accusations in opposition to Harris, however one that may be simply dismissed is that Harris “stole” the Democratic nomination.
A consensus isn’t a coup or a conspiracy.
