Georgia’s Secretary of State has been heavily criticized for claiming he can’t keep criminal defendant Donald Trump off the ballot.
Raffensperger Condemned for His Claims
Brad Raffensperger penned an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal titled, “I Can’t Keep Trump off the Ballot.” He was quickly condemned for his claims, with Hayes Brown of MSNBC saying that “he has the responsibility to do so.”
Fundamentally Un-American
Raffensperger wrote: “For a secretary of state to remove a candidate would only reinforce the grievances of those who see the system as rigged and corrupt. Denying voters the opportunity to choose is fundamentally un-American. The American people will make their own decisions. Most of the time, they will get it right. Trust the voters.”
The 14th Amendment
Brown hit back at Raffensperger. “The Republican’s piece is more about how he shouldn’t block Trump and less about whether he could,” he said, going on to remind readers that Section Three of the 14th Amendment bars any individual who took an oath of office before engaging in “insurrection or rebellion against the same” or giving “aid or comfort to the enemies thereof” from holding office again.
Section Three Still Applies
Kimberly Wehle, a law professor, said: “The theory behind Section Three is that it’s really a problem to have people in office who are committed to dismantling the current government. The spirit of Section Three seems to apply in 2023.”
The Best Thing for Georgia
Brown continued: “The question, then, is whether Raffensperger wants to act in the best interests of his constituents. Georgia’s voters entrusted him with that power and no matter how much he tries to hand that power back, the law recognizes that power as his.”
Raffensperger Has the Power
Brown went on to point out that “Raffensperger has the power to start the process up against Trump himself.” He then gave his readers a reminder: “The state law allowing Raffensperger to determine who is qualified for the ballot was passed by Georgia’s Legislature and signed by Georgia’s governor.”
The Internet’s Response
News of Raffensperger’s claim and Brown’s condemnation of him was shared across the internet and people flocked to comment sections to give their views. For the most part, people agreed with Brown.
It Clearly Disqualifies Trump
Plenty of people pointed out that Section Three of the 14th Amendment is very black-and-white and clearly disqualifies Trump. Others said that the former president would lose anyway and that his being on the ballot wouldn’t be a concern.
The Solution Is Simple
One social media commenter wrote: “The solution is simple. Vote blue to reset this country and rid ourselves of treasonous common criminals grifting off the system. Then maybe the Republican Party will kick these idiots out and reset as a true conservative party.”
Raffensperger Lacks Courage
Another person said: “There is nothing ambiguous about the 14th Amendment. No interpretation is required. It states very clearly that no person involved in an attempt to overthrow the government can hold public office. The only thing lacking here is the courage to enforce it.”
Section Three Is Crystal Clear
Echoing the aforementioned commenter, another individual wrote: “What part of the 14th Amendment don’t you understand? It’s crystal clear. If you’re involved in an insurrection, you are disqualified. If I were a lawyer and my law license was revoked, I couldn’t practice law. The same people that argue against the 14th Amendment are just as quick to throw the First and Second Amendments in your face.”
Trying to Steal the Country
Others said that individuals so clearly in favor of far-right fascism should be in prison: “Republicans are trash. These people are literally trying to steal our country. We watched it live on national television. None of them should be anywhere near our government and they should be in prison. Why they aren’t is a question the American public should be screaming at the courts.”
Trump vs. DeSantis
Another commenter wrote: “Honestly, Trump running again is probably for the best. Biden isn’t exactly popular but Trump won’t be able to beat him. Besides, DeSantis is the most likely alternative and, let’s be real, he’s worse. At least Trump seemingly doesn’t want a federal abortion ban.”
Trump Will Lose in Georgia
Plenty of people echoed the aforementioned commenter and said Trump will lose anyway. “Does not matter. Trump has lost in Georgia before and he will do so again. He has done nothing since 2020 to enhance his appeal to the growing population of suburban and independent voters in Georgia,” one person said.
A Satirical Response
Others responded satirically: “When are you folks ever going to learn? If Mr. Trump says he can run, he can run. Mr. Trump can do whatever he wants to do. Actually, if he wanted to, he could ascend to the presidency without us even having to waste time on an election.”
Nothing to Stop Trump
The commenter continued: “They do it in other countries all the time and, since he’s proven to us that no judge will enforce any judicial order on him and that he doesn’t have to abide by conditions laid down within the Constitution, there’s really nothing to stop him.”
A MAGA Opinion
Despite all of the aforementioned criticism, Trump’s supporters did weigh in every now and then. One said: “Donald Trump has presidential immunity. All of these stupid cases will be dismissed. The only one that has a chance is the stupid civil case against the Trump Organization because that is alleged to have occurred prior to Trump being president.”
Donald Trump Is Jesus Christ
It’s unclear if the following comment is satire or if it’s the genuine opinion of a Trump supporter. Regardless, the fact that it’s difficult to tell should be a concern for all. The individual wrote: “This is the Great Awakening. What a lovely time to be alive. Donald Trump is Jesus Christ. We, the people, are protected. All lies are being revealed. The evil is being done away with. Father God loves you all.”
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