To date, eight electors have come out stating that they will not cast their votes for Donald Trump come December 19th. The most recent is Christopher Suprun. He is part of a growing faction within the Electoral College who are calling themselves the “Hamilton Electors.” These electors cite Federalist Papers #68, in which Alexander Hamilton wrote:
“The process of the Electoral College affords a moral certainty, that the office of the President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.”
If there was ever a President-elect without the requisite qualifications, it is most certainly Donald Trump. The man has already demonstrated his intentions to roll back all progress we have made over the past eight years and is surrounding himself with the very corporate cronies and self-serving hacks he vowed to fight against during his campaign.
Most frighteningly, he shows himself to be little more than a spoiled, petulant, deceitful, manipulative and vindictive boy in the body of a 70-year-old man who is incapable of taking criticism, and lashes out at anyone who dares to make fun of him.
In short, Trump is not only unqualified – he’s dangerous.
Surprun, who was a first responder on 11 September 2001, is in agreement with this assessment. He points out that in the end, each elector has an obligation to follow his conscience. They have a duty to determine whether or not “candidates are qualified, not engaged in demagogy, and independent from foreign influence.” Those are certainly valid concerns.
Trump has absolutely no skills or experience in statecraft, has no concept of diplomacy, and has engaged in violent and divisive rhetoric that alarmingly recalls that of a certain German chancellor of the 1930s. Furthermore, despite his claims that he will turn his business interests over to his children, it is doubtful that Trump can ever be free of “foreign influence,” considering his financial interests across the globe.
Suprun points out that “Mr Trump urged violence against protesters at his rallies during the campaign. He speaks of retribution against his critics.” In fact, Trump has already started exacting his revenge on those who deign to criticize him.
He recently called for the cancellation of Boeing’s contract for the new Air Force One, claiming it was too expensive. However, it turns out that Trump’s criticism of the company likely stemmed from recent information that the CEO of Boeing had been critical of Trump’s proposed trade policies. Within minutes of Trump’s announcement, shares of Boeing fell by 22 percent. Coincidence?
If these are any indications of how Trump intends to use the Office of the Presidency, the Electors have not only a Constitutional right, but also a duty to deny him office.
Of course, overturning the election will not mean that Hillary Clinton will get the White House. If neither Trump nor Clinton gets the required 270 votes, it will throw the election into the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, where it is hoped they will elect a “Reasonable Republican” – if there is any such thing these days. So, we’re still looking at single-party rule.
On the other hand, from what he know about Trump, he is a very sore loser. In the worst case scenario, there will be weeks and even months of litigation during which very little will get done in Washington D.C.
But at least we wouldn’t have to live under the threat of a bratty ten-year-old with his finger on the button.
