Washington, DC on November 5, 2020. He charged that he had won the election but it was being stolen. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP)In the midst of a pandemic that has killed over 230,000 in their country, tens of millions of Americans chose, as is legally permitted, to mail in their votes for Tuesday’s presidential election — in large part, doubtless, to avoid large crowds and thus potential contagion at the ballot stations.
On Thursday evening, having already tweeted the unthinkable demand that the vote count be stopped, US President Donald Trump falsely claimed from the White House podium that the continued counting of those votes constituted part of an election fraud.
The near-completed vote tallies show that Republicans disproportionately voted on election day itself, as Trump himself had encouraged them to do, and Democrats disproportionately by mail-in. Mail-in ballots generally take longer to verify and process, and various states have different rules on counting them. Ohio counted its mail-in ballots first, for instance, and Pennsylvania counted them second.
Plainly, Trump’s 17-minute harangue was an act of desperation — an outburst from a leader watching his power, granted to him by the people four years ago, apparently being taken away by them. It was also an incendiary assault on the democratic process — delivered from the iconic location from which elected presidents are charged with governing all Americans, the place to which America’s global allies look for good counsel and reliable support.
Needless to say, if there is evidence of fraud in the 2020 election process, including in the tallying of the votes, it should and will be investigated. Only ballots legally cast should count, but all such ballots must be counted and the election result determined on their basis.
Needless to say, the demand to halt the process itself, and the groundless assertion that officials, rivals, pollsters, media and other forces have illicitly conspired to try to remove him from power, are indefensible, most especially from the president, and the consequences frankly unknowable.
Viewed from Jerusalem, this presidentially engineered crisis in American democracy raises particular concerns and echoes. America’s engagement in our region, as a force for stability and freedom, is a critical element of Israel’s strategic defense. A reliable America, an America that shares our democratic values, is our vital partner and a potent deterrent to our enemies. That was not the America emblemized by its president on Thursday evening.
Trump’s untrammeled railing against the system through which he was duly elected, and now faced defeat, was also considerably too close for comfort to some of our own prime minister’s desperation tactics in his hours of need: Benjamin Netanyahu has never sounded as willfully delusional, but he too, at election time, has questioned the legitimacy of votes in the Arab sector, and sent activists with cameras to try to deter Arab voters.
He too, as he seeks to retain power in the midst of his legal troubles, has battered away at the legitimacy of Israel’s democratic institutions, the media and the opposition — asserting without evidence that shadowy forces, including law enforcement and prosecution hierarchies, are conspiring to illegitimately remove him from power.
It is unlikely that many Israelis were up at 2 a.m. here to watch Trump’s inflammatory and dispiriting performance. Even if they were, they might well largely stick with their original answer to that poll question on presidential “preferability.”
But Israel’s interests when it comes to the US are centrally based on the reliable functioning of American democracy. And America’s president struck an unconscionable blow against that democracy on Thursday night, with ripples around the world.
It is essential for all freedom-loving people — people in America and people who look to America, that this blow be countered — countered, that is, via the proper, legal, democratic completion of the electoral process the president is seeking to discredit and subvert.
ATTENTION READERS
We See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully InformedIn fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.
About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy
‘A reliable America, an America that shares our democratic values, is our vital partner and a potent deterrent to our enemies.” I thought that this was Trump’s main accomplishment. Looking at our Israeli trained police, I’d have to agree on our ‘shared values’…including attacks on countries that did nothing to us.
“But Israel’s interests when it comes to the US are centrally based on the reliable functioning of American democracy.” Sure, as long as they have control of it. Not so much when we criticize Israel.
“It is unlikely that many Israelis were up at 2 a.m. here to watch Trump’s inflammatory and dispiriting performance. Even if they were, they might well largely stick with their original answer to that poll question on presidential “preferability.” Gee, no shit? Any other approach would be akin to a kid kicking Santa out on Xmas eve. Does supporting US values include our right to pursue peace initiatives, such as JCPOA? Not fricking likely. Israel’s disdain for American sovereignty is palpable and easily expressed by the avalanche of so-called anti-semitism laws, which are in complete opposition to free speech and ditto as well for the laws pandering against BDS, also unconstitutional. Then this; “Benjamin Netanyahu has never sounded as willfully delusional,…” What planet is this guy on? “this presidentially engineered crisis in American democracy raises particular concerns and echoes” Probably, this sounds like ass kissing the dems, fearing another JCPOA.
Trump will now have few months of absolute rage before Biden steps in. He might start another war for Israel for all we know.
Unlikely; Netanyahu has already congratulated Joe. You know that “Fink’s Bar” bit about America the golden calf, being chopped up and sold piece by piece? Trump was just an appetizer.
They are blood enemies. Obama has a score to settle with Netanyahu and Obama will have his day.
Nobody is following Trump anywhere, certainly not the Pentagon. They cut him loose months ago
“…taking a less sympathetic position on Palestinian demands than previous administrations.” For real? What, you mean like the tacit approval of outright theft of Palestinian land to build illegal Israeli settlements. What a f**king bullshit artist. The author, David Horowitz, waits three years and eight months to decry Trump’s “unconscionable assault on American democracy”. Talk about “he cries out in pain as he strikes you”. I guess even Moshiach ben Joseph gets thrown under the bus, once he’s outlived his usefulness. Calling all Zionists,…turn in your Cyrus coins to be melted down! Such an outrage!
Comments are closed.