Deniers would overrule Constitution

To the editor:

I am responding to a Jan. 5 letter to the editor in The Commercial Review.

The author defends U.S. Rep. Jim Banks for joining the amicus brief for the election lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. I challenge the author on multiple counts.

First, he states the Constitution only allows state legislatures to write state election laws. I agree that if there are concerns state election laws were circumvented in an unconstitutional manner, they need to be investigated. But, as Republican Rep. Rand Paul said in an interview with Fox News on Jan. 6: “Conservatives should know that the Electoral College is something we support because it supports states’ rights to run the elections. When there is a problem, it is going to have to be fixed by the states. The fix isn’t up here (in Washington).” Let each state handle its business. That was essentially the reply of the Supreme Court to Paxton.

Next, many of the election laws Paxton challenged were passed weeks and months before the election. Why didn’t Paxton and Banks file lawsuits then? If Banks signed onto this lawsuit to protect Indiana voters, why didn’t he file it before the election? Why was he so late in his “effort” to protect us? Ask yourself this question and be honest when you answer: Would this lawsuit have been filed if President Donald Trump had won the states in question?

If your concern is protecting the Constitution, how do you defend Trump’s insistence that the vice president can overturn the election during the Electoral College certification process? Mike Pence said, “It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not.” This view is supported by the vast majority of legal, constitutional and election experts.

Last, the courts have spoken. Donald Trump and his supporters state that they uphold law and order and the Constitution. How can they deny the election results? Our constitutional system of law and order has upheld the election results multiple times.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri says, “More than 50 courts rejected all of the information they were given. At some point, you have to realize the election is over. Democracy has to be honored.”

So honor it if you are who you say you are. Otherwise, admit that you are just someone who believes that Trump should be president even if our system of democracy, elections and law and order say otherwise. If that is the case, you support a man who Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016 described as “utterly amoral,” “a bully,” “a pathological liar” and “a narcissist” at a level “I don’t think the country has ever seen.”

Courts are part of our law and order system. If you believe in law and order, then support the court systems. But maybe you agree with Trump’s tweet after the Supreme Court ruled Texas lacked the legal right to litigate how other states conduct their elections: “The Supreme Court really let us down. No Wisdom, No Courage.”

Again, the U.S. Supreme Court is part of the law and order system that he “supports.” Conservative presidents appointed six of those justices; Trump himself appointed three of them. If they lack wisdom and courage, what does that say about his decision making process? Those appointments were three of the biggest decisions he will ever make. He messed up — or those justices made the right ruling. Maybe it is just convenient to support court rulings when they benefit you. “Snowflake” much, anyone?

Those of you who are denying the election results and legal rulings that uphold them — are you qualified to make that judgment? Are you qualified to be a federal judge, a state or supreme court justice? If not, how can you insist that the courts are wrong?

Your opinions are interesting, but not very. You can’t overrule these courts. Our constitutional system of law and order doesn’t allow it. You support the Constitution and law and order, or you don’t.

“Stop the Steal?” No. “Stop the Stupid.”

Much obliged,

Craig Ragland

Portland