Republicans warn mail-in voting rhetoric could backfire as Trump modifies stance

[Michie]

From the article.
Some in GOP are raising alarms that Trump's attacks could depress turnout

In the Trump era, it’s rare to see a GOP leader in Congress publicly disagree with President Trump on an issue of great importance to the president.

But that’s what happened this week when Sen. John Thune of South Dakota – the second highest-ranking Republican in the Senate – pushed back when questioned about Trump’s monthslong crusade against expanding voting by mail.

Asked if he agreed with the president’s repeated charges that mailed-in balloting will lead to a “rigged election” and “massive voter fraud,” the Senate majority whip told reporters, “I don’t.”

Continued below.
Republicans warn mail-in voting rhetoric could backfire as Trump modifies stance

 

[Sistrin]

"I don't."

Wow. That is scathing. No one, no one, could be expected to survive a rebuke of that magnitude...

 

[Albion]

What's the modification that Trump made?

 

[Michie]

What's the modification that Trump made?

Amid the tensions in the party over the issue, the president earlier this week made an about-face in his charge against voting by mail – at least in Florida’s case.

“Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True. Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change), so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail!,” the president tweeted.
*************
At the White House on Monday, Trump distinguished between universal mail-in ballots and absentee balloting.

"Absentee ballots are great," Trump clarified. "They go through a process. You have to request them. But the universal mail-in ballots have turned out to be a disaster."

 

[Albion]

Thank you. But that's not an about face. The comments clearly show that the President warned about "universal" mail-in voting, also referring to that as allowing "all" the votes to be by mail.

And here, with regard to Florida, he says that the possibility of that happening was ended when the state chose against doing what he had opposed.

"Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change)"

 

[Michie]

Thank you. But that's not an about face. The comments clearly show that the President warned about "universal" mail-in voting, also referring to that as allowing "all" the votes to be by mail.

And here, with regard to Florida, he says that the possibility of that happening was ended when the state chose against doing what he had opposed.

Well I did not write the title.

 

[Albion]

I know. I was thanking you because you were the one who answered the question that I threw out there for anyone to answer.

 

[Michie]

I know. I was thanking you because you were the one who answered the question that I threw out there for anyone to answer.

You’re welcome.

 

[jgarden]

Republicans warn mail-in voting rhetoric could backfire as Trump modifies stance

Given that the states are responsible for supervising elections in their jurisdictions, congressional Republicans don't want to be placed in position of criticizing the competence of their own Governors and State Legislatures!

This would be particularly true in Republican states where congressional Republicans don't want to offend the state GOP membership upon whom they are dependent for fund raising, Primaries and Campaigns!

Congressional Republicans are also aware that by undermining the Americans public's faith in the electoral system that could result in a constitutional crisis should this President refuse to accept the results of the election!