MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In today’s toxic political environment, it’s not surprising that a huge majority of Republicans in Congress are unwilling to say Democrat Joe Biden is the President-elect. But it is shameful that so many Republicans refuse to acknowledge Biden’s victory – no matter what.
That’s the takeaway from efforts by The Washington Post to contact all 249 GOP members of the House and Senate. When the newspaper asked in recent days who won the election, only 26 Republicans said Biden. Two said Donald Trump won reelection, and 221 either said the results are unclear – or they refused to answer. Among Mid-South members of Congress, only retiring Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander said Biden is the apparent winner. Again, that’s not shocking news.
But what is utterly astounding are the responses to another question from the Post -- if Biden wins a majority in the Electoral College next week, will Republicans then accept him as the duly elected president? Only 31 Republicans said yes. Again, Alexander is in that number. No other Mid-South lawmaker is. Even 8th District Congressman David Kustoff refuses to say if he will abide by the Electoral College vote, and Kustoff was a fierce defender of the rule of law when he served as U.S. attorney.
These gutless lawmakers are thumbing their noses at the very process that got them elected. And history won’t be kind to their complete lack of courage. And that’s my point of view.