McConnell Says Changing The Election Results Would Permanently Damage Our Republic
Spearheading the charge against President Donald Trump and some Senate Republicans’ attempt to overturn the presidential election results, Mitch McConnell said these attempts would permanently damage the Republic. The Senate Majority Leader has openly criticized the president's efforts to block the Congressional certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory.
During a floor speech after the first objection to the election results of Arizona, McConnell said that if the effort to oppose to certifying the presidential election results is successful, it will lead the country's democracy into what he called a “death spiral.” Noting that the American public, the courts, and the states have already spoken, McConnell trying to overrule them would damage their Republic forever, according to a clip Reuters tweeted on Thursday.
Several Republican senators decided not to try to block congressional certification of Biden's victory, following a violent mob breaking into the U.S. Capitol, trying to interrupt their proceedings, according to The Denver Channel. Senators Steve Daines, Mike Braun, and Kelly Loeffler reversed course, saying they would not object to Biden's win.
Meanwhile, McConnell described Wednesday’s vote as the most important vote he had ever cast in the 36-year long position in the Senate. In his speech, the Kentucky Republican refused to pretend such a vote would not harm them, noting that he relies on others to do "the right thing."
McConnell went on to say that his vote will not only respect the American public's decision but will also defend the country's system of government, POLITICO reported. While some Senate Republicans have announced their decision not to object to the certification process, a dozen of others are gearing up to try and block the certification of a few states, citing Trump's baseless claims of massive voter fraud.
Leading one such effort, Senator Ted Cruz is demanding the establishment of a ten-day electoral commission that will investigate fraud allegations, which he admitted earlier this week is extraordinarily difficult.
In Dec., McConnell urged his caucus not to block the Congressional certification of Biden's win, Reuters reported. Noting that it will be a terrible vote, he told his members to listen to their conscience. On Wednesday, he strongly defied Trump's dubious claims, which he said were extraordinarily thin.
He noted that it would not be fair to disenfranchise American voters, reject the state and the courts' decisions based on Trump's baseless claims. McConnell also noted that such a vote would not be merely a harmless protest gesture.