Congressional GOP: Objections Sustained Over Election Results
Hawley argued that “No one has mounted a substantive defense of the state law under which the November election was conducted.”
Editor’s note: These pieces were penned on Monday, January 4.
Joint sessions of Congress are usually perfunctory, formal events. But so far, nothing about Wednesday’s gathering of the House and Senate is shaping up to be ordinary. When the results of the Electoral College are presented to Congress, they’re usually certified without much controversy. That won’t be the case this year when more than 150 Republicans have vowed to take the loudest stand against election fraud in U.S. history.
Spurred on by stalwarts like Reps. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) — who’s been trying to stop the certification of the results in court — Republicans are determined to protest the electors’ final tally. As Brooks has insisted for weeks, there is “overwhelming” and “compelling” evidence of “serious voter fraud and election theft” that resulted in a Joe Biden win which he (and 39 percent of Americans) believe is suspect. “There are dozens in the House of Representatives who have reached that conclusion as I have,” he explained. “We’re going to sponsor and co-sponsor objections to the Electoral College vote returns of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and maybe more…”
Brooks, who was outspoken right out of the gate in November, has significant company now, as more than 140 House Republicans and a dozen GOP senators have pledged to join his cause. As constitutional scholars are quick to point out, if even a single member of the House and Senate object to certifying the votes, each chamber will be thrust into a formal debate on the Electoral College results. That’s just fine with Senators like Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who feel that 2020’s suspicious processes are too important to gloss over.
In a statement to his Republican colleagues, Hawley argued that “No one has mounted a substantive defense of the state law under which the November election was conducted… [N]o court has ruled on the merits of this question. These are very serious irregularities, on a very large scale, in a presidential election… I cannot,” he continued, “vote to certify the Electoral College results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws,” Hawley declared.
At the very least, he urged, “Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections. But Congress has so far failed to act,” he said. “For these reasons, I will follow the same practice Democrat members of Congress have in years past and object during the certification process on January 6 to raise these critical issues.” Before the Left could raise a stink, the Missouri senator reminded liberals that they, too, have objected to Electoral College results — in 2004 and 2016.
This time around, the 12 GOP senators contend, the allegations about a rigged election are “widespread.” “That belief is held by Republicans (67 percent), Democrats (17 percent), and Independents (31 percent).” Unless an “emergency 10-day audit is completed” in every state, they agreed, a dozen Republicans (Marsha Blackburn, Tenn.; Mike Braun, Ind.; Cruz, Texas; Steve Daines, Mont.; Hawley, Mo.; Ron Johnson, Wisc.; John Kennedy, La.; James Lankford, Okla.; as well as Sen.-elects Bill Hagerty, Tenn.; Cynthia Lummis, Wy.; Roger Marshall, Kans.; and Tommy Tuberville, Ala.) will reject the College’s vote as not “lawfully certified.”
This isn’t about undermining the election, the senators argue. It’s about protecting future ones. Not every Republican has the stomach to do that, they recognize. But protecting Americans’ votes is the right thing to do. And thousands will be on hand in D.C. on Wednesday to cheer the conservatives on in one final stand — a rally to show support for Congress’s bravest.
At the end of the day, the results will come down to a lengthy debate and votes in Congress. If Republicans call the six questionable states on the carpet like they plan to, the whole process could take 24 hours — or more. Critics, like Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), say the whole idea is a waste of time because the GOP doesn’t have the House votes to win. But they miss the point. Winning isn’t as important as stopping Americans from losing their trust in democracy. And if that’s what’s on the table, then conservatives are doing something admirable: going down fighting.
Originally published here.
Awoman’s Place Is in the House?
House Democrats sure didn’t waste any time sparking controversy. The 117th Congress had barely been gaveled in when Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) decided to stir the pot with a “prayer” that has several Americans wondering what, exactly, our country is in for under this leadership. In a word, the Washington Times warned: godlessness.
Maybe Cleaver was trying to be clever, but when he ended his invocation by saying “Amen and Awoman,” few were amused. His attempt at “inclusivity,” as Democrats called it later, was highly offensive — especially as Republicans prepare to duke it out over Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) new “gender-neutral House rules.” In her proposal, words like “mother and father,” “son and daughter,” and “aunt and uncle” would be forbidden — an attempt, she claims, to “honor all gender identities.” Whether Cleaver was trying to lay the groundwork for Pelosi’s agenda or not, his “woke” prayer created more fury than the unity Democrats promised.
“It shows you how out of touch the Democrats in the House are,” Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.) fumed. “They are so fixated on ‘degenderizing’ everything they even take it to prayers, and to a word that has nothing to do with gender.” He’s right. “Amen” comes from the Hebrew word that means “so be it.” Surely a Methodist minister like Cleaver learned that on his way to a Master’s of Divinity?
But as nonsensical as the prayer’s signoff was, “awoman” wasn’t even the most horrifying part. In the truly problematic portion of his invocation, Cleaver actually invoked the names of multiple deities, including Hindu’s Brahma. “We ask it in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and ‘god’ known by many names by many different faiths.” Brahma gets mentioned by name, while Jehovah is simply called “the monotheistic God” that Cleaver lumps together with other monotheistic gods like Allah. Frankly, it’s an insult — not just to America’s religious community, but to our Judeo-Christian heritage as a nation.
“Scripture teaches that prayer should be addressed to the triune God of the Old and New Testament,” FRC’s David Closson points out. “Christians should recognize that prayer offered to another deity is a form of false worship. But Cleaver’s theologically muddled prayer is a good reflection of much of what passes for Christianity today and a reminder that those serious about the gospel have much work to do.”
Of course, this isn’t the Left’s first swipe at God (2012 Democratic National Platform, anyone?), and it won’t be the last. But the notion that prayer is something that can be scoffed or diluted on the floor of one of the world’s most powerful institutions is a step too far. “Praying to a bunch of gods, so as to include all believers, all faiths, even non-believers and atheists and pagans, is not the way to secure our country’s walk on a godly course…” Cheryl Chumley chides. “That this prayer came from the mouth of a Methodist preacher makes the offense all the worse. Shouldn’t he know better?” Worse, she writes, “Take out the Judeo-Christian faith from America’s founding, and you take out the idea that rights come from God, not government. You remove the foundation upon which America was built — upon which American Exceptionalism is based.”
In the end, that’s exactly what the Left wants — an end to exceptionalism, truth, and any moral authority that stands in the way of their agenda. But if Democrats keep pushing the issue, trying to remake America in their godless image, watch out. The message voters sent in House races last November will only get louder.
Originally published here.
In Georgia, 2020 Isn’t Finished Yet
As happy as everyone was to see 2020 go, there’s no easing into its replacement. The new year is already off to a roaring start, thanks to two U.S. Senate runoffs, a new Congress, and an electoral college challenge that’s creating plenty of fireworks before Wednesday’s joint-session showdown on Capitol Hill. After an endless string of high-stakes weeks and months, both sides are right: the next 72 hours are as crucial as they get.
For at least two more days, the most important stage is Georgia, where Senators Kelly Loeffler (R) and David Perdue (R) are in the fight of their political lives — and the party’s life — for control of the U.S. Senate. After a slew of inconclusive holiday polls, the only thing anyone knows for sure is that turnout will rule the day. Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock (D) and Jon Ossoff (D) have outraised conservatives, but at the end of the day, dollars aren’t what count. Votes do. And right now, both races are tighter “than a 35-minute connection at Atlanta’s [international] airport,” pundits joked.
By Monday, more than three million Georgians had already voted — ratcheting up the Election Day pressure for Republicans, in particular. Adding to the GOP’s heartburn, voters in the rural, conservative districts seem to be waiting to cast their ballots — many out of the growing conviction that in-person, day-of voting is the only sure way to make their voice count. While the early numbers trickled in, GOP officials were doing everything they could to reassure Georgians — even doubling the number of poll watchers from 4,000 to 8,000 on Election Day. It will be, Loeffler and Perdue’s campaigns insisted, the “largest and most aggressive ballot security [and] voter integrity operation” in Georgia history.
“Georgians deserve total confidence in the fairness and accuracy of our state’s elections, and we’re thankful to the thousands of volunteers who will ensure that these runoffs are safe, secure, and that every legal vote is counted,” the two Republican senators said in a joint statement. Locals like Stephen Bowser told reporters that what happened in November has “definitely had an impact on why I decided to come out and vote in person. I just didn’t want… part of that process… being suspect.” With everything on the line — including the direction of this nation — both parties have an interest in ensuring there are no questions about this outcome.
That’s a theme President Donald Trump will almost certainly echo today when he visits the state for a last-minute get-out-the-vote rally. No state produced a closer result for the president than Georgia, so if anyone understands the importance of base turnout, it’s the commander-in-chief. Both he and Senator Perdue each won about 60-percent of in-person votes on November 3. And while it’s probably not the president’s favorite statistic, Republican Senate candidates “did slightly better than Trump” in the urban areas like Atlanta, Geoffrey Skelley points out. Even the small number of split-ticket voters, others explain, might be enough to tip the scales. If those trends hold, and conservatives everywhere pray they do, Republicans have reason for optimism.
Even so, FRC Action isn’t taking any chances. Our team has been on the ground for weeks, working right up until and after the Christmas holiday — hosting pastor briefings, activist trainings, even a rally at Truett McConnell University. With about 115 Generation Joshua and Faith and Freedom Coalition volunteers, we’ve knocked on 13,000 doors, made 20,000 phone calls, and distributed tens of thousands of Voter Guides. We want people to understand that nothing less than the future of our Constitution, Supreme Court, rule of law, and human life is on the ballot Tuesday. Sitting this one out is not an option. For now, the future of America runs right through Georgia. And it’s up to the Bible-believing men and women of the state to stand up and make a difference. I understand that people are upset about what happened in November. But as Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, “I think the answer if you’re unhappy about [the general election] is not to stay home but show up, bring your friends, bring your family, and end up with a big victory Tuesday night.”
If you don’t live in Georgia, you can still have a tremendous impact just by praying for the election and its integrity. Also, take the time to share trusted resources. There’s no starker contrast than FRC Action’s Voter Guides, comparing the four candidates on issues like life, judges, religious freedom, transgenderism, Israel, guns, and more. Follow the links for the Perdue-Ossoff and Loeffler-Warnock versions.
Originally published here.
This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.
