[EL] Accepting the results of the election

[Kelner, Robert]

Of course a presidential candidate can contest results in the exceptionally rare case of a truly close election. But neither George W. Bush nor Al Gore would ever have hesitated to say, prior to the election, that they would respect the outcome of the election. That hideous distinction is now uniquely owned by Donald Trump.

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 19, 2016, at 11:08 PM, "JBoppjr at aol.com<mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com>" <JBoppjr at aol.com<mailto:JBoppjr at aol.com>> wrote:

Some of those on this list serve may have taken note of this exchange:

Chris Wallace: "Will you accept the result of this election?"
Donald Trump: "I will look at it at the time. ... I will keep you in suspense."
Hillary Clinton: "That's horrifying."

Let me say that I think that Clinton's reaction was as phony and as it was absurd. Al Gore did not accept the results of the 2000 election. He sued for a recount in Florida which was not resolved until early December by a decision of the US Supreme Court. Only then, when no other legal recourse was possible, did he accept the results of the election. This, of course, was Gore's legal right to do. It would be ridiculous for Trump to say in advance that he will accept the election day count, if it would be appropriate to institute a recount.

State laws provide legal remedies to contest election or ask for recounts under certain circumstances. It is perfectly appropriate for a candidate to use these if legally available. Jim Bopp
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