[EL] Worth noting "If She Wins" context

[Douglas Carver]

Regarding Rick's comment on the excerpt on accepting the outcome of the
election, it is worth noting Trump's context. He answered the question
after implying that there are people who should have been deported who are
now citizens, "perhaps worse than that, it was corruption" -- I think that
is a pretty clear marker that he is preemptively casting doubt -- again --
on the legitimacy of the outcome.

Douglas Carver
Albuquerque, NM


Still Troubling: Donald Trump Says He Will Accept Outcome of Election “If
She Wins”
Posted on September 27, 2016 7:56 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=86893>
by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Near the end of last night’s debate. Lester Holt asked each candidate an
important question about accepting the results if on the losing end of the
election. The question is important because of Trump’s irresponsible vote
rigging claims earlier this year.
<http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-hasen-vote-rigging-20160816-snap-story.html>He
has suggested that in places like Pennsylvania, there are ‘certain areas”
of the state (which I see as code word for minority urban areas) where the
vote might be stolen.

At first I was happy with Trump’s debate answer, until people pointed out
that he hedged by saying he will support Hillary Clinton “if she wins,”
leaving open the potential to argue she did not really win the election
because of rigging. And indeed his answer to the question raised the
specter of people being made citizens by the Obama Administration so that
they can vote in this election, which is a new theme on the right.  Here’s
the relevant part of the transcript
<http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/27/us/politics/transcript-debate.html?ref=politics&_r=0>
:

HOLT: One of you will not win this election. So my final question to you
tonight, are you willing to accept the outcome as the will of the voters?
Secretary Clinton?

CLINTON: Well, I support our democracy. And sometimes you win, sometimes
you lose. But I certainly will support the outcome of this election.

And I know Donald’s trying very hard to plant doubts about it, but I hope
the people out there understand: This election’s really up to you. It’s not
about us so much as it is about you and your families and the kind of
country and future you want. So I sure hope you will get out and vote as
though your future depended on it, because I think it does.

HOLT: Mr. Trump, very quickly, same question. Will you accept the outcome
as the will of the voters? TRUMP: I want to make America great again. We
are a nation that is seriously troubled. We’re losing our jobs. People are
pouring into our country.

The other day, we were deporting 800 people. And perhaps they passed the
wrong button, they pressed the wrong button, or perhaps worse than that, it
was corruption, but these people that we were going to deport for good
reason ended up becoming citizens. Ended up becoming citizens. And it was
800. And now it turns out it might be 1,800, and they don’t even know.

HOLT: Will you accept the outcome of the election?

TRUMP: Look, here’s the story. I want to make America great again. I’m
going to be able to do it. I don’t believe Hillary will. The answer is, if
she wins, I will absolutely support her.

I know Trump made some comments about this post-debate on CNN, but I have
not yet tracked those down. If I find the comments I will update this post.

-- 
Dilexi iustitiam et odivi iniquitatem, propterea morior in exilio.

(I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile.)

    -- the last words of Saint Pope Gregory VII (d. 1085)
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