“Why are you standing with confederates who betrayed this nation?” These phrases from New York Instances editorial board member Mara Homosexual on MSNBC captured the unhinged protection of the Colorado Supreme Court docket’s disqualification of Donald Trump from the 2024 election. Whereas the underlying idea below the 14th Modification had been beforehand rejected by jurists in varied states (together with many Democrats), Homosexual had a easy take for viewers: anybody elevating democratic or constitutional objections are modern-day confederates.
Homosexual was requested on MSNBC’s Morning Joe how she would reply to many people who’ve questioned the constitutional foundation for utilizing the 14th Modification to bar Trump from ballots.
Homosexual responded:
“Why are you standing with confederates who betrayed this nation? That is what they’re standing with. It’s the spirit of these confederates quite than the People who got here collectively after an extended and brutal Civil Battle that was fought to maintain the Union collectively and clearly noticed a risk in ex-confederates operating for workplace. A lot in order that they amended the Structure to stop these traitors from operating for workplace.”
It’s that straightforward for the editors of the New York Instances: both you assist this beforehand rejected idea to stop voters from casting their ballots for a candidate or you’re a accomplice. So these three Democratic appointees on the Colorado Supreme Court docket have been simply extra accomplice fellow vacationers.
Homosexual is aware of that different states and courts have rejected this idea. She is aware of that even the bulk stated that the precedent for the choice was “sparce” and that this was “uncharted territory.” But, in the event you attain the opposing view of most judges who’ve checked out this query, you might be standing not with the Structure however the confederacy.
The apparent try is to intimidate and ostracize those that could have qualms over barring residents from voting for candidates. It’s akin to being referred to as a racist on campus in the event you oppose range insurance policies or requirements on educational grounds.
It’s only the newest instance of how the left is partaking in McCarthy-like ways to painting advocates without spending a dime speech or different constitutional protections as enemies of the state. Again within the day, it was the Democrats who have been denounced for elevating such authorized objections. Now, Democratic members and pundits assault witnesses as “Putin lovers” or supporters of “insurrectionists” in opposing censorship. Or confederates for objecting to poll cleaning.
Certainly the rhetoric utilized by Homosexual is strikingly acquainted to the protection for censorship on the left. She added on MSNBC that the Colorado choice “ought to ship a message that our electoral system can be utilized for nefarious functions towards democracy itself. It’s clear. It’s clear as day.”
Thus, it’s as much as society to guard residents from the “nefarious” makes use of of free speech or free elections by cleaning ballots and social media.
In fact, others merely used the opinion to vent on an virtually schoolyard degree. Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Mission, taunted the previous president and stated that the courtroom “referred to as you out for what you might be. You’re a dirty insurrectionist. You’re a dropping loser who loses.” That’s nonetheless weirdly preferable to labeling anybody elevating constitutional considerations as standing with “accomplice traitors.” But, it’s exceptional how these critics who’ve lengthy objected to Trump rhetoric have adopted the identical private and reckless rhetoric.
Homosexual’s interview needs to be chilling for anybody who cares about each regulation and journalism. It reveals the righteous rage that fuels the intolerance in our nation. It additionally reveals the potential for this insidious idea as extra Democratic politicians, like these in California, who’re calling for their very own officers to search out methods to dam Trump from ballots.
