Report:Donald Trump's campaign is threatening political reprisal for defecting Republican electors

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/2016/12/13/report-donald-trumps-campaign-is-threatening-political-reprisal-for-defecting-republican-electors/

Tuesday, Dec 13, 2016 7:47 PM UTC
Report: Donald Trump’s campaign is threatening “political reprisal” for defecting Republican electors
One elector tells Salon, Trump affiliates are placing "career pressure" on GOP electors to tow the line on Dec. 19
Matthew Rozsa


Donald Trump’s campaign is pressuring Republican electors into voting for them under “threats of political reprisal,” according to a member of the Electoral College who spoke to Salon under the condition of anonymity.

“We have gotten reports from multiple people,” the elector said, “that the Donald Trump campaign is putting pressure on Republican electors to vote for him based on … future political outcomes based on whether they vote for Donald Trump or not.”

The elector emphasized that these reports had come straight from the Republican electors themselves, with the threats steering clear of violence but instead focusing on “career pressure.”

“It’s all political, basically,” the elector said. “If Trump becomes the president, he’s going to be able to put pressure on the state parties and they won’t be involved anymore.”

The likely impetus behind the Trump campaign’s actions is the rise of the Hamilton Electors, a group led by Democrats within the Electoral College that is trying to convince 37 of the Republican electors currently pledged to Trump to instead vote for a moderate Republican (most of their support seems to be coalescing behind Gov. John Kasich of Ohio), which the Democratic electors would then do as well, in a sign that they’re putting party over country.

If they succeed in doing this, and in the process deny Trump the 270-vote minimum necessary to be officially elected president, the election will have to be decided by the House of Representatives. Electors are scheduled to convene in their respective states this coming Monday to cast their votes. Two prior presidential elections, in 1800 and 1824, were decided by the House of Representatives.

The Hamilton Electors are so named because of Federalist Paper No. 68, in which Alexander Hamilton wrote that electors had a constitutional duty to make sure “that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.” It also encouraged electors to thwart the election of any president who might serve as a vessel for “the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils.”

This latter instruction prompted a bipartisan group of ten electors to write an open letter on Monday to James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, demanding to know before December 19 the extent of Russia’s involvement in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

[RKP5637]

1. Also, don't be surprised if there are mysterious deaths during his regime of those that oppose him,

much like Putin does. Americans are about to live quite a horror show if they even survive.

[tecelote]

17. Rule #1 - Don't get on a small plane.

[dmr]

18. Agree. But also, isn't this extortion?

I guess Trump's gotta start his dictatorship early to assure he gets to be the dictator.

Vote for me or you'll be sorry you we're ever born …

[Feeling the Bern]

23. IOKIYAR

[Hortensis]

27. I was going to say that, but joking. They say power

corrupts, but Trump wouldn't be able to avoid bragging and threatening, probably death threats that'd "make their heads spin" on Twitter, long before he started competing with Putin's litter of bodies.

Btw, who believes Kasich is moderate?

[madokie]

37. I've read two articles that quote him

implying that he has a lock on an 8 year stint in the oval office.

[RKP5637]

38. I think we might be about the same age, and I can't ever recall anything ever even close

to this. And I really don't see how it's going to be countered. I'm not a coward or spineless, but I'm really frightened for what will be left of this country after 4 years let alone 8 years. Millions in this country are in despair, and he used them for their vote. I really don't think he's going to do jack shit for the majority of the populace. The presidency for him is an investment for him and his cronies. And it reads like a Stephen King novel or a Twilight Zone episode.

[madokie]

39. I agree

those are my sentiments exactly

I'm a March 1948 model. A few dents here and there, a rust spot or two but still hitting on all cylinders

[RKP5637]

41. ...

No misfires here yet!

[mahina]

2. I could see that backfiring.

[global1]

3. You Had To See This Coming.....nt

[monmouth4]

4. This should give those electors the warm and fuzzies..n/t

[babylonsister]

6. That's how I read it, too, and

welcome (back?) to DU!

[Generator]

7. Lisa Bloom, attorney

said she'd represent them for free if they need it. The nightmare is real folks. No one can cross tiny fingered yam man and not pay a price. Of course for most Republicons is just their soul.

[world wide wally]

8. It's what fascists do

[robbedvoter]

9. Happened with the delegates to Convention.

Was effective.

[Girard442]

10. Any electors turning on Trump...

...should plan to spend the rest of their days in hiding.

[malaise]

30. Groper Don the Con may be the one in hiding sooner than you

think - fuck with the intelligence agencies at your peril - this time I'll cheer them on

[Girard442]

35. You made me smile in spite of myself. NT

[malaise]

36. LOL

Welcome to DU

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Does Salon use editors? Or just spellcheck?

I think the term is "toe the line", not "tow the line".

Either way, yes, Trump would be vindictive.

[Pachamama]

16. Both are correct and mean the same thing...

[spinbaby]

19. "Tow the line" is common on the Internet

That does not make it correct.

[Thor_MN]

21. I would disagree that both are correct.

One could argue "since it's used" that tow the line is acceptable, but IMO, it's only used out of ignorance. I have a coworker that constantly makes these kind of mistakes.

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/45905/toe-the-party-line-or-tow-the-party-line

[madokie]

40. When I use that expression I say toe the line

[marybourg]

42. No, they don't mean the same thing.

Putting your toe to the line, as in starting a foot-race, means you are following the rules, which is what the metaphor expresses. Tow a line has no such metaphoric meaning. It's just an error made by people who don't read much, but have heard the expression and mistake the homonym.

[Pachamama]

46. "Tow the line" is commonly used in sailing to refer to helping provide assistance to a boat

"Toe the line" originated from foot races (clearly barefoot) in which the start of the mark was established

Both terms however, in popular culture and daily conversation are said, correctly to refer to supporting and doing an action of either carrying a message or providing assistance and agreeing to its terms.

Republican voters "toe the line" of the GOP and Republican voters "tow the line" of the GOP are both correct expressions, even if you wish to argue that one hasn't been in the original English language or a foot race in Greece came before a reference in boating and sailing was used.

I meanwhile find your insinuation that someone doesn't read much or has merely heard an expression and uses it to be petty and not in the spirit of DU.

[duffyduff]

45. It is "toe the line." Somebody can't spell. n/t

[Faux pas]

12. Kickin' with disgust

[Cha]

13. K&R!

[flamingdem]

14. Some already complained they were getting death threats

and I noticed their emails are being circulated on the internet so that's totally believable

[DeminPennswoods]

15. In PA the electors

are hand-picked party hacks. They aren't voting for anyone but Trump, or Clinton if she'd won.

[C Moon]

20. JESUS! If a Democratic candidate did this it would be jamming up EVERY SINGLE news source.

I am seriously hating this country, and we haven't even entered the dark part of the tunnel.

[SHRED]

22. He belongs in prison not the Presidency

[DFW]

24. But it will be GREAT!

Didn't anyone tell them that?

Any defecting Republican electors get to choose, freely and with any pressure, whether Trump's thugs in steel-tipped boots kick them in the face, the kidneys, the groin or in the stomach. They get full freedom to decide, as befits a free country. It'll be great!

[neeksgeek]

25. Imagine this behavior, once he is President ...

Directed at members of Congress. Especially Democratic members.

Directed at judges (we've already seen a hint of this).

Directed at government officials (yep).

Directed at reporters (check, already happened).

Directed at companies he doesn't like (yep).

Directed at private citizens (yep). Especially those of us who have dissenting opinions.

It's threatening but worth fighting!

[arthritisR_US]

26. Well, clearly the emperor wears a nazi uniform. nt

[bdamomma]

28. a big FU

if they wanted me to change my vote.

Now you really know they stole the election. Again Electors do not back down this should tell you he is a bully, a sick one at that.

Horrible scared much trump. you little man/child.

[kentuck]

29. Well, that doesn't seem too bright of the Trump campaign?

If someone threatened me in such a way, I would make an extra effort to vote against them.

[hurple]

31. How pathetic

They are now reduced to threatening their own supporters to keep their "spot."

There's not much lower they can go. Next they'll be stealing candy from babies.

[turbinetree]

32. Hey dumpster FU and the horse you road in on

I think its time for a National Boycott with anything that says trump.

He is a small man with a small ****

[George II]

33. If he's not elected by the Electoral College, how can he retaliate?

And Electors are elected by their state party conventions (at least in most states)

[AlexSFCA]

34. good sign?

the fact that republicans are taking the possibility of rogue electors seriously means it's a real possibility!

[no_hypocrisy]

43. What he said . . . . .

[Barack_America]

44. Well, then they need to get on the phone with one another...

...and make sure there's at least 38 of them.

They can actually beat up the bully if they band together.

[AgadorSparticus]

47. And this is just the beginning. This level of intimidation should be illegal.