Opinion: It’s part of the corrosive GOP strategy to have candidates suggest that the only way they can lose is if the other side cheats.
By EJ Montini | Arizona Republic
Donald Trump set the lowest of low bars when it comes to being a whining sore loser, and the Republican Party seems to have adopted his behavior as official policy.
In essence it directs GOP candidates to suggest that the only way they can lose is if the other side cheats.
Trump has been yowling that bitter tune since 2020.
Trump sycophants like Arizona governor candidate Kari Lake and others are running with it now.
Lake said of Arizona in the Republican candidate debate, “We don’t have fair elections,” and “They’re going to have to cheat even harder to win this.”
She’s also suggested that her opponents will use the votes of dead people to try to defeat her.
Kelli Ward’s myth of the poison pen
Right along with this is the latest suggestion by Arizona Republican Party Chair that there is something sinister in the pens the election department wants voters to use at the polls.
I’ve gotten several messages already from GOP supporters railing about how this is a Democratic plot to not count Republican ballots.
No.
Another view:Is Kari Lake trying to spark a riot if she loses?
The Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer has simply and patiently and reasonably tried to explain why there is a specific type of pen that is best used when folks vote in person.
But patience and reason are no match for kooky conspiracy, so you end up with tweets from Ward saying:
You can vote with ANY pen you choose. You CAN bring your own pen – black or blue ink only to be sure machine can read it. If anyone bothers you, report them to a poll observer for election interference immediately. Don’t be bullied.
