Priebus dismisses ‘Democracy On The Ballot’ criticism of Trump
Former GOP Official Rejects “Democracy is on the Ballot” Argument Against Trump
A former top GOP official who served in the Trump administration has dismissed the argument that “democracy is on the ballot” when it comes to former President Donald Trump. Reince Priebus, the former Republican National Committee chairman and Trump’s first chief of staff, criticized President Joe Biden’s mantra during a recent TV appearance.
Former RNC chair @Reince rejects warnings from Democrats about potential Trump-Biden rematch in 2024.
“How they can claim on one hand democracy is on the ballot and sit there with a historically weak candidate is unbelievable.”
https://t.co/SP7oSL0KUx pic.twitter.com/N7NP62ket0
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) December 3, 2023
Priebus justified his stance by pointing to Biden’s weak poll numbers, suggesting that if democracy truly hung in the balance, the Democrats would not have chosen a candidate with such low approval ratings. He compared Biden’s numbers to those of Trump and former President Barack Obama, noting that despite facing similar challenges, Trump and Obama remained popular within their respective parties.
Biden had previously declared that “democracy is on the ballot” ahead of the midterm elections, referencing the events of January 6, 2021, and Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results. However, Priebus argued that focusing on Trump is a mistake for the Biden team, as there are other strong candidates in the mix.
Debate Among Panelists
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, a panelist on the same TV show, suggested that the argument of democracy being at stake could be effective in defeating Trump, as there are independent and swing voters who are concerned about the state of democracy.
Donna Brazile, a former head of the Democratic National Committee, disagreed with Priebus and emphasized the importance of contrasting Biden with Trump. She believed that highlighting the stark differences between the two would benefit Biden’s campaign.
Ultimately, the debate over whether “democracy is on the ballot” remains a contentious issue, with Priebus asserting that Biden’s weak candidate status undermines the argument, while others argue that it is a crucial point of differentiation in the upcoming election.
What does Priebus believe should be the focus of Republicans in the upcoming election rather than solely relying on opposition to Trump
Cy is on the ballot, but then on the other hand say ‘we don’t know if we can trust the voters to make the right decision,'” Priebus said in an interview with Fox News. “That’s not a very coherent argument.”
Priebus was responding to comments made by President Biden and other Democrats who have suggested that the integrity of American democracy is at stake if Trump were to run for president again in 2024. They argue that Trump’s false claims of election fraud in 2020 and his attempts to overturn the election results pose a threat to the democratic process.
However, Priebus countered that the argument fails to acknowledge the resilience of American democracy and the ability of voters to hold politicians accountable. “I think the strength of the system is that you’re going to have to run and win on your merits and your ideas, and not on fear, not on lies, not on conspiracy theories,” he said.
Priebus pointed out that Trump has the right to run for office again if he chooses to do so, just like any other American citizen. He argued that it is up to the voters to decide whether they want to support Trump or not, and that it is not the government’s role to prevent him from running.
“I think the American people are smart enough to make the right decision,” Priebus stated. “If Donald Trump runs in 2024 and the American people don’t want him, they’re not going to vote for him. That’s how it works in America.”
While acknowledging that some Republicans may have reservations about Trump’s style and rhetoric, Priebus emphasized that it is ultimately the voters who will determine the outcome of the election. He urged Republicans to focus on policy issues and presenting a compelling vision for the future, rather than solely relying on opposition to Trump.
“Let’s not let the conversation become about banning people from the ballot,” Priebus said. ”Let’s let the conversation be about what ideas and policies we have to move America forward.”
Priebus’ comments reflect a division within the Republican Party regarding Trump’s potential candidacy in 2024. While some Republicans continue to support and defend Trump, others are seeking to distance themselves from the controversial former president.
In conclusion, Reince Priebus, a former top GOP official who served in the Trump administration, has rejected the argument that “democracy is on the ballot” when it comes to former President Donald Trump. He believes that American democracy is strong enough to handle Trump’s potential candidacy and that it is up to the voters to decide. Priebus urged Republicans to focus on policy issues and presenting a compelling vision for the future rather than solely relying on opposition to Trump. The debate over Trump’s role in the party and his potential candidacy in 2024 will continue to shape the Republican landscape in the coming years.
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