Donald Trump's supporters care more about the phone call being leaked than his attack on democracy

"I just want to find 11,780 votes." 

Those are the words that came out of the mouth of the current president of the United States. They were spoken during a call to Georgia's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In an hour-long call, Donald Trump tried to shake Raffensperger down to change the results of the presidential election in Georgia.

Trump even threatened him with legal consequences:

“You know what they did and you’re not reporting it. You know, that’s a criminal — that’s a criminal offense. And you know, you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer. That’s a big risk.”

Trump was acting like Marlon Brando in "The Godfather"; making an offer that Brad Raffensperger couldn't refuse....and yet the Secretary of State did. Little did Trump know that the call was being taped and would be released the next day. I'm pretty sure he didn't care....he never does.

Maybe what Donald Trump did was illegal and maybe not. You can find plenty of legal opinions that support both cases. But, no question what he did was immoral. It's something that no president has ever done....and probably never considered doing.

As stunning as the tape was, the reaction from his supporters is just as stunning. It starts with the Chairman of the Georgia Republican party David Shafer. Here's his first Tweet: President @realDonaldTrump has filed two lawsuits - federal and state - against @GaSecofState. The telephone conference call @GaSecofStatesecretly recorded was a “confidential settlement discussion” of that litigation, which is still pending.

Is anyone surprised that that is a lie!? There are no pending lawsuits....NONE! But then Shafer doubled down and added in another lie: The audio published by @TheWashingtonPost is heavily edited and omits the stipulation that all discussions were for the purpose of settling litigation and confidential under federal and state law.

It just makes you want to shake your head. Nothing was edited, nothing was confidential. And yet, that's not the worst take from a Georgia official.

David Perdue is in a run-off election today to try to retain his seat in the United States Senate. When asked for a reaction about the call from Fox News, here's his reaction: “I guess I was raised differently. To have a statewide elected official, regardless of party, tape without disclosing a conversation — private conversation — with the president of the United States, and then leaking it to the press is disgusting.”

Ummm....Dave...didn't you hear what Trump said to your fellow Georgian? What about that?  “I didn't hear anything in that tape that the president hasn't already said for weeks now since the November election.”

Okay...okay...we knew we were going to hear statements like this from his fellow Republican flunkies. For some reason, they're still afraid of being attacked on Twitter by a lame-duck president. Or maybe they think Trump will find another flunky to primary them?  But, the ones that really scare me are the regular citizens. Somewhat normal folks like you and me, who really feel that this election has been stolen. They think something is unfairly being taken from them, and they aren't shy in letting the world know whose side they are on. For example:

Raffyblabber is in big trouble. What a jerk. He refuses to sit down with the President’s team and compare data. The GSoS is a SCUMBAG! Typical spineless RINO. He’s a child and will grow up fast in prison. Raffensperger should worry about facing federal charges for recording POTUS regarding the election, since a 2018 Exec. Order made elections matters of national security... on top of Espionage Act of 1917. No GA single-party consent beats that. Hardcore Never Trumper Criminal. I hope he is sued for all he has!

And all of that is in one Twitter thread. Notice how many of them are also experts in federal election law, too?

This is a scary time in our country. The repercussions of Trump's behavior will last for years, if not generations. They say elections have consequences, and this is the consequence of electing Donald Trump four years ago. We always have wondered when Trump would hit rock bottom? This may it...although he still has fifteen days left in his term. Hmmm....how much lower can he get?

Related Post: The Trump administration legacy is one of death

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