THIS IS WHAT FASCISM SOUNDS LIKE
Trump Accused of Voter Suppression and ‘Teeing Up’ to Call Midterms ‘Illegitimate’ After Threatening Tweet

‘Teeing Up to Claim That This Election Isn’t Legitimate’
A threatening tweet from President Donald Trump late Monday morning, less than 24 hours before the polls open nationwide, is leading some to accuse him of engaging in voter suppression. Others are saying the tweet is the President’s attempt to lay the groundwork to call the results of Democratic midterm wins illegitimate.
“Law Enforcement has been strongly notified to watch closely for any ILLEGAL VOTING which may take place in Tuesday’s Election (or Early Voting),” Trump tweeted. “Anyone caught will be subject to the Maximum Criminal Penalties allowed by law. Thank you!”
Independent journalist Marcy Wheeler, who specializes in national security and civil liberties, offered this take:
Area man under active investigation for cheating to win an election calls for Maximum Criminal Penalties for cheating to win an election. Thank you! https://t.co/nmCOpxT7Uo
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) November 5, 2018
But Media Matters for America Visiting Fellow Melissa Ryan had a more dire impression:
Trump is already teeing up to claim that this election isn’t legitimate. Recall that was the same playbook in 2016 when it looked like Hillary was going to win. Expect him and his supporters to keep whining about this after Tuesday. https://t.co/MvDu3988Ta
— Melissa Ryan (@MelissaRyan) November 5, 2018
Washington Bureau Chief for Canada-based Global News:
Trump is already working to delegitimize an election that hasn’t yet happened. https://t.co/50HYJ8Q41W
— Jackson Proskow (@JProskowGlobal) November 5, 2018
The Human Rights Campaign’s digital strategist:
The current occupant of the White House is blatantly intimidating people from voting. How is this even legal?! https://t.co/UZ3t64too3
— Brian McBride (@BrianDMcBride) November 5, 2018
Washington Post reporter:
coming from other users, this comes pretty close to crossing a line for Twitter, FB, etc, which have taken action against posts saying ICE would be at polling places on grounds it could deter voting. https://t.co/QId1McEG4U https://t.co/icsfWJzpfX
— Tony Romm (@TonyRomm) November 5, 2018
Investigative reporter for USA Today:
In the federal system, sentences are determined by judges, not the executive branch. Very few people are sentenced to the statutory maximum. https://t.co/XQ5lAilXlU
— Brad Heath (@bradheath) November 5, 2018
The White House editor for Bloomberg Business notes this important fact:
It’s not illegal to vote if you’re unsure whether you’re registered. Every state is required by federal law to offer such citizens a provisional ballot. https://t.co/8KjbjYrHQB
— Alex Wayne (@aawayne) November 5, 2018
Former Senior Advisor to President Obama:
Now he is just making shit up to scare people from voting https://t.co/Qb9DvCuNWz
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) November 5, 2018
Election law and voting rights professor:
I wish I didn’t have to do this, but once again here’s why stoking fears of voter fraud, without any evidence, is so dangerous for our democracy: https://t.co/M3XFLIXmal https://t.co/BJMzluoPBi
— Josh Douglas (@JoshuaADouglas) November 5, 2018
More:
Classic voter suppression (the real scandal and problem thanks to GOP) right here: https://t.co/IUa3wDMBHy
— Andrea Stone (@andreastonez) November 5, 2018
Voter suppression is 100Mx more likely than illegal voting.
You are more likely to be bitten by a shark and hit by lightning at the same time than participate in illegal voting.
Statistically, it doesn’t happen.#electioneve #mondaymotivationhttps://t.co/hTip1sL47C
— Holly Fιɢυeroα O’Reιlly (@AynRandPaulRyan) November 5, 2018
Illegal voting is not a thing. This is voter suppression, pure and simple. The right actually hates when people vote. It means they lose. https://t.co/H0fCzjlbgD
— Charles Marleau (@charlesmarleau) November 5, 2018
The U.S. president is engaged in voter suppression, pure and simple. https://t.co/EVJKhI6qey
— Just Bob (@rlawton) November 5, 2018
This is transparent, rank voter suppression. Trump should be ashamed of himself. But more, every Republican and especially every Republican elected official should be vocally, publicly disgusted by this. https://t.co/KIfeYKXKli
— Mary Kelly Persyn (@mkpersyn) November 5, 2018
Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr and a CC license
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