Shortly before noon on Saturday, the Associated Press unofficially gave Pennsylvania’s 20 Electoral College votes to the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, and the rest of the mainstream media immediately followed suit, including Fox News, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
Champagne corks could be heard popping in newsrooms around the country.
President Donald Trump didn’t join in the celebration, however, announcing instead that, following the filing of a lawsuit in Arizona on Saturday, his campaign would be filing additional lawsuits in at least four other states challenging the vote count the major media is relying on:
Beginning Monday our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.
The American people are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots. This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election.
It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and [instead] wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters.
Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room — and then fight in court to block their access.
That’s the gist of the lawsuits being filed, said Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani: “We’re going to file a federal lawsuit that will cover [Philadelphia] and Pittsburgh, and we will have as many witnesses as the court needs. Right now, it could be as many as 90 witnesses.”
He added: “Instead of going to a high degree of care to allow inspections of the mail-in ballots, there was no inspection of a single mail-in ballot. If you have nothing to hide … you allow inspections.”
Late Tuesday night, Trump was leading Biden by about 700,000 votes in Pennsylvania, but his lead disappeared following the counting of mail-in ballots. Giuliani said it was “no coincidence” that Republican poll watchers were prevented from observing that vote count in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. He added that the mail-in ballots would have had to “have been almost unanimously cast for Joe Biden in order [for him] to catch up.”
These witnesses are prepared to declare under oath that they were intentionally blocked from monitoring the vote-counting process.
The Reverend Franklin Graham counseled prayer:
I ask that you continue to pray for our nation and this election. Many fear that some are trying to steal the election, so join me in praying that the will of God would be done. Pray that the enemies of God would be quieted and that all their plans would be put to nothing.
Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James counseled patience:
Recounts and pending litigation must be resolved to the satisfaction of the political parties and the Americans who support them and voted for them.
Election integrity is a pillar of our republic, and without it, we won’t last. For the sake of this election and all of the subsequent elections in generations to come, we must come to a legitimate conclusion.
Anyone rushing to the finish — including the media and those with a vested interest in one outcome — are doing a disservice to the country. Like Vice President Biden has said, democracy “sometimes requires a little patience.”
The Founders never intended to create a “democracy” but instead created a “republic,” but James’ point is well made. It’s helpful to take a deep breath and remember who is ultimately in charge:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I Am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10
Tell everyone who is discouraged: be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue. — Isaiah 35:4
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. — Deuteronomy 31:6
The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. — Proverbs 29.25
Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God Himself will fight for you. — Deuteronomy 3:22
And, finally, this from the Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:38-39: “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
