The week
Lindsey Graham dismisses Republican colleagues’ objections to the Electoral College with a history class
“Exclude me” from the plan to object to Electoral College certification, Senator Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) told her colleagues at the Senate floor on Wednesday night. Graham was never really on board, but he had already suggested that he was at least willing to listen to his Republican colleagues, like Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who wanted to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over unfounded allegations of fraud electoral. By the time he spoke, however, Graham had come to the conclusion that “enough is enough.” Graham gave the chamber a brief history lesson, arguing that opponents were making a mistake in citing the 1876 election between Samuel Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes as a precedent for their actions. That year, there were disputed results in four states – Oregon, Louisiana, Florida and Graham’s home state in South Carolina. Then, a 15-member Election Commission, similar to what Cruz and others want to see now, was formed. Hayes, the Republican, ended up getting the votes he needed to become president. But, noted Graham, the commission was not the real reason the matter was resolved. Behind the scenes, Republicans met with Democrats, who agreed not to accept Hayes’ victory until federal troops were withdrawn from the south, ending the era of reconstruction. The deal, which became known as the 1877 Commitment, paved the way for Jim Crow. “If you are looking for historical guidance,” said Graham, “this is not the right choice.” > Graham: “It didn’t work. Nobody accepted it. The way it ended was when Hayes made a deal with these 3 states – you give me the voters, I’m going to expel the Union Army. The rest is history. It’s led to Jim Crow. If you are looking for historical guidance, this is not the one to choose. “>> – Michael McAuliff (@mmcauliff) January 7, 2021More stories from theweek.com Congress, Pence certifies Joe Biden’s presidential victory The White House lawyer is concerned that Trump is committing treason. Trump’s advisers conclude that he is “mentally inaccessible”