PRESS RELEASE
October 18, 2016
Standing Tall for Democracy
FRESNO—Of all the lies and deceptions Donald Trump has pushed since he entered the political arena by claiming President Barack Obama was secretly not born in America, none is more dangerous and potentially damaging to our country than Trump’s latest claims of a “rigged election.” With the true Republican Party turning on Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan condemning him and down-ticket conservatives rushing to distance themselves from him, Trump is in a panic.
Unable to admit that his problems are the result of his own actions, Trump is telling his supporters that if he does not win the election, that means “the system” was somehow rigged by Hillary Clinton. The lie is easy to see through for those who have researched the issue, but it is easy to imagine that hardworking Americans who do not have time to do more than listen to the news for a few minutes each day might hear this Presidential candidate speak and begin to have doubts. That is the danger.
“In a shortsighted attempt to create a scenario to rationalize his own electoral failure,” says Michael D. Evans, chair of the Fresno County Democratic Party, “Trump is playing a dangerous game with American democracy. We must instead pursue avenues of collaboration to move our country forward.”
From his first speech as a candidate, where Trump graciously allowed that “some” Mexican immigrants who cross the border might not be drug dealers or rapists, his campaign has focused on fear. Now, instead of Mexicans or Muslims or China or scientists talking about global warming, he is trying to make people afraid of America itself.
At first glance, a candidate poised to lose calling his opponent a cheater might not seem so bad. But democracy works only if the people have confidence that it works. Despite the absence of proof of any election tampering, Trump continues to call on his supporters to make armed patrols in “certain neighborhoods,” and it is not hard to see how that could end in tragedy.
This election is headed toward a record turnout. Clinton and the Democratic Party are pushing to capitalize on a public frustrated with a Republican Congress that shuts down the government and votes again and again on Obamacare instead of doing its job and a Republican nominee who brags about his sexual assaults. This November, we have the chance to elect a government that will actually address the serious issues facing our society.
Voters are the soul of America, and every election we get to have our say. We must not let Trump, or anyone else, turn this country into something ugly and undemocratic.
The Fresno County Democratic Party is united behind Hillary Clinton for President. The official Coordinated Campaign headquarters is at 1035 U Street in downtown Fresno. To volunteer or for more information, contact 559-495-0606 or fresnocountydemocrats@yahoo.com.
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Media Inquiries:
Michael D. Evans
704-975-8874
evansm@usa.net
