U.S. Sen. Mark Warner wants you to know that he has faith in our democracy.
Let’s give the guy some leeway. He’s trying to be helpful here.
“I think we’re all going to be tested. Because what’s more important than whatever candidate you’re supporting, is making sure that we have faith in our system. I have been blessed to have been your governor and your senator. I have faith in our democracy, I have faith in the integrity of the literally thousands of folks who give their time and volunteer at our polling locations,” Warner said on Thursday.
It depends on who you’re trying to talk to with this message.
The hard-core MAGAs among us who think that everybody who isn’t MAGA is the enemy within aren’t going to side with Warner on the integrity of poll workers.
Most of the rest of us will, but we’re also the ones who see what the Donald Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee are doing already to be able to block the certification of electoral votes in blue states like Virginia.
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That “faith in our system” line from Warner rings a bit hollow against that backdrop.
“Our democracy has stood up to the test of time, but over these next few days, it may be tested again,” Warner said, understating things there by using the word “may.”
The stress test is coming.
Count on it.
“At the end of the day, I want to count on my fellow Virginians. We’ll get to a fair result. Whether your candidate wins or loses, we’ll make sure the process is fair, that the votes are counted fairly, and I again implore you, if you see crazy stuff, don’t take rash action,” Warner said.
Fat chance of that happening. Here in Waynesboro, our home base, the two Republicans on the electoral board are already saying they don’t trust the vote count, and won’t vote to certify the election – and Nov. 5 is still days away.
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That’s “crazy stuff” and “rash action” all in one right there.
Those two guys don’t want the votes counted at all, much less counted fairly.
What’s scary is, we only know about their intent with regard to the election because they filed a suit.
Every electoral board in Virginia has a 2-1 Republican majority, and more than a few of the twos are tinfoil-hat-wearing conspiracy theorists.
If our two here in Waynesboro can gum up the statewide vote certification, OK, let’s not go there.
Mark Warner wants us to think positive.
His next line was obviously aimed at the MAGAs.
“Just because it takes a while to have an election called doesn’t mean there’s anything nefarious or bad going on,” Warner said. “This is not going to end in Virginia when our polls close at 7 o’clock on Tuesday, or later in the evening as later states close. We’re probably not going to have a declared winner on Tuesday night. I think we just all got to be prepared for that, and have a little patience with a system that has served us well.”
Maybe get Mr. Trump to sign on to this one.
We already know he’s going to declare himself the winner as soon as humanly possible on Tuesday night.
Last thing from Warner on this: don’t believe everything you see on the interwebs.
This one also seems directed at the MAGAs.
“As we all tell our kids: just because you see it on the internet, does not mean it’s true. And if you see some story or conspiracy that seems so outrageous, take a deep breath, take a moment, and check other news sites to see if that story is being repeated or if it may just be a one-off,” Warner said.
He’s wanting you to tell your MAGA mom and dad this, you can tell.
“If it comes from a meme or a TikTok video, chances are that may not be accurate,” Warner said.
We’re already way past our MAGA moms and dads being on the same page with us on that.
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Chris Graham
