There's no clearer demarcation between democracy and autocracy than the peaceful transfer of power after an election. Trump showed us on Wednesday that he is prepared to cross that line.
Any other president, at any other time in the history of this country, would have had a simple, straightforward answer, when asked if he would accept the results of the election. Any other president would have affirmed his respect for the will of the people -- the hallmark of democracy. But when Trump was asked that question, his response was a shrapnel-filled grenade. Here's what he said:
"Well, we're going to have to see what happens. You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster." He added, "Get rid of the ballots, you'll have a very transfer -- you'll have a very peaceful -- there won't be a transfer, frankly. There'll be a continuation."
I'll resist the temptation to clean up Trump's syntax in search of a cogent answer. But it is clear he's signaling -- once again -- that he has no intention of accepting the results if he loses. It is also evident that his monthslong effort to claim mail-in ballots are prone to fraud -- something experts agree is extremely rare -- is designed to hand Trump and his backers a path out of defeat.
US Attorney General William Barr has previously dismissed claims that Trump would try to seize power if he lost the election and accused Democrats of fearmongering instead. But Barr has also supported Trump's attacks on mail-in voting, and experts fear he could play a role in influencing the outcome of the election.
When asked about Trump's comments, Democratic candidate Joe Biden responded with disbelief and asked, "What country are we in?" Biden, knowing how Trump might play the comment, went on to say, "I'm being facetious -- what country are we in? Look, he says the most irrational things. I don't know what to say about it, but it doesn't surprise me."
The President has made clear that this election is not simply a choice between Trump or Biden. It's a choice between an accelerated dismantling of America's democracy, or a return to America's centuries-long struggle to become a more perfect union -- a nation that more faithfully reflects its founding ideals of democracy and equality.
Trump also revealed, perhaps unwittingly, that he does not think he will handily win the election. He seems intent on sowing chaos and confusion and attacking mail-in ballots, which could potentially tear the country apart in an ensuing fight over the election results.
"I think this will end up in the Supreme Court," he said, "and I think it's very important that we have nine justices." Note that there were only eight justices on the court at the time of the 2016 election. Trump could very well pressure his nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to pledge loyalty to him and his electoral aspirations, rather than a commitment to fairness and the Constitution.
Whatever Trump has in mind, there is only one sure way to prevent a disaster that could eng
