The week
Lindsey Graham dismisses fellow Electoral College Republicans’ objections with a history lesson
“Count me out” of the plan to object to Electoral College certification, Senator Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) told his colleagues on the Senate floor Wednesday night. Graham was never actually on board, but had previously suggested he was at least willing to listen to his fellow Republicans, such as Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who wanted to challenge President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud. But by the time he spoke, Graham had concluded that “enough is enough.” Graham provided the room with a brief history lesson, arguing that the opponents made a mistake in setting 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 of South Carolina. So a fifteen-member electoral commission was formed, similar to what Cruz and others now want to see. Hayes, the Republican, eventually got the votes he needed to run for president, but, Graham noted, the commission wasn’t the real reason the matter was resolved. Behind the scenes, Republicans met with Democrats, who agreed not to accept Hayes’ victory as long as federal troops were pulled from the South, ending the Reconstruction era. The deal, which became known as the 1877 Compromise, paved the way for Jim Crow. “If you’re looking for historical guidelines,” Graham said, “this isn’t the right choice.” > Graham: “It didn’t work. Nobody accepted it. The way it ended is when Hayes made a deal with these 3 states – you give me the voters, I kick out the Union Army. The rest is history. Lead to Jim Crow If you’re looking for historical guidance, this is not the way to go. ”>> – Michael McAuliff (@mmcauliff) January 7, 2021 More stories from theweek.com After an official election loss, Trump issues a statement Pence promised an “ orderly transition on January 20 ” congress, stating that Joe Biden’s presidential victory nearly turns House into a brawl during the Pennsylvania voters’ objection