(ConservativeHub.com) – CNN commentator David Axelrod, a former adviser in the Obama administration, criticized the efforts of certain states aiming to exclude former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot, labeling it as potentially “very disruptive” and likely to “create a huge reaction.”
Expressing his concerns, Axelrod emphasized the potential for significant backlash, particularly considering the polarizing figure of Trump. According to The Hill, he highlighted the existing skepticism among Americans towards governmental institutions, which could be exacerbated by attempts to invoke the insurrectionist clause in the 14th Amendment to bar Trump from the ballot.
According to Axelrod, while many are increasingly cynical, “democracy’s strength lies in these very institutions.” He added that “one could argue” this is why the US needs to head in the direction that the “Colorado court suggests.”
The Supreme Court’s decision to address the issue of Trump’s eligibility in Colorado, stemming from his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, has heightened the legal and political stakes. Oral arguments were held on Thursday, February 9.
Axelrod continued by saying that he wasn’t looking to defend Trump or offer the perspective of a legal expert. However, he believes the Supreme Court will need to consider the ramifications of the ruling they are making.
He further contemplated the implications of a scenario where the Supreme Court invalidates Trump’s candidacy, effectively denying voters the opportunity to support him. He said he was attempting to consider the fallout if the Supreme Court were to declare that Trump couldn’t be on the ballot and that people wouldn’t have the “opportunity” to vote for him.
Although numerous challenges to Trump’s eligibility have surfaced nationwide, the majority have been dismissed by lower courts. Thus far, only two states, Colorado and Maine, have opted to exclude Trump from their ballots.
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