David Pepper writes: “For the first time in modern memory, Ohio Republicans attached conditions to legislation that extended the deadline for a presidential nominee to be placed on the Ohio ballot. In the past, including in 2020, this has always been done as a matter of course, and for nominees of either party. "
Published:July 17, 2024
Share
*Read all of David's writing and watch his fantastic videos at Pepperspectives!
By David Pepper
OK… so there is definitely a risk in tweeting from off the grid.
Like… you may be stepping into the middle of a social media, internecine bar-room brawl without even knowing it.
Exhibit A: If JD Vance was praising the Ohio “Biden ballot fix,” you know something was afoot...
Something I sort of did yesterday.
I had seen some mild chatter asking why the State of Ohio necessitated a “virtual roll call” for the Presidential nominating process. I’ve since learned that some are making more pointed accusations about this process, and the motivation behind it. Some suggest it’s a scheme motivated by questions about Biden’s candidacy. And it’s gotten very testy.
So—having had a front row seat to what actually triggered the DNC’s approach (following democracy advocates in Ohio begging for help to stop yet another attack on democracy here) — I tweeted a thread to set the record straight. I did so mainly by sharing an email I had sent to a friend (who sits on the DNC) to explain what had happened in Ohio to require this process in the first place.
So I’ll share that again here.
This was the essence of the email I sent on July 2 (before this had gotten so much attention):
“Here is why I strongly supported what the DNC did re Ohio, and sticking to that position now:
“For the first time in modern memory, Ohio Republicans attached conditions to legislation that extended the deadline for a presidential nominee to be placed on the Ohio ballot. In the past, including in 2020, this has always been done as a matter of course, and for nominees of either party. Ohio also appears to be the only state in the nation where this was done—even Alabama enacted a “clean” extension to allow Biden to be on the ballot. No strings attached.
But the Ohio GOP did not only attach conditions to the extension—they attached “poison pill” legislation, the clear aim of which is to undermine Ohioans’ ability to engage in direct democracy. (Basically, an extension of the Issue 1 campaign to undermine direct democracy last year). Along the way, they attacked the rights of green card holders (and their spouses) in a way that looks to be a clear violation of the Constitution (a lawsuit has already been filed). And they did all of this in exchange for the extension—trying to look as if this was all a noble act when it was in fact an effort to kneecap Ohioans’ rights.
Overall, what Ohio did sets a terrible precedent. If other states follow Ohio’s lead in the future, attaching anti-democracy conditions to the step of simply allowing a candidate to be on the ballot, it will be a downward spiral fast.
To their great credit, the DNC, seeing that this was happening, took a bold step for democracy when they publicly committed to do a virtual roll call rather than credit in any way this appalling legislation. They called the GOP bluff, exposing what the legislation was truly all about. And they sent the message that they were willing to adjust their rules rather than watching and being part of an attack on democracy in Ohio (and by extension, anywhere). Sticking to that commitment is the principled, pro-democracy thing to do. Reversing it would allow Republicans to continue their false narrative that this was about solving the Biden ballot issue. Even worse, it would be a signal, in the future, that the DNC did not mean what it said when it stood for democracy and against the cynical GOP effort here.
If someone asks why Ohio requires [a virtual roll call], the answer is simple: Ohio is behaving as a pariah state when it comes to democracy. This legislation was yet another example of how anti-democratic Ohio has become. If a “virtual roll call” sends a signal that the Ohio GOP is so corrupted in its ways that the state [requires a different approach], that is the appropriate message the DNC should send the nation. Ohio’s GOP has certainly earned it." Here are a few articles I wrote about this:
[Note — all those article were written long before any of the current consternation].
Those of you who read my newsletter closely would already know much of this. A lot of you made phone calls when this came up. We fought back hard, and we can only hope the current lawsuit stops the “poison pill” in its tracks.
So you will understand why democracy advocates were so appreciative that the DNC stepped up during this appalling attack on democracy in Ohio—which we are still fighting. Folks, there’s a lot of stress and fear right now. We all feel it. The stakes are huge. People have strong feelings about the best way to move forward.
If there’s an earth-shattering shift that necessitates a different approach to the roll call, that can clearly happen to accommodate whatever shift that is.
But let’s set the record straight: the DNC’s decision to do the “virtual roll” call was motivated by a keen understanding of a state-level attack on democracy (you know, where they happen most) that most in the media had missed, by the fortitude to stand up to it (and head off a horrible precedent for every state), and all of it happened months ago.
Is democracy in decline? Clearly. In this episode Rick sits down with Emily Amick, co-author of Democracy in Retrograde, to discuss the challenges facing American democracy and how to reclaim civic engagement in the age of polarization and outrage. They explore the rise of minority rule, the impact of social media on public discourse, and the erosion of community ties. Emily shares actionable insights from her book, including how individuals can create sustainable civic action plans and rebuild connections to strengthen democracy.
Emily's book, Democracy in Retrograde, available now.
Debuting a new installment of the LP podcast, Rick reads and answers mail from our devoted LP audience. If you'd like Rick to answer your burning question, please email it to podcast@lincolnproject.us for future Q+A episodes.
Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and all the other social media platforms, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com.
Join the fight with Lincoln Project at www.lincolnproject.us and follow us on X at @ProjectLincoln.
And please subscribe, rate and review this podcast, thank you!
Without Freedom, We Are Lost
Is America heading toward a tyrannical, authoritarian system? Taking for granted our basic pursuit of freedom? In today's episode Rick is joined by historian and Yale professor Timothy Snyder to discuss his latest book, On Freedom. Building on the themes of his influential work On Tyranny, Snyder explores the deeper meaning of freedom, its vulnerabilities in modern America, and how to preserve it against rising authoritarian tendencies. The conversation digs into the dangers of "sado-populism," the distortion of free speech, and the seductive appeal of authoritarianism. Snyder offers a powerful case for the value of freedom as a cornerstone of human dignity and creativity.
Timothy's book, On Freedom, available now.
It’s an open question if Trump and his Project 2025 minions have hearts, but they do understand that hearts and minds are won in our schools and universities—places, Jason Stanley explains, that democratic societies across the world are now ill-prepared to defend against the fascist assault currently underway. How do we punch back at those trying to erase our history to change the future? Maya and Jason talked how to punch up and back!
Turns out, Joe called a lot of this... way back in 2008. Seriously. What does "the overthrow of everything" look like now? What can the pro-democracy movement learn from what MAGA has been able to build? Joe and Alex talk about the difference between "resistance" and "opposition" and why we have to start building the opposition yesterday. Happy Thanksgiving weekend, everyone.