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OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 7/29/16

"Boundless Confidence In America's Promise"

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Clinton's major opponent for the nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, graciously conceded and called for a unanimous affirmation of her nomination. Some of his delegates were not so gracious, threatening to cast their votes on November 8 for someone other than Clinton.

That reluctance to get behind the party nominee is not a new phenomenon in American politics. It is the story of democracy.

But with Donald Trump as the only major option available to voters, it is time for the Sanders' supporters, many young and new to politics, to view the consequences of their refusal to support their party's nominee.

In the official count for the 1968 presidential election between Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace, Nixon won over Humphrey by less than one percent of the popular vote.

Five years later, after winning a second term, Nixon was forced to resign over the Watergate scandal.

In that 1968 election independent candidate and segregationist hero, George Wallace, won 46 electoral votes with 13.53% of the total popular vote.

Reflect on these returns from 1968 and ponder what happens when a third party throws a proverbial "monkey wrench" into a presidential race:


(Image by Wallwritings screen grab)   Details   DMCA

Almost ten million votes were cast for racial segregation adherents in a presidential race 48 years ago.

Would a Hubert Humphrey presidency have been superior to the Richard Nixon presidency? That is a "what if" question for history to ponder. What is pertinent to this year's presidential election is that in 1968, a vote for a third party might have been a statement, but how did it affect the final result?

Votes for third parties in November could give Donald Trump the White House. And what would that mean?

ABC News described one reaction from Donald Trump to the Democratic convention:

"Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Thursday afternoon he wanted to 'hit' some of the Democratic National Convention speakers 'so hard' while watching them last night, including a 'little guy...so hard his head would spin.'

"'You know what I wanted to. I wanted to hit a couple of those speakers so hard,' Trump said. 'I would have hit them. No, no. I was going to hit them, I was all set and then I got a call from a highly respected governor.'

"Trump didn't immediately clarify what he meant, but he said he was made particularly upset by an unspecified person he called a 'little guy.'"

Presumably, the "very little guy" in Trump's diatribe is Senator Tim Kaine, of Virginia, Clinton's choice as her vice-president.

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James Wall served as a Contributing Editor of The Christian Century magazine, based in Chicago, Illinois, from 1999 through 2017. From 1972 through 1999, he was editor and publisher of the Christian Century magazine. Many sources have influenced (more...)
 

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