Donald Trump’s election as President of the United States has clearly upset many people on campus. It is understandable to be upset by the loss of your preferred candidate; however, it is neither understandable nor acceptable to attempt to delegitimize the person who won the election.
Since Trump’s election, there have been too many attempts to explain away his victory as illegitimate. The attempts range from the expected attacks on the electoral college to claims of third parties throwing the election. Although it is true that both influenced the outcome of the election, it is not true that either makes Trump’s election less legitimate.
When Clinton conceded the election on the morning after the election she “offered to work with him on behalf of our country.” She accepted the result of the election and knew that the only way to ensure that Trump’s vision of America was restrained was to move on and participate in the process. This is what the people who refuse to accept the outcome need to do to ensure their seat at the table.
Just because the Democrats lost the election does not mean that they have no power in government; it means that they have the power of the minority.
Concerning the Supreme Court, the minority has significant power in the confirmation process. If they disagree with a Supreme Court nominee, they can filibuster.
It takes 66 votes to end a filibuster through a move called cloture, which cannot be achieved by the Republican conference alone. This means that, in order for cloture to be invoked, a portion of the Democratic conference needs to vote with the Republicans. This power will moderate the choices of nominees that can feasibly make it through the Senate.
President Obama has also said that he accepts the results of the election. During a meeting with Trump, Obama said that he would do everything in his power to ease the transition from his administration to Trump’s.
Following that meeting, Trump even moderated his position on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act by saying that there are some portions that he feels are good for the American people. Trump also claimed that he intends to seek counsel from Obama once he is in office. This shift by Trump should help to ease fears that Trump intends to bring an extreme right-wing agenda to the White House.
Trump’s election has certainly upset some, but that does not mean that they should undermine the legitimacy of his candidacy.
Both Clinton and Obama have said they accept the results, and they both intend to work with the Trump administration.
Even if they did not intend to work with Trump, the power of the Democratic Party as a minority is very real. When all this is taken into account, there is no reason to delegitimize Trump’s election or undermine his presidency.
Adam Gillnor, a Contributing Writer for the Voice, can be reached for comment at AGillnor19@wooster.edu.