This is an issue I haven’t publicly addressed, yet. Until now.

The facts are these:

• Both Lara Trump (wife of Eric), and Donald Trump, Jr. have made multiple robocalls since the onset of the pandemic, urging Republican voters to vote via mail-in ballots on various local elections.
• Donald Trump recently mailed in a ballot, despite being at Mar-a-Lago at the time, a block or two from his polling station.
• Pence also recently used mail-in voting.
• Kayleigh McEnany, so many years an out of state (and country) student, and later busy careerist, has openly admitted she has NEVER IN HER VOTING LIFE VOTED IN PERSON. That’s right. She has ONLY used mail-in.
• Ivanka and Jared Kushner voted in 2016 by mail-in.
• But most importantly, including those above, during the pandemic, no less than 16 members of the administration or first family voted in primaries or special elections via mail-in. There are probably more; the 16 are those that are known to have done so. The very medium they claim is rife with and for corruption. McEnany recently defended the contradiction saying it’s okay if you have a good reason for it. By the way, Florida, the state that was under discussion with her, is one of many that by law doesn’t require a reason.

Now, we all know that voter fraud occurs. Most of us understand that is represents a tiny fraction. Statistically little more than an anomaly. Yet it is portrayed as this big thing as a scare tactic, as is this idea (strange coincidence) only liberal voters do it. And conservatives eat up this narrative.

So Trump is trying to make sure that no mail-in voting can be done in 2020, not even because the pandemic (naturally). Even as he, his family, his employees are. Strange.

What is the conclusion? Yes, there is elitism (hating the poor). Yes, there is racism. Yes, there is a double standard, because it’s okay if it is white, conservative voters.†† But what is disturbing is the way they openly manipulate the system. Remember when the Senate refused to consider Merrick Garland in 2016, and they told their voters there was precedence? Remember how after Mitch McConnell publicly admitted it was a stunt to keep a liberal off the bench? Remember how McConnell asked the 2 oldest conservative justices (Thomas and Alito) if they’d like to retire, so Trump could replace them with younger conservatives (the irony bring that Thomas is one of the strictest jurists there are; there is no replacing him). All this showed that the GOP were willing to bend democratic processes for their use, while denying them to the opposition. Which isn’t democratic. Those are the tricks of authoritarian leaders. Now they do the same. Prevent people (mostly Dems) from voting mail-in, safe from the pandemic, all the while planning loopholes for themselves. Mostly white conservatives.

†† Voting restrictions overwhelmingly affect the poor and minorities. And most of the poor are minorities. And most minorities vote blue. When laws 1. Limit early voting days, 2. Limit polling stations (therefore requiring travel and time), 3. Require a bunch of hoops on identification, it creates problems aimed at and most affecting poor and minorities. Why? Because they are most likely to have the kinds of jobs you can’t take an extended lunch break or leave early. Because they are more likely to be working multiple jobs, or single parents, where freeing up time becomes a problem. Because they are more likely to rely on their own feet or public transportation, further limiting their movement. Because all those things also make it more difficult for some of the laws regarding identification.

Mail-in ballots seem the perfect solution. Especially for poor and minorities, who ALSO are the most prevalent in COVID cases. Yet here Trump is, trying to keep them from voting safely, on top of other difficult voting restrictions. Even as he will make sure mail-in is okay if you are a Trump. Or work for one. Of, if he can but figure out how, vote for one. Because yeah, no white conservative ever committed voter fraud.