The decision by the Democrats to replace Joe Biden with Kamala Harris as their front-runner for the presidency is seen by Donald Trump and others as an outright deception. House Speaker Mike Johnson branded it an attack on democracy, while voices such as Sen. Tom Cotton, Fox News host Sean Hannity, and Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker of the 1990s, deemed this an attempted coup. Dishing out snark, even The Daily Show’s Ronny Chieng props up Harris, saying she could manage global leaders since she managed to effectively collapse the president.
Such affirmations for Harris’ unprecedented ascent may have highlighted her historic achievements, but they certainly do not applaud her means to the end. Despite these criticisms coming from the same people who endorsed a past president notorious for his attempts to overturn election results, some layers of their critique bear semblance to fair judgement.
What the Democrats did by shuffling their candidate was nothing short of shocking voters. Biden rallied that he held the seal of approval from primary voters to continue his campaign until the fall before his withdrawal. But, who are we kidding? This year there was no genuine primary. Democratic Party loyalists were not given the opportunity to vote for their preferred nominee for the 2024 race.
As surprising as it may seem, this has been the first time since ’68 that delegates, not voters, have chosen the candidate. Nevertheless, we must remember that uniformity is not a prerequisite in the American democratic process. Albeit confusing, the one leading principle in U.S. democracy is to engender the freedom to change minds.
Historical evidence was presented in the form of the 21st constitutional amendment that was brought in to cancel the 18th, showing the malleability of the law when required. Presidential succession rules have undergone four amendments, starting with the Presidential Succession Act of 1796, the 12th Amendment of 1804, followed by the Presidential Succession Act of 1886, and finally the 25th Amendment.
While such decisions often take citizens by surprise, it is an overlooked fact that not all U.S. presidents are chosen through electoral processes. Democracy, with all its frailties and flabbergasting twists, does get the job done. The functioning of a government doesn’t rest solely on the vice president’s shoulders, hence, for thirty-eight cumulative years since its inception, the U.S. functioned without one.
Vice presidents are often catapulted into positions of higher power unexpectedly. The appointment of Harris can be viewed as undemocratic in a traditional sense, yet the resilience of the American people and democracy itself is tenacious enough to manage the tides of change.
This shadow falls on the eve of the 50th anniversary of a man who took up the mantle of presidency without any prior electoral mandate for an executive power role. It is timely to recall the cautionary tale of Gerald Ford. If American democracy could stand its test, it stands to reason it will endure any challenges coming its way.
Ford was known for his quintessential American hero persona: his unbeatable college football record at the University of Michigan, his choosing Yale Law School over the NFL, serving in the Navy following Pearl Harbor’s bombing, and his tireless service as a congressman from Michigan. His aspiration was to be the House Speaker until October 1973, when Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned resulting in Ford’s sudden appointment through the 25th Amendment.
Due to Nixon’s resignation, before he could even move into his new vice presidential residence, Ford found himself in the Oval Office as President on Aug. 9, 1974. His presidential term of 896 days was anything but lackluster despite the time restriction.
Among the whirlwind of activities during his administration, after less than a month, Ford pardoned Nixon unconditionally. The next milestone was a month later when he became the first sitting president since Abraham Lincoln to testify before Congress. Further notable appointments included Donald Rumsfeld as the youngest-ever Secretary of Defense, Dick Cheney as White House Chief of Staff, and George H.W. Bush as CIA Director.
Ford’s term was filled with consequential actions, from providing temporary amnesty to Vietnam War draft evaders to special education initiatives to a refusal of federal aid to New York City. Additionally, he survived two assassination attempts within a 17-day span. All this was managed by him without crisis, despite the dubious legitimacy of his ascendancy to the presidency that lacked any form of electoral endorsement.
Despite the tumultuous journey of Ford’s short tenure, his presidency held its course without the need for a special election or public outcry. There wasn’t any crisis in America. Whether one cherishes or decries him, America accepted him. Therein lies the real test of a democracy, its ability to adapt and its resilience.
Unprecedented Deception: Democrats Replace Biden with Harris appeared first on Real News Now.
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