Channel NewsAsia, Miami :
President Barack Obama eviscerated would-be successor Donald Trump on Thursday (Oct 20) for threatening not to concede if he loses next month’s election, calling for a thumping Democratic victory to repudiate his “dangerous” claims of a rigged vote.
Trump cast the United States into uncharted political waters by suggesting he may not recognise the result of the Nov 8 presidential election and could launch a legal challenge if Hillary Clinton wins. “I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election … if I win,” the Republican nominee told cheering supporters in Delaware, Ohio. “Of course I will accept a clear election result, but I will also reserve my right to contest and file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable
result,” he said dangling his concession. The bombastic 70-year-old is trailing badly in the polls. But Democrats are showing no quarter.
“When you try to sow the seeds of doubt in people’s minds about the legitimacy of our election, that undermines our democracy,” Obama said. “When you suggest rigging or fraud without a shred of evidence, when last night at the debate, Trump becomes the first major party nominee in American history to suggest that he will not concede despite losing … that is not a joking matter.”
The unusually harsh comments suggest the White House believes this deeply rancorous election is not just about defeating Trump or winning back control of Congress, but snuffing out his populist credo.
The reality TV star has defied political convention and brought far-right policies and conspiracies to the Republican mainstream. The final 2016 presidential debate on Wednesday was dominated by Trump’s refusal to say he would recognize a victory by Democrat Clinton, 68, who he accuses of conspiring to rig the vote against him. “There is no way to rig an election in a country this big,” Obama fired back. “You are much likelier to get struck by lightning than have somebody next to you commit voter fraud.”
President Barack Obama eviscerated would-be successor Donald Trump on Thursday (Oct 20) for threatening not to concede if he loses next month’s election, calling for a thumping Democratic victory to repudiate his “dangerous” claims of a rigged vote.
Trump cast the United States into uncharted political waters by suggesting he may not recognise the result of the Nov 8 presidential election and could launch a legal challenge if Hillary Clinton wins. “I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election … if I win,” the Republican nominee told cheering supporters in Delaware, Ohio. “Of course I will accept a clear election result, but I will also reserve my right to contest and file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable
result,” he said dangling his concession. The bombastic 70-year-old is trailing badly in the polls. But Democrats are showing no quarter.
“When you try to sow the seeds of doubt in people’s minds about the legitimacy of our election, that undermines our democracy,” Obama said. “When you suggest rigging or fraud without a shred of evidence, when last night at the debate, Trump becomes the first major party nominee in American history to suggest that he will not concede despite losing … that is not a joking matter.”
The unusually harsh comments suggest the White House believes this deeply rancorous election is not just about defeating Trump or winning back control of Congress, but snuffing out his populist credo.
The reality TV star has defied political convention and brought far-right policies and conspiracies to the Republican mainstream. The final 2016 presidential debate on Wednesday was dominated by Trump’s refusal to say he would recognize a victory by Democrat Clinton, 68, who he accuses of conspiring to rig the vote against him. “There is no way to rig an election in a country this big,” Obama fired back. “You are much likelier to get struck by lightning than have somebody next to you commit voter fraud.”
