Lest We Forget - Part 1
Remembering the "Fine People" interview, 2004 Washington Governor's race, and our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights.
CHARLOTTESVILLE “FINE PEOPLE” INTERVIEW (2017)
Reporter: “The neo-Nazis started this. They showed up in Charlottesville to protest– ”
Trump: “Excuse me, excuse me. They didn’t put themselves – and you had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides. You had people in that group. Excuse me, excuse me. I saw the same pictures as you did. You had people in that group that were there to protest the taking down of, to them, a very, very important statue and the renaming of a park from Robert E. Lee to another name.”
Reporter: “George Washington and Robert E. Lee are not the same.”
Trump: “George Washington was a slave owner. Was George Washington a slave owner? So will George Washington now lose his status? Are we going to take down– excuse me, are we going to take down statues to George Washington? How about Thomas Jefferson? What do you think of Thomas Jefferson? You like him?”
Reporter: “I do love Thomas Jefferson.”
Trump: “Okay, good. Are we going to take down the statue? Because he was a major slave owner. Now, are we going to take down his statue?
“So you know what, it’s fine. You’re changing history. You’re changing culture. And you had people – and I’m not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists – because they should be condemned totally.”
DINO ROSSI GOVERNOR RACE, WASHINGTON STATE (2004)
In the November 2 election, over 2.8 million votes were cast for governor. After the initial vote count, Rossi led Democrat Christine Gregoire by 261 votes.
Washington State law required a recount because of the small margin. After the second count, Rossi again led, but by a smaller margin of 42 votes. After a third count, done by hand, Gregoire took a 129-vote lead (expanded to a 133 vote lead after Justice Bridges’ decision threw out 4 votes for Rossi).
King County’s election department was sued by the Rossi campaign for its handling of ballots, including untracked use of a “ballot-on-demand” printing machine. Even before the election date, the U.S. Department of Justice threatened to sue Washington State for failing to mail military ballots overseas, generally assumed to be Republican votes.
All together, 723 uncounted or improperly rejected ballots were discovered in King County during the manual hand recount.
OUR 1ST AMENDMENT
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
OUR 2ND AMENDMENT
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
