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The media is laser-focused in their reporting on what will happen today, as the presidential Electoral Votes are formally--and physically---brought to the 117th Congress of the United States to certify Joe Biden as the next president of our country.
Most of the mainstream media has written long stories last night and today, describing the process, concluding that the only outcome can be to declare Joe Biden the next president---and you better not think otherwise.
However. A significant number of elected officials in both the Senate and the House plan to exercise their Constitutional right and responsibility to "object" to the Electoral votes on the basis of widespread fraud in the election process.
Vice President Pence will preside over the process. Does that put him on the hot seat?
Be informed, not misled.
Today I'll be talking more about this--- and we'll be discussing the latest on the Georgia senate run-off election yesterday on the radio. Join me. Here's how.
The mainstream media message.
The Washington Post, along with the New York Times, Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune, and a thousand other newspapers big and small are telling America how they should think about the Electoral vote certification taking place in Congress today---WAPO is one example.
The Post says it "has become routine after recent elections for House lawmakers on the losing side to put up a symbolic fight over the results, which they can do under an 1880s law governing the process."
"It has been less common," the Post says, "for senators to join them, but this time a dozen will."
They note that "this will happen despite no evidence of widespread election fraud and as the outgoing president has refused to concede and tried to strong-arm the process at every step to stay in power."
Although the media is playing down the significance of the event today, it's very significant.
Senators and Representatives are "objecting" to the outcome.
Because there is, in fact, widespread evidence of illegal actions taken in a number of key states where election officials changed rules that, according to the Constitution, can only be changed by the state legislature, and strong evidence of tampering with vote-counting in a number of other states---there is strong objection.
Today is a test of our democratic voting process, our Constitution, and the courage of our representatives in Congress.
For a challenge to proceed, at least one lawmaker from each chamber must object to a state's electors.
As of yesterday, between 12 and 16 senators had said they will challenge the election results today---even though Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told them not to do it.
I believe there could be even more.
Dozens, some say, as many as 140 House members will object to the Elector's votes.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was the first Republican senator to say he would join the House lawmakers' challenges to states' certified results.
Hawley said Monday that the matter of who becomes America's next president is not a forgone conclusion but "depends on the outcome of the January 6 joint session of Congress."
He said there are "major, major concerns about the integrity, the fairness of this election."
Hawley said of his constituency: "They expect me to stand up and to raise those concerns, and this is the only forum I have to do it."
There is an extreme amount of pressure being directed at the lawmakers who are objecting today to not do so---shut up and sit down---including from some within the Republican Party leadership.
Pay attention to how your Republican senator and representative responds---it will tell you more about their courage and integrity than they will when he or she is running for your vote and contribution.
Sen Ted Cruz is leading a group of Republican senators who will today call for a suspension of the votes to allow for a ten-day audit because he says the 2020 election "featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, violations, and lax enforcement of election law, and other voting irregularities."
He says, "The allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes," adding that this "deep distrust" of US democratic processes "will not magically disappear" and "should concern us all" whether or not elected officials or journalists believe the allegations.
Vice president Pence will read aloud--- to the joint session of Congress---each objection that is presented.
Vice President Pence will chair the joint session.
Several Republican state senators in Georgia have asked Pence, in writing, to postpone the counting of electoral votes, because Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach says: "We need more time to thoroughly investigate allegations of election fraud, particularly in Fulton County."
There are about a dozen or so state lawmakers who have signed the letter. Beach says more will have signed by the time they present it to Vice President Pence.
The state senator says he is aware that elected officials in several other battleground states are doing the same.
He noted that Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Arizona have also sent letters to the Vice President telling him they want more time, requesting that he delay accepting the electoral votes for at least 10-12 days.
What will happen today.
The Washington Post concludes their "epic" story with this: "Pence has told Trump he has no power to thwart Biden's electoral college win...and his aides say Pence plans to stick to his perfunctory role."
According to Bezos' newspaper, Joe Biden will be the next president.
Pence, however, has been very tight-lipped about this whole process, until this past weekend, when he told the press he "welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forth evidence."
I'm a big supporter of Mike Pence, but this is not the time for him to stick to any "perfunctory role."
I sincerely hope he recognizes the objections and at least grants more time for the investigation to continue because as of yesterday, about 25 Republicans have said they plan to oppose the effort to object to the votes, including most of the Republican leadership in the senate.
If a vote is taken today by Congress, those opposing the electoral vote will not succeed. Given more time and evidence perhaps more Republicans would change their minds and support the opposition.
The takeaway
On Monday, Joe Biden told the people of Georgia, "The power is literally in your hands---one state can chart the course not just for the next four years, but for an entire generation."
Also in Georgia Monday, Vice President Pence told a large rally, "Vote for our faith, for our freedom."
Then Vice President Pence told the crowd this:
"I know we all have our doubts about the last election. I want to assure you that I share the concerns of millions of Americans about voting irregularities. I promise you, come Wednesday, we will have our day in Congress."
Clearly, Mike Pence understands the gravity of the moment. Will he have the courage to act today?
I believe he will.
One thing is absolutely sure. God is in control.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.