August 3, 2016 2:49 PM
Home2016 ElectionsGOP unrest takes a strange turn

GOP unrest takes a strange turn

By  2016 Elections, Presidential Politics, Republicans  10 Comments

With the GOP nominee seemingly unable to get out of his own way, the unrest within the party is growing with some unusual declarations. The AJC’s Jim Galloway reported on a phone conversation he had with Baoky Vu one of the 16 Georgia members of the Electoral College.

Vu has just put out a statement saying that he cannot bring himself to vote for Trump in the November general election. And he might not vote for Trump as a member of the electoral college, either.

Apparently Georgia is one of 21 states that do not mandate their Electoral College members to vote in concert with the state’s popular vote making Vu’s threatened action legal.

Vu, a naturalized citizen and longtime GOP activist makes a reasonable argument for his position:

“Thus, I will not be voting for Donald Trump in the general election.  My conscience is clear but my soul is being tested.  Born in Saigon, my family knows what it is like to lose a country and my family is forever indebted to America and our allies.  I have never questioned the soul, character and goodness of the Nation by who we have chosen as our leader throughout history. 

“Until now.

“Rather than earning the American people’s respect and trust through the duration of the past year, Donald Trump’s antics and asinine behavior has cemented my belief that he lacks the judgment, temperament and gravitas to lead this Nation.

This potential action by member(s) of the Electoral College plus the latest speculation that senior GOP leaders are discussing ways to replace the nominee should he drop out of the Presidential contest before the election, only adds to the drama of this election cycle.

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About Author

IrishPat

Patrick Malone is a Business Advisor and Leadership Mentor headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia. He co-hosts Mountain Daybreak and Mountain Mornings, weekday news programs, and hosts This Week in Blairsville a weekend program on WJUL/WJRB. He is a mentor in Union County High School, serves on his church council and writes a monthly column on leadership in the animal healthcare industry.

10 Comments
  1. Noway2016

    Simple response: resign your position and let the party replace you with someone who can carry out the official duty required of an elector. No fuss, no muss…

  2. davidmac

    Calling him an elector presupposes that the Republicans would win GA. I’m not 100% confident in that.

  3. Lawton Sack

    From Debbie Dooley:

    “Georgia Republican Party Chairman John Padgett selected a #NeverTrump person to serve as an elector to the Electoral College that actually elects the President. Baoky Vu has been a donor to the Georgia GOP, but he has stated he will not vote for Donald Trump in November and may not vote for him as an Elector to the Electoral College. Mr. Vu is prepared to give the election to Hillary Clinton.

    Baoky Vu is a disgrace and Republicans should be outraged over Vu’s stance to help Hillary. It is an embarrassment to the Georgia Republican Party.

    Please call the Georgia GOP and asked them why Baoky Vu was selected to represent Georgia in the Electoral College.”

    • Benevolus

      Plenty of candidates for who is being disgraceful around.

  4. NoParty4Me

    Someone please explain to me… Are “Electors” bound to the votes they represent, defined by district or whatever?
    Or are they bound to a “Party” vote?
    Are Political parties the only path to serving as an Elector?

    • davidmac

      Electors are slated by the party to represent the state – I’m guessing at the state convention, but I can’t find any documentation of that.

      And they’re not bound to anything in Georgia. But they’re generally party loyalists above all else.

      In some states, they are bound, either by pledges to their party or by state law. But no court has ruled on the Constitutionality of those binding pledges or state laws, as the Constitution doesn’t specify that an elector can be bound. (Art II sec. 1; Amendment XII)

      See http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/electors.html for binding laws.

      • NoParty4Me

        Thanks. I forgot the part about Election Day which decides which potential Electors are actually chosen to move forward and vote for the assumed wishes of their party’s victorious voters. I agree with davidmac, perhaps Mr. Vu and the Georgia GOP is getting ahead of themselves and may not actually be chosen to represent a block of votes after all.

  5. Davo65

    Couldn’t happen to a more deserving party. At least this Vu character has the smarts to see where this all eventually leads and is going to bail on your sorry candidate. When Trump does lose (bigtime) does anyone really think he will take any blame for it? Mr. Humility is going to lay it all on the GOP. And anyone who stuck with him til the bitter and hilarious end will never get the stain off em.

    • Dave Bearse

      The election is “rigged”, natch.

  6. xdog

    I wonder where Mr. Vu has been the last few years if he’s only now recognizing goper demagoguery.

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