OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Joy Behar, one of the most controversial co-hosts of ABC’s “The View,” sparked more of the same in a post to the X platform that seemed to suggest she supported using the ‘lawfare’ to keep former President Donald Trump off next year’s presidential ballot.
Behar’s post came in response to one by anti-Trump Republican, one-term Illinois congressman Joe Walsh, who was commenting on the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to boot Trump off that state’s ballot under the “insurrection” clause of the 14th Amendment.
He wrote:
“A take no one will like:
1. I think Trump committed insurrection, but he hasn’t been convicted of insurrection yet. So this doesn’t seem right.
2. Because this “insurrectionist ban” is vague, untested, & may not even apply to the presidency, SCOTUS should & will unanimously (9-0) overrule this decision.
3. What the Colorado Supreme Court just did will strengthen Trump politically.
4. The best and ONLY way to defeat Trump is at the ballot box, not to kick him off the ballot. Defeat him at the ballot box. That’s what’s best for the country.”
Behar’s response appeared to say she is in favor of using lawfare to disqualify Trump rather than support the country’s constitutional and democratic electoral process.
“Joe, the ballot box can’t compete with the third party candidates who will take votes from Joe Biden,” Behar wrote. “And let us not forget the electoral college. The law must defeat him.”
So you’re not a fan of our democratic electoral process.
Got it. Thanks for admitting it.Not that we expect any different from any Democrat elitist these days.
You ppl are the problem. Not Trump.
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) December 29, 2023
Needless to say, Behar’s take drew quite a bit of negative responses.
So you’re not a fan of our democratic electoral process.
Got it. Thanks for admitting it.Not that we expect any different from any Democrat elitist these days.
You ppl are the problem. Not Trump.
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) December 29, 2023
Country music star John Rich wrote: “Another way to say it: ‘We must have the courts take away the citizens ability to vote for whomever they choose because….muh democracy.’
Another way to say it: “We must have the courts take away the citizens ability to vote for whomever they choose because….muh democracy”😆
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) December 22, 2023
Others voiced their criticism of Behar’s take as well.
lol, we must cancel the election to save “democracy”
— Zod (@Riley94510202) December 20, 2023
So….you’re advocating for the legal system to abuse its powers in order to “save democracy” by weaponizing the Constitution in order to prevent a candidate from being fairly elected? pic.twitter.com/AipI0516ff
— Tebow (@MinEffPodcast) December 20, 2023
— mareeo (@ree_reeo) December 21, 2023
— Skeptical Stoic (@StoicSkeptical) December 20, 2023
So you’re saying you want to disenfranchise 1/2 of America?
— Cavalry Doc (@desertveteran) December 20, 2023
I love it when you people expose who you are. You are everything you fear in Trump. Keep posting. It builds the #WalkAway movement. Thanks again. It was people like you that made me dig deeper and see the lies.
— d.lee (@dleez777) December 20, 2023
Late Thursday, reports noted that Secretary of State Shenna Bellows cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which bans from office those who “engaged in insurrection,” to bar Trump from that state’s 2024 ballot, a ruling that will undoubtedly be challenged in court — likely the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, as the Colorado Republican Party appeals the state Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this month that Trump is ineligible for office, the former president will still be on the 2024 primary ballot for certification next week, according to the state’s secretary of state.
“With the appeal filed, Donald Trump will be included as a candidate on Colorado’s 2024 Presidential Primary Ballot when certification occurs on January 5, 2024, unless the US Supreme Court declines to take the case or otherwise affirms the Colorado Supreme Court ruling,” Jena Griswold’s office said in a press release.