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Does Integrity Really Matter?

Ed Townsend
Posted 7/12/22

Robert Charles is a former litigator in New York and Washington, clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, taught both Government Oversight and Cyberlaw at Harvard University …

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Does Integrity Really Matter?

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Robert Charles is a former litigator in New York and Washington, clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, taught both Government Oversight and Cyberlaw at Harvard University Extension School and is a regular writer and commentator in print and broadcast media.
He wrote an interesting article several years ago titled “Election Integrity Matters.”
Charles started his comments by saying ,“that the title of my writing to some will be obvious, to others apparently less so or perhaps only when it works for an outcome they want.”
“Truth is, election integrity always matters, since the legitimacy of those elected, their right to govern and to exercise coercive power, and our trust in government rests on faith in the vote.”
Charles points out that, “without election integrity, we have nothing...we would not live in a representative republic with a Bill of Rights, due process, equal protection, and constitutional elections.”
“We the people are America’s touchstone, not the government, which is why descriptions of the majority’s will, state by state and nationally, must be accurate,” Charles noted.
“Election integrity is paramount,” Charles pointed out and, “with America’s future on the line and in this cycle a stark choice between prioritizing the Bill of Rights or mitigating it with socialist programs could be our choice,” Charles added.
“When all is done, all arguments do not fly. We live by laws, or we consent to be lawless. Most would prefer fidelity to law. The request for electoral truth is not partisan, flip, inconsequential, or intolerably divisive...except in an imaginary conception of America that cares not for the truth of transparent elections,” Charles pointed out.
This writer and commentator strongly stressed, “to look away from this dilemma is to look away from moral duty. To compromise on electoral integrity, even in tough circumstances, is to compromise our individual integrity and endanger the country.”

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