Trump rolls out unconstitutional plan to delay census until racist question is approved
Since his first day in the Oval Office, Donald Trump has treated the Constitution as little more than an annoyance, something to be invoked when he wants to appear patriotic and something to be completely ignored when it stands in the way of his authoritarian, plutocratic agenda. The man’s loyalties extend only as far his own ego, democracy be damned.
After the Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census earlier today by stating that the administration didn’t explain its rationale for adding it well enough and that the lower courts must consider the proposal further, the president took to Twitter to float the inarguably unconstitutional idea of delaying the census.
Trump framed the court’s ruling as “totally ridiculous” as if his desire to add a citizenship question is a totally reasonable ask. In reality, it’s nothing more than a scheme to skew the census numbers to distort the actual population of certain areas and give Republican politicians a manufactured advantage. It also serves the double purpose of throwing red meat to the large xenophobic and racist wing of Trump’s base.
Trump tweeted that he has asked his lawyers if it’s possible to delay the census “no matter how long,” an incredibly illegal act given the fact that the Constitution clearly demands the census be held every ten years. It’s not within the president’s power to overrule this statue on a whim. Trump went on to insist that the Supreme Court needs “additional information” to make a “final and decisive decision” which really just means he wants to delay the population count until he can convince the judges to side with him. This administration has no legitimate reason for adding a citizen question and pushing back the census would give them time to concoct a false rationale that might sway the justices.
Once again, we find this odious man attempting to circumvent the law when faced with a decision or blockade to his plots that he doesn’t like. He’s unable to accept defeat and prefers instead to simply plow ahead, regardless of the damage he does to our Republic. It’s moments like this that make one stop and seriously consider what will happen if he loses the 2020 election. Will he peacefully cede power? Or if he does win in 2020 — a nigh unthinkable travesty — is there a chance he will pursue a third term, as he’s hinted at in the past? The mere fact that we have to consider these eventualities is proof enough that this man is unfit for office. Impeachment proceedings must begin.
Seems totally ridiculous that our government, and indeed Country, cannot ask a basic question of Citizenship in a very expensive, detailed and important Census, in this case for 2020. I have asked the lawyers if they can delay the Census, no matter how long, until the…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019
…..United States Supreme Court is given additional information from which it can make a final and decisive decision on this very critical matter. Can anyone really believe that as a great Country, we are not able the ask whether or not someone is a Citizen. Only in America!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019
