For a long while, when Democrats have MAGOP officials testifying at Congressional hearings, they often ask them the same, simple, damning question - "Who won the 2020 election?" And each time, the reply from the MAGOP officials is the same - "Joe Biden was certified president." The answer is embarrassing, of course, and the question keeps getting repeated, exacerbating the problem for the MAGOP official.
Embarrassing and damning and proper as the question is, it occurred to me - after hearing the same and same pathetic answer -- that it's the wrong question. Yes, it will always be embarrassing, damning and proper - but it won't get a different answer. And I think there's a way to ask a question that's just as proper…but even more embarrassing and damning, I think.
It's a process how I got to this point in stages. It first occurred to me while watching the questioning of Trump’s nominee to be Director of National Intentional, Jay Clayton. He got the same question they all get, and gave the same answer. And what popped into mind at the time was that the questioning should have gone this way:
"Mr. Clayton, if confirmed as DNI, will you give open and completely honest information to president Trump, regardless of if it's what he wants to hear?
He will have to say, "I will," because if he didn't, then even MAGOPs on the committee would be so aghast that they wouldn't vote for him.
"I expected nothing less. Thank you. And if confirmed, when you are called to testify before Congress, as you will be from time to time, will you give open and completely honest information to the committees?"
And again, he will have to say, "Of course, I will."
"Excellent. So, then, let's try this again. Who won the 2016 election?"
It is likely that Jay Clayton would still have given his same "Joe Biden was certified" answer. But I suspect it would have come after a longer pause and a congealing of his body, and the response would be far more embarrassing and damning than before. And would give an opening to the member of Congress asking to not just slam him for being disingenuous and cowardly, but for having just been deceitful under oath. And showing in public why he couldn't be trusted to give an open and honest answer to Trump, let alone to Congress. A disaster for a Director of National Intelligence.
And having thought of that exchange, that's when I realized the question of who won the 2020 election was the wrong one to ask any MAGOP official who comes to testify at a Congressional hearing. And what the much better question was. And that is -
"Who lost the 2020 election?"
There are only three possible answers.
One is "Trump," but we know none will say that.
The second is "Joe Biden," but it's improbable that any will say that either. Because their argument all along to weasel out of answering what they know the truth is has been that there were irregularities and therefore that are questions and uncertainties. And besides, they're under oath.
And the third possible answer is - "I don't know." And that's likely the response most MAGOPs will give, since they can go into their song-and-dance about "irregularities, questions and uncertainties."
Which is when the critical follow-up question comes in.
"So, you don't know who lost the 2020 election. Because you say there are uncertainties. Okay, then, I have a follow-up question. Since you don't know who lost and have uncertainties…is it therefore possible that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election?"
They can't say it's not possible, because they just said they didn't know. Saying it's not possible means they do know who won. The thing is, they all do know that Joe Biden won, but can't say that. And they never say that Trump won, because they're under oath. So, they can't say it's not even possible that Trump lost.
But they can't say it's possible that Trump lost, since they know what will happen to them. They'll either get fired or have their nomination pulled.
So, they're damned if they do, and damned if they don't.
I think some might take a deep swallow and say "It's possible, but…but…but, er…" But the rest - if I had to guess -- would hem, haw, gulp, start, stop, and ultimately say it's an unfair question and one they can't answer, and repeat "I don't know."
Which will bring the response from the member of Congress asking, "In other words, yes, it is possible. Because that's the whole point of 'I don't know'. Isn't it?"
And I think it will be the most embarrassing and damning an exchange as a question about the 2020 election result can get. Far more than "Joe Biden was certified." And it even might actually get a rare, "It's possible Donald Trump lost, but…but…but…"
And more than all this is just the question itself. Because if there's one thing Trump hates even more than acknowledging that Joe Biden was the 2020 election, it's him even considering the concept that he lost, not just the election, but anything.
