The Founding Fathers were "geniuses," Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) said during a forum on free speech with Concerned Veterans for America on Monday. The South Carolina congressman spoke up to defend the Electoral College just as Donald Trump officially won the 2016 election. Many have been questioning the legitimacy of the Electoral College, considering Hillary Clinton won the popular vote last month. Gowdy, however, rejected the idea that the election process could be interpreted and altered with each new generation.
"Some of my colleagues like the Electoral College, some of them don't," Gowdy said. "It depends on whether or not their gal or guy won. We ought to have a little more commitment to principle than just that."
As for himself, Gowdy said he'd like the Electoral College even if the result had been different because he understands the framers gave it to us for a reason. Yet, some of his colleagues, like Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have petitioned to abolish the process. He wonders if she and other colleagues of the same mind have even looked at a copy of the U.S. Constitution.
"I would just settle for more of my colleagues first of all reading the document, and second of all not confusing it with the Declaration of Independence."
"Our framers were worried about the power of government, which is why they placed these limitations," he explained. "It will work if we will apply it consistently."
