DEMOCRATS: Trump's your fault

To ensure our freedoms and protect our civil rights, Americans must maintain a legitimate and democratically elected government that is responsive and accountable to its citizens. And it is through our free and fair election process that we ensure that legitimacy and promote peaceful, democratic political transformations.

Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile’s new tell-all book has shaken Washington, D.C., and the Democratic Party with its accusations that Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign team took control of the DNC and rigged the nomination process to ensure Bernie Sanders would have no chance of becoming the party’s 2016 presidential candidate.

Across lines of division regarding race, religion, and political policies, one thing all Americans have in common is the disdain for dishonesty. Sanders’ supporters were bitter about how support from the DNC appeared tilted in Clinton’s favor and — according to data from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, and as reported by NPR — fully 12 percent of Sanders’ supporters consequently switched over and voted for Donald Trump in the general election — enough voters, perhaps, to sway the outcome of the election.

Congress, the FBI, and a special prosecutor are currently investigating whether Russians interfered with our 2016 election process — and rightly so. But Donna Brazile’s accusations are that Democrats interfered with our election process and it appears likely their interference determined the election outcome.

Russians? Maybe. But it was more likely Democrat dishonesty that carried Trump across the finish line – a winner!

CRAIG L. JACOBSON

Idaho Falls