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The following is transcripted from an interview where an ostensibly cream-of-the-crop GOPer is pressed to explain the legal argument underscoring his claim that Shenna Bellows was in the wrong to remove Trump; from the primary ballot. Needless to say, his entire response was nothing but a dodgy exercise in issue avoidance which, at points, was effectively reduced to "because I said so," "because Gavin Newsom said so,"; "because a bunch of other unnamed people allegedly said so." By the end, it was glaringly apparent Mr. Stetkis was operating on an inferiority complex and no legal substance. I'd say "enjoy" but watching this GOP slow-ball flail uselessly as the trainwreck progressed was just sad. CNN's Boris Sanchez: "If there is part of the Constitution that says, if someone is an insurrectionist, a state can remove them from a ballot, and she is designated to make that decision, according to Maine's constitution, then isn't it up to her?"; Maine GOP Chairman Joel Stetkis: "Her reasoning behind her decision is completely wrong."; Sanchez: "What is the reasoning?"; Stetkis: "No matter how you ask the question, her decision is completely wrong."; Sanchez: "Joel, give us the details. Why is it wrong?"; Stetkis: "So Boris, this is the thing -there are attorneys and judges, Democrats and Republicans across this country that have said she is wrong. Not one time in my life have I ever agreed with Gavin Newsom, the; governor of California, until now. Gavin Newsom also believes the people should have the right to vote—"; Sanchez: "I'm trying to get to the basis of your legal argument, and you are not giving me any details; you are saying that it's flat-out wrong. Why is it wrong, from a legal standpoint? Is it that you think her interpretation; of the amendment is wrong? Is it that you think it doesn't apply to the presidency? It's not a self-executing portion of that amendment? Is there any detail you can give us, other than saying that she is flat-out wrong?"; Stetkis: "One of the things that we have seen in the last week are very highly respected lawyers and judges, Democrats and Republicans alike, that of come out and given plenty of legal argument on why she is; wrong. My job here is to protect the voters in the state of Maine, and what she is doing just shows absolute contempt for the everyday American. They feel like we are not smart enough to think for ourselves, that she; needs to pull somebody off of the ballot, because we are not smart enough to know whether we should vote for that person or not. That is just flat-out wrong."; Sanchez: "I don't think it's a question of intelligence -there is a legal argument to be made. It doesn't seem like you articulated the legal argument and the flaw that you see in her decision. Nevertheless, Joel, we're grateful to have you and get your perspective, thank you so much for being with us."
