Gordon Smith, a former Republican senator and now the president/CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, says it is “decisive” that Joe Biden won the U.S. electoral vote. Smith issued a statement this weekend praising Biden for “his patriotic love for his country and of his good heart for all his countrymen.”
This would normally be considered a fairly routine post-election compliment from a former Senate colleague, but it stands out in the 2020 political climate.
Smith, a Republican, issued his statement even though Trump has not conceded and has issued numerous legal challenges to the Biden win.
In a similar vein, former President George W. Bush on Sunday described the election as “fundamentally fair.”
Smith acknowledged Trump’s rights to judicial review of election results but said, “It is time to acknowledge the election of Joe Biden and to allow him the chance to bind our nation back together.”
Here is the text of Smith’s statement:
“It has been clear for days now that Joe Biden has been on track to win the popular vote in his run for the presidency. It is decisive that today he has surpassed the threshold of 270 electoral college votes. NAB congratulates Joe Biden on becoming president-elect of the United States of America.
“I was privileged to serve beside President-elect Joe Biden during my two terms as a Republican Senator from Oregon. I know Joe. I know his patriotic love for his country and of his good heart for all his countrymen.
“Working together on the Foreign Relations Committee, we routinely bridged the partisan divide to achieve important legislative accomplishments.
“And, during a time of personal tragedy for my family, when we lost our son Garrett, Joe was a source of support and solace. Because he too knew the pain of losing a child, he gave to me a steady, brotherly shoulder to lean on. Joe is a healer, the consoler-in-chief our nation has elected.
“With due respect to President Trump’s rights to judicial review of election results, it is time to acknowledge the election of Joe Biden and to allow him the chance to bind our nation back together.”
He posed a video message for NAB members regarding the elections. He highlighted the large turnout and the role of broadcasters in the process.
