How? The Democrats challenged in 2000. I do not recall them being called traitor
Here's how it played out in Jan 2001
"Although Gore appeared to have accepted his fate, Democratic members of the Congressional Black Caucus tried repeatedly to challenge the assignment of Florida's 25 electoral votes to Bush.
"I must object because of the overwhelming evidence of official misconduct" in his state, said Rep.
Alcee L. Hastings, a Florida Democrat, before he was shouted down by
Republicans yelling, "Point of order! Point of order!"
More than a dozen
Democrats followed suit, seeking to force a debate on the validity of Florida's vote on the grounds that all votes may not have been counted and that some voters were wrongly denied the right to vote.
Republicans objected, saying debate was not allowed during the session.
But it was Gore, in his role as president of the Senate, who repeatedly stopped the Democrats' efforts, banging his gavel to interrupt his supporters. And as Gore politely knocked down one Democratic objection after another, the mood turned almost farcical.
"The chair thanks the gentleman from Illinois. But, hey," Gore told Illinois Rep.
Jesse L. Jackson Jr., signaling that there was nothing left that could be done to reverse the closest presidential election in the nation's history. Democrats and Republicans chuckled.
Gore said the protesting Democrats - who included several who are not Black Caucus members - could not challenge the Florida count unless they presented a written objection signed by at least one member each from the House and Senate.
Defying the exasperated hoots of their Republican colleagues, the 15 Democrats slipped in arguments about the Florida election process before they were forced to acknowledge that they had not persuaded a senator to sign onto the objection.
"The objection is in writing, and I don't care that it is not signed by a senator," said angry Rep.
Maxine Waters, a California Democrat.
"
The chair would advise that the rules do care," Gore replied.
WASHINGTON – Closing the book on the tumultuous 2000 election, a good-natured Vice President Al Gore methodically blocked his supporters’ attempts yesterday to prolong the drama and proclaimed George W. Bush the nation’s…
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