Not semantics, timing.
If Scotus DQ's Obama before December 15, the electors can vote for someone else.
If Scotus DQ's Obama between December 15 (when the electors vote) and January 9 (it was changed this year), the Obama votes wouldn't be counted.
BTW: Something like 24 States have “Faithless Elector” laws on the books - they provide for punishment of Electors who DO NOT vote for whom they are pledged.
SCOTUS has previously affirmed these laws as Constitutional ...
Really? When and how did SCOTUS affirm the "Faithless Elector" laws?
>>> SCOTUS has previously affirmed these laws as Constitutional ...
Actually, the sidebar on “Faithless Electors” here (http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/electoral-college3.htm) says:
It’s important to note, that although these states have created these laws, a large number of scholars believe that such state-level laws hold no true bearing and would not survive constitutional challenge.