How might people of good will regard Republicans who are abandoning Trump?
Many Republicans believed deeply in Donald Trump, and still do, even after the insurrection.
In 2016, Trump made many Republicans uneasy. He was untrustworthy and amoral, and lacked political convictions or qualifications. Republican leaders said so. When they underestimated the danger, and failed to unite against him, he became their nominee. A few Republicans chose to retain their independence; but most Republican leaders fell silent about Trump’s defects, held their noses, and supported him. Their reasons (including ambition, money, and hopes he could implement policies they liked) outweighed truth, honesty, or even maintaining democracy. Some Trump associates and appointees figured they could improve or control him.
Trying to bend the law and the Constitution like pretzels to overrule voters is about as bad as it gets. Trump’s phone calls demanding that Georgia officials find him more votes were indictable crimes. Then he tried to pressure Republican Congressfolk to toss out the election results, and upped the pressure by inciting an angry mob to go threaten them. Even had the mob stayed lawful, this is not how any president should act – or ever has.
Many Republicans say: “He’s our guy, and we’re not finished. Look out, Joe!” People who were once patriots may violently attack the Inauguration of our elected president.
Others concede the violence was wrong, but say Trump isn’t responsible because he didn’t say, “Sack the Capitol!” and that he’s right about election fraud.
Some say Trump was wrong and should be punished (or removed under Amendment 25), adding, “I never signed up for this!” Even some who work with him say, “We miscalculated. He really is a fascist.”
Repeating Trump’s wacky election lies (rejected by courts, state legislatures, and even Trump’s advisors) helps convince folks that anything they do against the government that cheated them is justified.
Meanwhile, for cynical politician McConnell, impeachment could conveniently eliminate the party’s Trump problem.
It’s easy to feel superior, listening to Republicans confess error and appreciating their distancing themselves from Donald, while remembering how long it took them.
It’s harder, but important, to question ourselves. Suppose a charismatic conman arose on the left, greedy and dangerously unstable, but promising he could reverse our horrible economic inequality, confront global warming, ensure health care for everyone, and talk Congress into a reasonable immigration policy. These are goals I’ve long wished politicians would get serious about.
How much would I risk misrule or look away while he removed bricks from the foundation of our democracy to get us on the right track toward solving such issues? Would I stay silent when he curtailed the freedoms of folks I think spout nonsense, if he was cutting down on poverty and injustice?
Doesn’t that undermine my righteous indignation at nonviolent Republicans who collaborated with Trump?
But talking with Trumpists is frustrating. Their belief in election fraud survives no matter what. So does their faith that although identifiable Trumpists are on video and have been arrested, antifa infiltrators damaged the Capitol. Forced to face the ugliness of 6 January, they toss a “Hail Mary” by proclaiming that during some largely peaceful protests against racism, protesters destroyed buildings too.
I’d prefer a thoughtful exchange of ideas and evidence, open to the possibility we might each learn something. Political discourse ain’t a football game. If we treat it as one, we all lose.
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[The above column appeared this morning, Sunday, 17 January 2021, in the Las Cruces Sun-News, as well as on the newspaper's website and KRWG’s website. A related radio commentary will air during the week on KRWG (90.7) and KTAL-LP. (101.5 – http://www.lccommunityradio.org/), and will be available on demand on KRWG’s site.]
[What
we saw 6Jan was vicious, unprecedented, and dangerous. Why it was
permitted is under investigation. Donald Trump and some
Congressional Republicans helped make it happen, at least with their
words. Whether or not a couple of them also helped with
“reconnaisance” is under investigation. Some of the participants
meant to harm or even kill the nation’s elected leaders. A repeat,
perhaps with actual shooting of Congressfolk, would create dangerous
chaos in the government, intimidate elected leaders from doing their
jobs, and symbolize the weakness Donald Trump helped create in our
nation, although he is far from the only contributor to it.
©2020 Peter Goodman
So
how can I not condemn in strong words any Republican who hesitates at
all to see and say that the sacking of the Capitol was wrong and
unpatriotic, that Mr. Trump and his allies encouraged it, that it was
what it seemed (not violence by “Antifa infiltrators” who don’t
show up on the video somehow), and that no part of entering the
Capitol damaging thngs and shouting for the heads of elected leaders
is okay?
©2020 Peter Goodman
I
suppose because we still have to talk to each other, if we are to
find a way out and strengthen the nation again by solving some of the
partisanship. Because although I lunched last week (outdoors) with a
staunch Republican who is appalled by Mr. Trump and the 6Jan events,
I have also talked, by phone, Facebook, and radio interviews, with
people who say the violence was wrong but offer numerous excuses and
qualifications. They –
and presumably many “Q-Anon” followers –
honestly believe, as firmly and probably more deeply, a lot of things
that seem to be contradicted by the available evidence. If we cannot
talk with each other, we are in deep shit.
©2020 Peter Goodman
That’s
not to excuse racism and ethnic hatred, or willful stupidity.
However, these folk ain’t going away. Many are, in nonpolitical
aspects of their lives, good people. Yeah, I think much of what they
believe they’ve been conned into believing, for reasons we, and
ultimately they, need to understand. And they likely think the same
of me.]
©2020 Peter Goodman
Mr. Trump, and have refused even now to see the serious and dangerous problems he presents for the nation. (Surveys suggest that the former, “traditional Republicans,” are upwards of 50% of the party’s members, and the Trumpists a very loud one-quarter.) I do distinguish between them. I’m also a lot more sympathetic to individuals, not in leadership positions, than to the successful politicians who so visibly calculate what helps their stature and power and make decisions that may, mostly by happenstance, also be good for the people. ]
[I do wonder if we’ll eventually learn that Q-Anon is getting funds from some nation unfriendly to the U.S. Sure would be a brilliant move for ‘em!]
[This column assumes a negative answer to a relevant question: if, as I do, one believes that an economic system fairer to the little guy, a law-enforcement system better for Blacks, cops, and all of us, and universal health care are very important goals, along with mitigating the horror global warming will visit on our grandkids and even on some of us, are urgent and achievable, why not (in the hypothetical situation given) give up some democracy to accomplish those? In a later column, though, I should tackle that one.]
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