What to do about Donald Trump - part 1
President Donald Trump invited supporters to gather in Washington on January 6, 2021, prior to Congress counting the Electoral College’s votes. Trump encouraged the crowd to walk to Capitol Hill where they should protest because the election results were “an egregious assault” on American democracy. He said, in part, “We are going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and we are probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them – because you will never take back our country with weakness.”
Trump’s son, Donald Jr. (“We’re coming for you”), and Trump’s
personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani (“trial by combat”), who both spoke before the
President did, were more explicit in suggesting violence.
How should the preponderance of US citizens who found the actions
of the mob that invaded Capitol Hill and temporarily disrupted the certifying
of the Electoral College results shocking, abhorrent and reprehensible?
First, outrage, excessive passion and exaggeration are
unhelpful. Responding with too much emotion suggests that the mob posed an
existential threat to US democracy, which is far from correct. Inflammatory language
such as “sedition” and “insurrection” connote a level of organization,
preparation and scale that were absent. The event was domestic terrorism not
revolution. Authorities ended the attack quickly and Congress speedily resumed
its work.
Second, persevere in efforts to end racism. Authorities’
response demonstrated the persistence of white privilege: Their response was
more measured and less violent against the largely White mob than that of the
authorities who responded to many Black Lives Matter demonstrations. The more
measured response may reflect better training (this is very good). However, the
more measured response to some degree also reflects a deep-set cultural bias
that Blacks tend to be more violent than Whites, a bias suggested in photos that
show police acting in ways that imply support for the mob or at least for its
aims.
Third, truth – as much as we can know it - matters. Demand
that politicians and others who make public allegations support their claims
with facts. If hundreds of thousands vote illegally, where is the proof? Where
are specific examples? Everyone occasionally misstates a position, incorrectly
cites a supposed fact, etc. Honest people acknowledge their errors. Good
citizens insist upon honest politicians and government, graciously forgiving
those who forthrightly admit error. Dishonesty rapidly erodes trust. Lying disrespects
others. Without trust and mutual respect neither democracy nor good government
is possible.
Truth matters. Donald Trump is a loser. He lost the 2020
election. Donald Trump is a liar. On thousands of occasions, he communicated
falsehoods with the intent to deceive. Donald Trump is self-serving. His
presidential administration repeatedly acted in ways to benefit him; he
demanded loyalty to him and not the Constitution, firing individuals who
prioritized loyalty to the Constitution.
Part 2 of this post explores what legal actions, if any,
should the government take with respect to President Donald Trump.
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