Trump’s Demonization of Others Straight Out of the Authoritarian Playbook
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
If elected, will Donald Trump manipulate democracy and the rule of law to strengthen his power? Will he explicitly use the justice system to take revenge on his “enemies?”
Here’s one hint he gave us: “If I happen to be President and I see somebody who is doing well and beating me very badly, I say ‘go down and indict them.’” Dehumanizing groups of people in the service of preventing feelings of guilt when violence is launched on immigrants, the poor, the LGBTQ community, women, Blacks, Asians or Jews is right out of the authoritarian playbook.
Here’s another of Trump’s hints. “People who are in jail for years – people – I don’t know if you call them people; in some cases, they are not people, in my opinion. These are animals. Okay? And we have to stop it.”
Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican, put it succinctly. “I certainly have policy disagreements with the Biden Administration. I know the nation can survive bad policy. We can’t survive a president who is willing to torch the Constitution.”
I can only add that Trump tried to defy the peaceful transfer of power and stay in office after losing an election that was adjudicated 60 times – all of which ruled no voter fraud.
Never forget January 6, 2021!
Respectfully,
Bonnie Smith
Cortlandt
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