By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | Like many, I deplore politically inspired violence. There is no acceptable excuse for it. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump should upset all Americans.
But the extremist verbiage coming from the MAGA movement has helped to promote and exacerbate the divisions in our nation, driving us into silos and creating an atmosphere of hatred towards the other side.
Free speech is a key tenet of American freedom. And that includes free speech by divisive figures like Trump. However, we should also understand how a presidential candidate can create an atmosphere in which violence seems normal. Trump himself has helped create this situation via his constant advocacy of violence. Here are just a few examples in Trump’s own words:
- “How’s her husband doing by the way? … (the attacker didn’t do a) good job.” Trump was sarcastically referring to the attack on Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s husband, which he never condemned.
- “This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH.” Trump was referencing General Mark Milley’s correspondence with Chinese military leaders, designed to reassure them that our democracy was stable.
- To appeal to the far right after the Charlottesville, Va., extremist rally, Trump said that there were “good people on both sides.” He has made a habit of putting forth such false equivalencies to help his political fortunes. He never acknowledged that one side was white supremacists and antisemites, whereas the other was simply protesting bigotry.
- When asked during the 2020 Presidential debate to condemn the far-right violence, he contentiously stated “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.”
- Finally, who can forget Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech to his supporters (including neo-Nazis, white supremacists and extremist groups like the Oath Keepers, the Proud Boys, Three Percenters). “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” As he instructed them, these same supporters subsequently marched on the Capitol. Screaming “Hang Mike Pence”, these insurrectionists assaulted law enforcement officers. Nearly 200 people were injured with five killed. And close to 1,500 Trump supporters have been charged, with many already tried and sentenced.
I am not surprised that the attack occurred. We have become divided into warring tribes, right and left, in large part due to the former [resident. However, nothing can justify anyone shooting Trump.
Trump’s popularity will significantly increase because of this shooting, and his base becomes highly motivated. The sloppy assassination attempt may help re-elect Trump, a budding dictator on “day one.”
However, with Kamala Harris (the obvious choice) running rather than Biden, moderate and independent voters may finally wake up to the very real threat that Trump poses to our democracy. Further, I believe that the nomination of a black woman will ensure that the Democratic base turns out in record numbers. I am much more optimistic than I was before Joe Biden stepped down.
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