The Washington Post warns readers of the clear and present danger of Donald Trump and how he is normalizing bigotry in two strongly worded editorials this Friday.
The Washington Post issued a strong rebuke against Donald Trump and his candidacy in two editorial pieces published this Friday by their Editorial Board, with the first article warning about “the clear and present danger of Donald Trump” and the second about how “Donald Trump is normalizing bigotry.”
The Clear and Present Danger of Donald Trump
The first article begins by telling readers that “this editorial is for you” “IF YOU know that Donald Trump is ignorant, unprepared and bigoted, but you are thinking about voting for him anyway because you doubt he could do much harm.”
After explaining that as president Trump could “unilaterally” alter the face of America as we now know it – and, in turn, could “fundamentally reshape the world,” the Editorial Board warns that:
If he won, chances are Republicans would maintain control of Congress. GOP majorities there would be enthusiastic participants in much of what Mr. Trump would like to do: gutting environmental and workplace regulations, slashing taxes so that the debt skyrockets, appointing Supreme Court justices who oppose a woman’s right to have an abortion. In areas where Republican officeholders such as House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) imagine themselves acting as a brake on Mr. Trump’s worst instincts, skepticism is in order. If these supposed leaders are too craven to oppose Mr. Trump as a candidate, knowing the danger he presents, why should we expect them to stand up to the bully once he was fully empowered?
The Washington Post goes on to pose the following questions: “Could he tear up long-standing international agreements? Round up and expel millions of longtime U.S. residents? Impose giant tariffs? Waterboard terrorist suspects?” Answering their own questions, the Editorial board writes: “Yes, yes, yes and yes — all without so much as an if-you-please to Congress.”
They go on to write that to a “large extent” he could successfully “bar the media from covering him,” and “could … use the government to help his businesses and, as he has threatened, injure those he perceives as enemies.”
The Editorial Board goes on to warn that “it would be reckless not to consider the damage Mr. Trump might wreak. Some of that damage would ensue more from who he is than what he does. His racism and disparagement of women could empower extremists who are now on the margins of American politics, while his lies and conspiracy theories could legitimize discourse that until now has been relegated to the fringe.”
They add that they will be publishing a series of editorials exploring topics “where Mr. Trump has been relatively clear about his intentions — and where presidential powers are mighty,” and conclude by writing that “We hope you will read them before you vote.”
Donald Trump is Normalizing Bigotry
The second editorial in the series was published roughly four-and-a-half hours later, beginning with the warning that “ONE OF the most disturbing aspects of the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump is the legitimization it has provided for extremist discourse.”
“Rhetoric that properly has been taboo in this country for a generation — overt racism, sexism, anti-Antisemitism — has begun to seep back into politics, with Mr. Trump and his closest associates providing cover,” such as articles published by noted conservative website Breitbart, “whose executive chairman is Stephen K. Bannon, Mr. Trump’s campaign chairman.”
The Editorial Board goes on to cite the “telling example” of a Breitbart article that “appeared this week in the form of a personal attack” on Anne Applebaum, “one of The Post‘s most distinguished opinion columnists, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian,” and, as the article “repeatedly and gratuitously pointed out,” Applebaum is “a woman of Jewish origin.”
As The Washington Post explains, the article was “nominally a response to Ms. Applebaum’s writings about populist movements in Europe and their resemblances to the Trump campaign.”
The article, written by “an obscure Polish American writer who has an agreement with the foreign ministry of Poland’s right-wing nationalist government to assist with communications, goes on to accuse Applebaum of “manipulating a shadowy global network of journalists and commentators.”
As The Washington Post continues:
“Hell hath no fury like a Polish, Jewish, American elitist scorned,” proclaimed the Breitbart article. Anyone who doubts the intention of the Polish foreign ministry’s chosen propagandist in using those terms need only read the comments beneath the article, which — uncensored by Breitbart staff — reek with anti-Semitic slurs.
Read More from The Washington Post
The Washington Post Editorial Board has been publishing editorials for several months exploring the dangers posed by a possible Trump presidency. (You can go here for a listing of all their editorials.)
Some of the more recent ones include:
- Donald Trump’s Foundation of Fakery – “The questions about the candidate’s supposed charity keep piling up.”
- One Debater Comforted the World. The Other Frightened It. – “Trump’s ludicrous assertions have serious implications.”
- The First Debate Proved Again that only One of the Candidates is Fit to be President – “Monday’s clash told the story of this year’s presidential race.”
- It’s Beyond Debate that Donald Trump is Unfit to be President – “Monday’s event can’t change the GOP nominee’s lengthy record of unpresidential words and deeds.”
- Trump’s Slimy, Shameless Approach to Philanthropy – “His use of other people’s money to settle personal disputes and buy himself gifts is inexcusable — if not illegal.”
- Trump’s Economic Plan Goes from Worse to Bad – “His latest proposals are still dangerous and impractical.”
- After the weekend’s attacks, Clinton acted like a leader. Trump did not. – “The diverging reactions said a lot about the candidates and their ability to serve as president.”
- Birtherism is Donald Trump’s Big Lie – “He has abandoned the hoax, but the damage has already been done.”
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