Civil(ity) War

This week seems as good a week as any to talk about civility, or lack of, in American politics.  Since Trump first began his assault on common decency, we’ve all become used to his childish taunts and outbursts – perhaps the most damning legacy of his Presidency will be that often, we now don’t even raise an eyebrow when the President of the United States resorts to playground insults. 

For context, time for a brief recap of Trump’s high/lowlights. 

During his 2016 campaign, he openly supported a conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the US, and has continued to pander to racists who spread this myth.  He openly mocked a journalist’s disability.  The release of the Hollywood Access tape showed him boasting about sexually assaulting women.  He taunted many women with personal insults about their appearance, continuing a pattern of deeply misogynist behaviour.  He mocked John McCain’s record as an army veteran despite having never served himself.  And he called Mexican immigrants rapists.

Upon reaching the White House, Trump declined to become “Presidential”.  In his first week, he stood in front of the CIA memorial, dedicated to agents killed defending the country, to boast falsely about how many people watched his inauguration.  When white nationalists marched in Charlottesville, killing an anti-racism protester, Trump defended the racists by saying there were “fine people on both sides” of the protest, a position that drew strong praise from David Duke, leader of the Ku Klux Klan.  In a meeting about immigration, Trump referred to African and Central American nations as “shithole countries”, and asked why America wasn’t taking more immigrants from countries like Norway.  And he frequently called the free press “enemies of the people” who hate America.

All of which made it surprising when the White House brought up the issue of the need for more civility in politics earlier this summer.  The reason?  Press Secretary Sarah Sanders was asked to leave a restaurant in Virginia as staff did not feel comfortable serving her.  It might have been advisable for her to accept this quietly, and at least privately acknowledge that if you choose to spend your days spinning for a man with the track record above, you run the risk of bumping into some of the millions of Americans you’ve offended.  But no, she took this as a sign that civility in politics was at an all time low and we all needed to look at ourselves.  Because of this restaurant thing.  Not the racist, women-hating childlike taunts that have defined her boss’s Presidency.  Definitely because of this restaurant thing.

This all plays into Trump’s playbook of false equivalency.  He might have praised white supremacists, but his press secretary missed out on a chicken dinner – both sides are in the wrong, so let’s call it even and move on. 

All of which brings us to Trump’s latest attack on decency.  His former aide, reality star Omarosa Manigault-Newman, who met Trump on “The Apprentice”, launched a media tour promoting her new book.  In the book, entitled “Unhinged” (I see where this is going), she turns on Trump, calling him a racist misogynist who is mentally unfit for office.  Imagine.  Now, for context, Omarosa is well known for being a ridiculous character.  A pantomime villain on The Apprentice, it is hard to take her seriously when attacking a man who she loyally praised during her work for Trump before and after the election.  Her conclusions about Trump were reached my many people long ago, so cue much eye-rolling over her sudden enlightenment that coincided with her new book deal.

But, in this instance, she has captured people’s attention.  Because she has tapes. 

In the early tapes of her conversations in the White House, all that was revealed was the general incompetence of Trump’s operation.  But things took a turn when Omarosa announced that tapes exist of Trump using the N-word whilst filming The Apprentice.  Trump, of course, denied this, and claimed as proof that the show’s producer had called him to say that no tape of him using the word existed (though that in itself is weird – you’d think if he’s never used the word as he claims, he wouldn’t need a third party to reassure him a tape of him using it doesn’t exist.)

When questioned about this the day after at the press briefing, Sarah Sanders broke from tradition and actually told the truth – when asked to guarantee that no tape of Trump using the N-word existed, she said she was unable to do so.  Let that sink in for a minute – a spokesperson for the Leader of the Free World is unable to categorically say that he hasn’t been recorded making racial slurs.  Add that to the list headed “blimey, didn’t think I’d ever see that happen.”

To calm the situation down, Trump took to Twitter, calling Omarosa a dog.  When Sarah Sanders was asked about this (remembering her plea for civility after the restaurant thing), she didn’t see any problem with the President calling an African-American woman a dog.  Of course.

It remains to seen if this tape exists and is released.  Whether it does or doesn’t won’t change Trump’s history of racist words and actions.  There has been much discussion over the potential electoral impact on the midterms of such a tape being released.  Whilst his base repeatedly demonstrates they will never desert Trump whatever he does or says, the issue will be whether Republicans who aren’t MAGA hat wearing devotees will still come out to vote for Republicans in the November elections.  Polling continues to show enthusiasm for the midterms is down amongst Republicans.  If Trump can’t secure a high turn out across his party, it will be impossible for him to keep control of Congress and maybe even the Senate. 

Obviously, the President is unable and/or unwilling to modify his behaviour, so it’s up to traditional Republican voters to ask themselves “how much of this is too much?”  Stay tuned for how they answer.