It's Not The Racism imo...

[BadGimp]

It's not the Racism IMO that represents the greatest real-time threat to Democracy, it's the attempt by the sitting POTUS to silence his political critics, his perceived and real enemies.

The racism is real (to be sure) but I think it is for Trump a dog whistle to get his base to ignore the people that he is most afraid of. The message is clear "do not pay attention to these people".

Personally, I do not believe Trump can convince "many" people to become racists. He can, has and does activate existing racism in people, but there is little he can do with that which would not end up causing others to turn on him.

While he may not succeed in or even be attempting to create a significant new racial divide, he has already succeded in causing a lot of people to tune out the voices of the people most involved in protecting Democracy, and that IMO is the greatest threat his behavior represents.

Try to imagine how he would be forced to go after his opponents if he did not use the race card. Imagine if he was forced to attack his critics and opponents on the issues, or God forbid the facts. He'd likely get his ass handed to him.

If he gets away with this then Democracy it'self is in peril.

I predict we will seem more and more of this. The deafening silence of the GOP is an
important tell.

[guillaumeb]

1. Trump uses "reality politics" very well.

He is the political equivalent of a shock jock. And the US corporate media loves to cover Trump's telegenic tirades rather than real issues.

[wasupaloopa]

2. Racism is learned. We are not born racists. trump could be teaching racism to people.

[peggysue2]

3. Sorry, but it is the racism

Because it's all about scapegoating for political purposes. Create the enemy, the reason you're not getting your fair share of the national goodie bag. Reduce that segment of the population (black, brown, immigrant) to subhuman status. If only we could rid ourselves of the unwanted, unwashed, the country would feel like America again. White Christian America. Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver America.

This is not a new playbook. It's been run by numerous demagogue/tryants of the past. You always blame the other for the country's ills because to do otherwise would require something on the order of self-reflection from the public. And you certainly don't want that, the public blinking awake, thinking for themselves. Or horrors upon horrors, developing a renewed conscience or sense of decency.

Racism and tribal resentments are the trigger. Get your supporters on the same page, whip them into a frenzy, and then anything is possible.

Nightmares can come true.

And if we as a people fall into dead silence? Then we know the end is near. Because the sound of silence is absolute complicity.

Btw, the dogwhistle is so yesterday. We're into bullhorns now.

[BadGimp]

4. I was not suggesting that what he has done is not Racism...

I was focused on what I perceive as the biggest threat to Democracy.

[peggysue2]

5. My point is turning citizen against citizen . . .

is by far the biggest danger. Once you fracture the country along racial/ethnic/religious lines, anything is possible.

We've seen this picture show before. It's never pretty, always calamitous.

[JI7]

6. it is racism because that's why they are ok with what he does

they are ok with Russia attacking our elections becsuse it helped a racist against the party with the black president .

[HipChick]

7. Exactly...It's the racism...minimizing it

Plays into their hands...

[pwb]

8. Bullying???

.