WaPo Greg Sargent: Trump's GOP defenders cannot be shamed. It's time to try this instead

[steve2470]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/22/trumps-gop-defenders-cannot-be-shamed-its-time-democrats-try-this-instead/

It’s time to drop the posture that Trump’s defenders can be shamed into accepting what has been unearthed, or that they can be shamed into arguing from a baseline of shared democratic values, or into arguing over how to interpret a comprehensive set of shared facts.

Instead, let’s rhetorically treat Trump’s defenders as his criminal accomplices. Not just as “enablers” of Trump’s corruption but as active participants in it.

Once this is accepted, it becomes obvious why they can’t be “won over,” because they are actively engaged in keeping the corruption in question from getting fully uncovered, in the belief that they, too, benefit from it, and that they, too, lose out if it’s exposed.

The notion that Trump’s defenders can be shamed into facing up to what has happened here is all-pervasive. It includes the have-you-no-shame lectures delivered to Republicans who smeared Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman for supposed dual-loyalties.

[lagomorph777]

1. True; clearly they have no shame. But pointing out their misdeeds is a message to voters.

Vote Russiapublican, and you are dooming your kids to life under a Russian puppet dictatorship.

[CrispyQ]

2. The GOP is this close to changing our government without changing the Constitution.

They have gerrymandered districts, disenfranchised groups of voters, stacked the courts in their favor, & corrupted the electoral process with money & black box voting. They have been playing the long game & are not about to give up now. They will do anything to keep the power they have stolen. They will do anything to skew our representative government so it continues to represent (mostly) rich, white men.

As for their supporters, they've been conned, but they are still blaming the libs cuz Rush & Hannity tell them to. I have rwnj in my family & there is no talking to them. They are a cult.

Ignoring hate radio was the stupidest thing the dems ever did.

[world wide wally]

3. "But ain't that America"?

[Mr.Bill]

4. I like to

point at them and laugh hysterically. Never let them think you are pissed of. Pissing you off is their mission in life.

[louis-t]

7. That is the only response that works.

Point and laugh. It is what I do. It's all they deserve. Point and laugh. You might say "You got conned" or "You fell for it". Point and laugh.

[Texin]

8. What do your mean that it "works"? So far it's not working at all. Nothing does.

They cannot be shamed. Full stop. Not about anything. You could call each and every one of them a criminal coconspirator to their fucking faces and they'd just shrug.

[Beartracks]

10. Ikr? They're very self-righteously confident. n/t

[Eyeball_Kid]

5. GOPer defenders aren't only accomplices,

they are Putin's defenders.

They are aligned with Russia against the United States, just as Trumpy is.

We should not care whether or not they are unwitting accomplices. They are all adults and they all are accountable for their actions.

They have been psychologically massaged by Putin's intelligence services. They have all rubbed elbows with Russian spies. They've received money from Russian oligarchs, controlled by Putin. Trumpy has led all of them into Putin's arms.

[KPN]

6. You're just figuring that out now Greg Sargent?!

I suppose there is merit in the media coming out and voicing that finally -- if only more would follow suit.

[TomCADem]

9. K&R

Nt

[elleng]

11. 'let's rhetorically treat Trump's defenders as his criminal accomplices.'