Charles P Pierce: Anyone who supports Donald Trump is a traitor to the American idea

[kpete]

This Isn't Funny Anymore. American Democracy Is at Stake.
Anyone who supports Donald Trump is a traitor to the American idea.


CLEVELAND, OHIO—A while back, we here at the shebeen decided that Donald J. Trump's act was no longer funny. That he no longer was a goofy guy with three wives and a ferret on his head, a freak candidate who devoured an incredible passel of unpopular lightweights on his way to a freak nomination. That he was more than just a vessel for the barely camouflaged rage and fear of an aging white American majority terrified of so many barbarians at so many gates. But not until Wednesday did we realize the true magnitude of the threat that this reckless clown poses to American democracy. Not until Wednesday did we hear clearly the echoes of shiny black boots on German cobblestones.

On Wednesday, in several venues, He, Trump accused "some people"—he never said who they were, nor will he, ever—of calling for a moment of silence for Micah Johnson, the mass murderer of police in Dallas, Texas. We have had some experience with this. Back when he was still considered something of a sideshow attraction, He, Trump said that he's "seen" Muslim-Americans in New Jersey celebrating as the World Trade Center towers burned on September 11, 2001. He never said who they were, nor will he, ever. But at least there was a level of detail to the lie. There is in fact a state called New Jersey. There are in fact Muslim-Americans living there. And the attacks of 9/11 did in fact happen.

.............


Nobody can find anyone who called for a moment of silence. Nobody can list the 11 cities. On Wednesday, Sam Clovis, a fringe character from Iowa who has been elevated to co-chairman of He, Trump's campaign, was put on a spit by CNN's Chris Cuomo and turned, slowly, over an open flame. Via Tiger Beat On The Potomac:

Cuomo preceded his line of questioning by remarking that Trump's claim was similar to one he made months ago when he said he had seen seen Muslims celebrating in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Cuomo asked Clovis whether he could elucidate what Trump was referring to Tuesday night in Westfield, Indiana. "But calling for a moment of silence?" Cuomo said. "Well, it depends on the context, I guess, Chris," Clovis responded. "And frankly, I've had my nose buried in other issues. I'm not dodging your question." Cuomo was not buying it. "Sam, you're dodging it. You're dodging it. You're doing it artfully, but you're dodging it," the anchor remarked, as Clovis denied that he was doing so. "Context, my eye. Either you've seen they were calling for a moment of silence or you haven't."

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a46695/donald-trump-candidacy-american-democracy/