In the wake of Trump’s demagogic displays, I thought it
would be instructive, ironic, and as I discovered, somewhat disheartening, to
read Barack Obama’s inaugural speech when he first took office. Such idealism, only to be ambushed by a
political party which, as evidenced by their new standard bearer, Donald Trump,
would prefer that America be frozen in a snow globe or a Norman Rockwell
painting.
From the onset of Obama’s presidency he was challenged by
the Republican base and this morphed into a stone wall of opposition, no matter
what the consequences were to this nation.
It was an invitation to disrespect the mere office of the Presidency, perhaps
even because it was now occupied by a man of color who said in his inaugural
speech: “This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed --why men and women
and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this
magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might
not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a
most sacred oath.”
Is it any wonder that an ego-maniacal mass-media
caricature of a presidential candidate should rise like a Phoenix from the
ashes his own party created?
“Let’s make America Great Again?” By alienating, or, worse, eliminating by
deportation or excluding with walls -- physical as well as immigration
blockades -- minorities he declares unsuitable? I thought that was appalling enough until his
now well-publicized comments about District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, whose parents
are from Mexico, accusing the Judge of having a conflict of interest as he
considers lawsuits against Trump “University.”
Instead of recognizing that this is a serious transgression of the
separation of powers, and an act of racism, Trump turned the table on
the press, suggesting that reporters who ask about the matter are the racists
by merely asking the question – yet another attack on the fourth estate.
Trump’s world view is there are only winners (him) and
losers (anyone he chooses to call as such).
He doesn’t want to appear to be weak, and therefore be “kicked off the
island.” No, to show his “strength” he
even suggested that if he becomes President he’ll pursue a civil case against
the judge, the argument being that his Mexican heritage is an "inherent
conflict of interest." Ironic, how many presidents have been schooled in
law and now we have a candidate who uses his wealth to routinely litigate or
threaten to litigate to bully things his way. We all know how preposterous his litigation
threat is and he may think as President he might be able to manipulate the
separation of constitutional powers. He’s
already said “I consult myself on foreign policy, because I have a very good
brain.” So who needs advisers, and for
that matter Congress, the Judiciary, and the Press?
It is a severely flawed personality trait, one that does
not belong in the Office of the President.
It is a form of blame shifting, even paranoia. Weakness is a trait of a “loser;” thus he
must appear powerful by blaming others or circumstance. “All I’m trying to do
is figure out why I’m being treated so unfairly by a judge,” he said on Fox
News. About his refusal to release his
tax returns: "I have friends that are very rich….They've never been
audited." He’s a victim!
This is seriously scary stuff. During my publishing career I reprinted Gustav
Gilbert’s Psychology of Dictatorship in
which he said “throughout history social movements of far-reaching consequences
have been decisively influenced by leaders, and that the behavior of such
leaders is necessarily motivated to some extent by psychological tensions
rooted in their individual character development. We must further recognize the fact that the
personalities of political leaders, like all human beings, are largely the
products of their cultural mores and social tensions, and that they become
leaders only if they effectively express the aspirations (or frustrations) of
significant segments of their contemporary society.” Although these words apply
to all kinds of societies, they were particularly aimed at those that gave rise
to dictators, narcissists who tap into a discordant societal vein.
Contrast Trump’s call for denying any Muslim immigration to
what Obama said when inaugurated: “To the Muslim world, we seek a new way
forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around
the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West
--know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you
destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the
silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that
we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Perhaps overly idealized, but some of these
words could be directed to Trump himself: know
that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To
those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of
dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.
