Why do Republicans mostly say nothing about Trump’s racism?
For Kurt Bardella, a commentator and former GOP congressional aide, it’s fairly simple. They share Trump’s views.
“Republicans agree with the president’s racist tweets,” he said. “At this point, it’s the only explanation. It’s a pattern of behaviour that the president engages in overtly racist rhetoric.”
Bardella highlighted examples including Trump’s attacks on African American football players who “take a knee” during the anthem to protest racial injustice; his pardoning of Joe Arpaio, a sheriff who discriminated against Latino people in Arizona; his drawing of moral equivalence between protesters and white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia; and his reported description of African nations, Haiti and El Salvador as “shithole countries”.
“On and on we see this president insulting people who aren’t white,” he said. “The Republican party says nothing and they support the president. Not one is willing to challenge him when he blows these racist dog whistles. The only conclusion is they agree with him and his racism.”
Bardella argues Trump is giving voice to sentiments long seething in the party. “The agenda of Republicans has always favoured white people and now for the first time in contemporary times they have a leader who is willing to ascribe words to that agenda.”
While Republicans fear Trump’s base, the truth is “deeper and darker”, Bardella said.
“It’s not that they’re at Trump’s mercy; they agree with him. The Republican party practices racism and white nationalism. It’s not fear; they approve of it.” [Continue reading…]
President Trump on Monday claimed his racist tweets attacking progressive congresswomen weren’t racist, and he added that he’s not concerned about backlash because “many people” hold his same views. [Continue reading…]