The New York Times published an editorial on Tuesday that is a scathing takedown of Donald Trump's serial lies on the campaign trail. It begins:
The editorial then goes on to draw parallels between some of Trump's statements and those of Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 1950 (Trump rails against Muslims instead of Communists) and Alabama's Gov. George Wallace's 1963 statement: "We can no longer hide our head in the sand and tell ourselves that the ideology of our free fathers is not being attacked and is not being threatened by another idea ... for it is."
The Times editorial concludes:
Politico is reporting that representatives of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CNN held a meeting to discuss problems of covering the Trump campaign, amid complaints that their reporters are being kept away from interviewing people at Trump rallies and are being confined to a "press pen."
"America has just lived through another presidential campaign week dominated by Donald Trump's racist lies. Here’s a partial list of false statements: The United States is about to take in 250,000 Syrian refugees; African-Americans are responsible for most white homicides; and during the 9/11 attacks, 'thousands and thousands' of people in an unnamed 'Arab' community in New Jersey' were cheering as that building was coming down.'
"In the Republican field, Mr. Trump has distinguished himself as fastest to dive to the bottom. If it’s a lie too vile to utter aloud, count on Mr. Trump to say it, often. It wins him airtime, and retweets through the roof.
"This phenomenon is in fact nothing new. Politicians targeting minorities, foreigners or women have always existed in the culture. And every generation or so, at least one demagogue surfaces to fan those flames."
The editorial then goes on to draw parallels between some of Trump's statements and those of Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 1950 (Trump rails against Muslims instead of Communists) and Alabama's Gov. George Wallace's 1963 statement: "We can no longer hide our head in the sand and tell ourselves that the ideology of our free fathers is not being attacked and is not being threatened by another idea ... for it is."
The Times editorial concludes:
"Mr. Trump relies on social media to spread his views. This is convenient because there’s no need to respond to questions about his fabrications. That makes it imperative that other forms of media challenge him. . . .It's about time the mainstream media began serious criticism and fact-checking of this demagogue. I emphasize serious, because thus far Trump has been treated mostly as an entertaining buffoon rather than as the dangerous bigot and rabble-rouser that he is. The television networks are concerned too.
"It’s become a full-time job just running down falsehoods like the phony crime statistics he tweeted, which came from a white supremacist group. Yet Mr. Trump is regularly rewarded with free TV time, where he talks right over anyone challenging him, and doubles down when called out on his lies.
"This isn’t about shutting off Mr. Trump’s bullhorn. His right to spew nonsense is protected by the Constitution, but the public doesn’t need to swallow it. History teaches that failing to hold a demagogue to account is a dangerous act. It’s no easy task for journalists to interrupt Mr. Trump with the facts, but it’s an important one."
Politico is reporting that representatives of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CNN held a meeting to discuss problems of covering the Trump campaign, amid complaints that their reporters are being kept away from interviewing people at Trump rallies and are being confined to a "press pen."
We've waited long enough for Donald Trump to self-destroy, but that shows no sign of happening. His fact-free boasts and simplistic (fantasy) solutions are too appealing to angry conservatives. We can no longer risk his lead becoming entrenched all the way to the ballot boxes next November. It's time for brave journalists to stand up and call him on his bigotry, his lies, and his false promises.
Ralph
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