This is Donald J. Trump’s last campaign in which his name will appear on the ballot. Those voters who have supported him but disagree with his techniques (and there are many) need to maintain a distance if he wins a second term—an unshakable distance.
An intense opposition has developed during Trump’s first term. Predictably it is made up of those who identify as Democrats. But there is a layer who opposes him not so much on policy, but leadership style. At some level, leadership style is policy, not just tactics.
Over a lifetime of watching, often close up, politics and politicians, I have become increasingly allergic to categorization. To me, being a Never-Trumper would have required dissent from all that he has done. Most recently, I agreed with his choice of Amy Coney Barrett to join the Supreme Court.
But I adamantly disagree with his exclusionary, self-obsessed political tactics. He is corrupting democracy—his tactics are policy. Every norm is somehow illegitimate if he finds it an obstacle to his adoration. Here is a too-short summary:
- Free speech is fake if it doesn’t conform to his views or actions.
- Opponents, by the mere fact of criticism, are corrupt or mentally disabled.
- Institutions, for example, health agencies like the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or National Institutes of Health (NIH), are burdened by incompetent bureaucrats when their views don’t comport with his.
- Election rules that are regarded as opening doors to unfriendly voters are likewise corrupt.
I could go on; the list of bad faith institutions and actions in Trump’s telling seems infinite.
America, indeed democracy, requires some level of trust. We don’t have hundreds of thousands of secret police because most Americans go along with government rules and await the next election or go to the courts in an effort to overturn them.
To give muscle to trust, we have checks and balances; they are called States, the press, elections, and courts. Every President finds himself checked by Governors with different points of view. Every President is two years from Congressional elections that often turn on how the voters perceive the quality of Presidential leadership.
In China, or Russia, or Iran, incumbent rulers do everything necessary to quash dissent. You trust the government or keep quiet. You parrot the state-directed media or keep quiet. If an order comes down requiring you to stay in your house during a pandemic, you stay in your house or go to jail.
America’s protected freedoms preclude the kind of authoritarianism we claim to abhor. But, freedom’s protectors must be credible, or trust breaks down. When the President either wittingly or unwittingly undermines the Center for Disease Control, public health is compromised. When the President excoriates election rules, he takes on the constitution, which gives State authority over election procedures. And with elections on our mind, he says to his followers, “if I don’t win, it will be because the election is stolen.” Election integrity is the lifeblood of a healthy democracy.
If the President wins another term, his thoughtful supporters should draw lines and take action. They should help protect American freedoms from careless and self-serving demonization. Laughing it off with that is just “Trump being Trump” will not do. We all have a stake in our freedoms. Criticizing opponents is the lingua franca of politics, but when demonizing America’s basic structures becomes the default choice, countervailing actions are essential.
Clayton Fisher says
Mr Sikes presumes that enough of his followers are thoughtful and that if so he will stay within their lines. I pray we do not have to find out.
James Brennan says
There is a lot of good information in your article, but a coupe of facts are missing that voters need to consider as the election looms. Mr. Trump is not a politician (just ask him). He is a citizen who inherited a very large fortune and later filed for bankruptcy at least four times. He is in debt without collateral for hundreds of millions of dollars to unknown persons, and it appears he will soon be prosecuted for a number of financial crimes relating to non payment of New York State and U.S. Federal taxes on personal income. I think these facts also bear heavily on whether the electorate should judge him “trustworthy”.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mr. Sikes, Real quick, this morning I saw and heard Rep. James Clyburn(number 3 in the house) state that the only way Joe Biden can lose is if the Republicans cheat and steal the election. Surely there is no need to remind you that Rep. Clyburn is held in VERY high regard. Saw him this morning. In the last three weeks, I have heard Joe himself say Trump will cheat, suppress voting, he may even have mentioned instituting a poll tax by those rascally republicans.
With regard to our other esteemed institutions ( the free press), CNN,MSNBC, NBC etc. Hurl phony allegations and pure fiction against Trump every day. Russian collusion, baseless impeachment, financial wrongdoing, the Steel dossier including the russian peeing incident, on and on. The left wing bias and omission of anything positive about Trump is nothing less than scandalous.
You did have some balance in your piece. thanks.
Bob Parker says
While there is much with which to agree in the column by Mr. Sikes, there are points that are open to debate. 1. Re the appointment of Justice Barrett, I will agree that when only considering her legal background, she is qualified, but when one takes into account how she was identified (vetted only by the Federalist Society) and taking into account prior comments and rulings from the bench regarding abortion and healthcare, I argue that she is the wrong person for the court as her appointment reinforces a growing perception that the judiciary, including the SCOTUS, is just another partisan tool and not the impartial arbiter of our laws and Constitution. Let’s see if she refuses to “legislate” from the bench. 2. Re Trump “unwittingly” undermining governmental institutions and agencies, I guess that depends on how stupid he is. When he repeats lies about the Covid pandemic that are visibly false, he knows he’s lying to the public and in doing so underminds the CDC, FDA, EPA etc. enough time has past to recognize all of Trump’s flaws and venal behaviors, irrespective of any policies with which one agree. Mr. Sikes, it is well past time to give either trump or his supporters the benefit of the doubt.
Kristen Greenaway says
I wait to see how Justice Barrett will reveal herself as a constitutional “originalist.” Frankly, that unknowing scares me.
Al Sikes says
Thank you for the thoughtful feedback. The most consequential test going forward is, wither the Congress. The constitution is clear. Congress is to make laws and appropriate money. Not the White House by executive order or the Supreme Court by creative interpretation.
David potashnick says
Very good and from a highly credible source who’s seen it up close and personal