The 2024 presidential election keeps getting uglier and uglier. Last week, we heard more about immigrants eating pets than about school children who don’t get lunch. We also read that Donald Trump took a conspiracy theorist who speculated that the September 11 terrorist attacks were an “inside job” to events memorializing those attacks.
I was reading about Ms. Loomer when the news about the assassination attempt was posted. I was relieved that it was immediately clear that Trump was not hurt.
Fortunately, police spotted the shooter in time and eventually apprehended him. We should be grateful for the excellent work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement officers involved.
The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, is now in custody. Unlike the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, authorities will be able to fully understand why Routh sought to kill Trump. That information will be useful but could also be dangerous if it motivates more political violence.
Trump, like Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, and dozens of other political figures, is hated by some. That hate, some of it reflecting policy disagreements on issues like immigration, reproductive rights, civil rights, education, and foreign policy, and some of it reflected in race-hate, misogyny, or even the way a candidate looks, is a fact of life for candidates. You cannot run for office in the United States without experiencing it.
Running for public office involves receiving threatening letters, including death threats, efforts to produce damaging information to use in campaigns, and the risk of assassination. As a result, many people who would be outstanding candidates for public office do not run. The risks outweigh the benefits, especially the possibility of assassination.
After the first assassination attempt on Trump on July 13, I was appalled when the ex-president’s campaign launched fundraising efforts intended to monetize the event. I was disgusted when Trump and other suggested that God had intervened to save Trump—if God wanted to save Trump, he would have prevented the shooter from taking a shot at him. Right?
I was equally appalled at sick humor suggesting it was unfortunate that the assassin’s bullet missed. I heard, “He had it coming” and “violence begets violence.” I do not subscribe to the eye for an eye principle.
Everyone should condemn both attempts on Trump’s life and pray that another would-be assassin does not make a third attempt on Trump, Harris, or anyone else. That risk is higher than ever now.
Political violence is an attack on democracy. Had either assassination attempt against Trump been successful, I would be denied my opportunity to vote against him. The entire 2024 election would also have been thrown into chaos. Given Trump’s dominance in the Republican party, there is nobody to replace him on the ticket. Certainly not J.D. Vance.
If Harris won the election (against who?), many people would not accept her presidency as legitimate, especially Republicans who, regardless of what police uncovered about the assassination, would blame the Democrats.
Hate can kill democracy, not only because democracy does not work without civil discourse between candidates, but because hate injects fear into voters and candidates. Hate distracts everyone from talking about America’s future and how government should serve the people. And hate makes us question whether we are human enough to be able to govern ourselves.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.
Harvey Worthington says
I remember a piece JE Dean wrote back in January: “Will Democracy Die on January 20, 2025?” The piece explores a dystopian “nightmare” scenario where Donald Trump wins the 2024 presidential election and subsequently suspends the U.S. Constitution during his inauguration. It goes on to describe a series of authoritarian actions, including the dissolution of Congress, the arrest of political opponents, and the suppression of media.
Given that Dean apparently believes that Trump is a danger to the Republic not dissimilar to a hostile foreign occupation, a man who holds neo-Nazis to be “fine people” and the person responsible for inciting the greatest insurrection since 1861, his magnanimity is astounding. In being “relieved that it was immediately clear that Trump was not hurt” he has taken a moral high ground few of us can hope to occupy.
John Dean says
Thanks for reading the piece. I think political violence of any type hurts democracy. I also don’t like to see anyone, regardless of how “evil” I think they may be, get shot.
H.R. Worthington says
John, I have no doubt you don’t want to see anyone hurt and I’m sincere about that.
However, you can’t decry hatred while at the same time inciting it. That is true for you as it is for the rest of the media, including this august “non-partisan” publication on which I am commenting. Hatred inevitably begets violence, even if you believe that hatred is well placed because the target is “evil.” That’s a Gordian Knot you simply cannot untie. It is painful to watch you make the attempt, especially after you post pieces like the one I referenced above. For the love of Country, I wish you would reconsider in the future. Sadly, you I am sure you won’t. It’s all too easy to self-justify.
Regardless, decent Americans intuitively know this, even if it isn’t well articulated these days. Many of us don’t like our choice between Trump and Harris. For all the platitudes and bromides about our sacred Democracy the choice feels compelled. We may not have Ph.Ds. in political “science” but we know it feels that way because it is. Hyperbolic political rhetoric like yours has a lot to do with it. This is why trust in the media is at such historic lows.
In the final analysis, what is surprising to me is the lack of true circumspection by partisans who wade into the public debate. Afterall, as you rightfully point out, no one can be certain how this will all work out in the end, and the judgement of history will likely be uncharitable. -HR
David Lloyd says
Amazing how “hate” has replaced “hope” in our lives. How about we agree to be more “hopeful” for the future and that we work together to “hope” for a wonderful future!!
John Dean says
Thanks for the comment. I share your amazement. We need to bring back hope. And, with a little luck and more people voting, we will.