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Donald Trump's ability to say offensive things and continue to rise in the polls has cowed other Republicans from attacking him directly for his bad behavior. Jeb Bush and Rand Paul have begun challenging Trump's conservative bona fides, a sensible attack line in a Republican primary. But some comments are so beyond the pale that to ignore them is unconscionable, regardless of the political implications.
Donald Trump's ability to say offensive things and continue to rise in the polls has cowed other Republicans from attacking him directly for his bad behavior. Jeb Bush and Rand Paul have begun challenging Trump's conservative bona fides, a sensible attack line in a Republican primary. But some comments are so beyond the pale that to ignore them is unconscionable, regardless of the political implications.
In Boston this week, two men beat a homeless man with a pipe, broke his nose, bruised his ribs and peed on him, while saying "Donald Trump was right. All these illegals need to be deported."
Trump's response hours later was abhorrent: "it would be a shame . . . I will say that people who are following me are very passionate. They love this country and they want this country to be great again. They are passionate."
Instead of outright condemnation, Trump rationalized their criminal and bigoted behavior. This not mere political incorrectness. This is inspiring hate. This is pure demagoguery.
I have yet to hear a Republican candidate call Trump out by name for excusing a violent hate crime as the result of being "passionate." There is still time.
But if they can't, it is an utter failure for a major political party to police its members, stand for decency and uphold basic human rights.
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Donald Trump's ability to say offensive things and continue to rise in the polls has cowed other Republicans from attacking him directly for his bad behavior. Jeb Bush and Rand Paul have begun challenging Trump's conservative bona fides, a sensible attack line in a Republican primary. But some comments are so beyond the pale that to ignore them is unconscionable, regardless of the political implications.
In Boston this week, two men beat a homeless man with a pipe, broke his nose, bruised his ribs and peed on him, while saying "Donald Trump was right. All these illegals need to be deported."
Trump's response hours later was abhorrent: "it would be a shame . . . I will say that people who are following me are very passionate. They love this country and they want this country to be great again. They are passionate."
Instead of outright condemnation, Trump rationalized their criminal and bigoted behavior. This not mere political incorrectness. This is inspiring hate. This is pure demagoguery.
I have yet to hear a Republican candidate call Trump out by name for excusing a violent hate crime as the result of being "passionate." There is still time.
But if they can't, it is an utter failure for a major political party to police its members, stand for decency and uphold basic human rights.
Donald Trump's ability to say offensive things and continue to rise in the polls has cowed other Republicans from attacking him directly for his bad behavior. Jeb Bush and Rand Paul have begun challenging Trump's conservative bona fides, a sensible attack line in a Republican primary. But some comments are so beyond the pale that to ignore them is unconscionable, regardless of the political implications.
In Boston this week, two men beat a homeless man with a pipe, broke his nose, bruised his ribs and peed on him, while saying "Donald Trump was right. All these illegals need to be deported."
Trump's response hours later was abhorrent: "it would be a shame . . . I will say that people who are following me are very passionate. They love this country and they want this country to be great again. They are passionate."
Instead of outright condemnation, Trump rationalized their criminal and bigoted behavior. This not mere political incorrectness. This is inspiring hate. This is pure demagoguery.
I have yet to hear a Republican candidate call Trump out by name for excusing a violent hate crime as the result of being "passionate." There is still time.
But if they can't, it is an utter failure for a major political party to police its members, stand for decency and uphold basic human rights.