SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
People wait in line to vote at a polling place on the first day of early voting on October 22, 2018 in Houston, Texas. Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Beto O'Rourke is running against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the midterm elections. (Photo: Loren Elliott/Getty Images)
A Tale of Two Caravans: What Trump Is Really Afraid of Is a Mass of Voters
Trump and other GOP leaders believe that stoking fear, anger, suspicion, and contempt toward the migrant caravan is the best way to counter and undermine the voter caravan now massing against them.
Nov 01, 2018
It makes sense that Donald Trump is worried about an approaching caravan. But it's not the one you're probably thinking of: the few thousand desperate Central Americans who've banded together and are slowly making their way through Mexico toward the U.S. border. These migrants have broken no laws in undertaking their difficult and dangerous journey, and seeking asylum here is their legal right.
No, the caravan that's actually giving Trump and the GOP panicky night fevers is comprised of tens of millions of U.S. citizens. Committed to countering the horrors of the past two years--and the past week--they're heading to polling places across the country with a single goal in mind: to vote some of the president's fondest enablers out of office.
Comparing the two, the voter caravan is the only potentially disruptive force, the one powerful enough to upend a political agenda that primarily nourishes the rich and the racist. Trump's focus on the migrant caravan is simply pretense, a craven way to galvanize the GOP base--especially the white nationalists within it.
Central to this strategy is the use of manipulative and deceitful psychological appeals that have been used throughout history by self-serving demagogues. Here are four examples:
"It's a Dangerous World": Trump falsely portrays the migrant caravan as a dire threat to the United States, a hostile invasion that requires sending thousands of military troops to the border to keep us safe.
"No Injustice Here": The White House falsely claims that its inhumane immigration policies--prolonged detention, obstruction of asylum claims, family separation--are neither unwarranted nor unfair.
"They're Different from Us": GOP leaders falsely argue that these migrants don't share our values, our aspirations, or even our humanity, and should therefore be treated with suspicion rather than compassion.
"Pursuing a Higher Purpose": Trump falsely insists that even long-cherished principles and basic human decency are legitimately sacrificed at the border in order to advance his master plan for restoring America's greatness.
These claims from the president and his accomplices are all as empty as a conman's promises. The migrants aren't plotting to harm us; they're escaping horrific violence and trying to protect their children. Our government's hostile and brutal response to their plight isn't reasonable--it's unjustifiable. These men, women, and children are no different from us--in their struggles against adversity or their desire to live with dignity. And certainly, any country's greatness is diminished by its refusal to help those in need.
But Trump and other GOP leaders believe that stoking fear, anger, suspicion, and contempt toward the migrant caravan is the best way to counter and undermine the voter caravan now massing against them. They recognize that a narrow base, agitated by lies and distortions, is their only hope against a broad electorate that sees the country lurching to new depths every day.
Don't let their manipulative ploys succeed yet again. On Election Day, join the voter caravan and be part of the national course correction we urgently need.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Roy Eidelson
Roy Eidelson, PhD, is a member of the Coalition for an Ethical Psychology, a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, and the author of Doing Harm: How the World’s Largest Psychological Association Lost Its Way in the War on Terror (McGill-Queen’s University Press).
It makes sense that Donald Trump is worried about an approaching caravan. But it's not the one you're probably thinking of: the few thousand desperate Central Americans who've banded together and are slowly making their way through Mexico toward the U.S. border. These migrants have broken no laws in undertaking their difficult and dangerous journey, and seeking asylum here is their legal right.
No, the caravan that's actually giving Trump and the GOP panicky night fevers is comprised of tens of millions of U.S. citizens. Committed to countering the horrors of the past two years--and the past week--they're heading to polling places across the country with a single goal in mind: to vote some of the president's fondest enablers out of office.
Comparing the two, the voter caravan is the only potentially disruptive force, the one powerful enough to upend a political agenda that primarily nourishes the rich and the racist. Trump's focus on the migrant caravan is simply pretense, a craven way to galvanize the GOP base--especially the white nationalists within it.
Central to this strategy is the use of manipulative and deceitful psychological appeals that have been used throughout history by self-serving demagogues. Here are four examples:
"It's a Dangerous World": Trump falsely portrays the migrant caravan as a dire threat to the United States, a hostile invasion that requires sending thousands of military troops to the border to keep us safe.
"No Injustice Here": The White House falsely claims that its inhumane immigration policies--prolonged detention, obstruction of asylum claims, family separation--are neither unwarranted nor unfair.
"They're Different from Us": GOP leaders falsely argue that these migrants don't share our values, our aspirations, or even our humanity, and should therefore be treated with suspicion rather than compassion.
"Pursuing a Higher Purpose": Trump falsely insists that even long-cherished principles and basic human decency are legitimately sacrificed at the border in order to advance his master plan for restoring America's greatness.
These claims from the president and his accomplices are all as empty as a conman's promises. The migrants aren't plotting to harm us; they're escaping horrific violence and trying to protect their children. Our government's hostile and brutal response to their plight isn't reasonable--it's unjustifiable. These men, women, and children are no different from us--in their struggles against adversity or their desire to live with dignity. And certainly, any country's greatness is diminished by its refusal to help those in need.
But Trump and other GOP leaders believe that stoking fear, anger, suspicion, and contempt toward the migrant caravan is the best way to counter and undermine the voter caravan now massing against them. They recognize that a narrow base, agitated by lies and distortions, is their only hope against a broad electorate that sees the country lurching to new depths every day.
Don't let their manipulative ploys succeed yet again. On Election Day, join the voter caravan and be part of the national course correction we urgently need.
Roy Eidelson
Roy Eidelson, PhD, is a member of the Coalition for an Ethical Psychology, a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, and the author of Doing Harm: How the World’s Largest Psychological Association Lost Its Way in the War on Terror (McGill-Queen’s University Press).
It makes sense that Donald Trump is worried about an approaching caravan. But it's not the one you're probably thinking of: the few thousand desperate Central Americans who've banded together and are slowly making their way through Mexico toward the U.S. border. These migrants have broken no laws in undertaking their difficult and dangerous journey, and seeking asylum here is their legal right.
No, the caravan that's actually giving Trump and the GOP panicky night fevers is comprised of tens of millions of U.S. citizens. Committed to countering the horrors of the past two years--and the past week--they're heading to polling places across the country with a single goal in mind: to vote some of the president's fondest enablers out of office.
Comparing the two, the voter caravan is the only potentially disruptive force, the one powerful enough to upend a political agenda that primarily nourishes the rich and the racist. Trump's focus on the migrant caravan is simply pretense, a craven way to galvanize the GOP base--especially the white nationalists within it.
Central to this strategy is the use of manipulative and deceitful psychological appeals that have been used throughout history by self-serving demagogues. Here are four examples:
"It's a Dangerous World": Trump falsely portrays the migrant caravan as a dire threat to the United States, a hostile invasion that requires sending thousands of military troops to the border to keep us safe.
"No Injustice Here": The White House falsely claims that its inhumane immigration policies--prolonged detention, obstruction of asylum claims, family separation--are neither unwarranted nor unfair.
"They're Different from Us": GOP leaders falsely argue that these migrants don't share our values, our aspirations, or even our humanity, and should therefore be treated with suspicion rather than compassion.
"Pursuing a Higher Purpose": Trump falsely insists that even long-cherished principles and basic human decency are legitimately sacrificed at the border in order to advance his master plan for restoring America's greatness.
These claims from the president and his accomplices are all as empty as a conman's promises. The migrants aren't plotting to harm us; they're escaping horrific violence and trying to protect their children. Our government's hostile and brutal response to their plight isn't reasonable--it's unjustifiable. These men, women, and children are no different from us--in their struggles against adversity or their desire to live with dignity. And certainly, any country's greatness is diminished by its refusal to help those in need.
But Trump and other GOP leaders believe that stoking fear, anger, suspicion, and contempt toward the migrant caravan is the best way to counter and undermine the voter caravan now massing against them. They recognize that a narrow base, agitated by lies and distortions, is their only hope against a broad electorate that sees the country lurching to new depths every day.
Don't let their manipulative ploys succeed yet again. On Election Day, join the voter caravan and be part of the national course correction we urgently need.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy