No matter how impartial you want to be, most of us tell a story of ourselves that makes us the hero in our own story. When we think about the community we live in, we like to think of it as a generally good community. These subtle biases can help us make friends as young people, grow our connections as adults, and stay positive when times seem tough.
These same biases, however, can be twisted to give shelter to abusers, hatemongers, racists and misogynists. In article after article, too many in our press fall prey to this trap and these subtle biases are used to change the way we think about a problem. Today on CNN, the headline reads:
Let’s unpack that. CNN is telling you that within the GOP — in fact, if the whole GOP is frightened, the Majority — who are upset, worried, and troubled by Trump’s racist tweeting style. They are, after all, good people and they can see this is wrong, and while they are all “very concerned” — Susan Collins style — they don’t know what to do about it and so Trump will not pay a price.
Hogwash. The GOP is not frightened by Trump’s tweets. They aren’t wringing their hands debating what is wrong. If they were they have a choice: they could simply leave the party; several legislators all over the country have done exactly that.
No, the GOP isn’t frightened. They’ve accepted Trump, back him, and in rally after rally they know that his Twitter comments will play to a demographic they have to have in order to win, and if they are frightened of anything, it is the fear of alienating the voters motivated strongly on racist talking points and the president’s bullying behavior.
Day after day, in major media, I come back to the same story: the GOP is scared of Trump. They are frightened of his rhetoric. They are worried about this or that. All of these articles are hoping to sell a point to the public: hey, there are still a lot of good people in the GOP, they don’t like this and things could improve.
It is true, I know some GOP members who do wildly disagree with Trump. I know some federal elected Republicans who curse Trump under their breath — and sometimes aloud. But frightened of him? Wanting him punished? No. Because if you ask the campaigns around them, they will tell you the bitter truth: the Republican primary voters LOVE Trump, and they love him in large part because of this rhetoric. Afraid? They are afraid of those voters.
This is the problem the Republican party faces right now, they fear the fight from groups and individuals who they may find personally repugnant, but they are willing to compromise everything to stay in office — which for many, requires doing everything not to offend these very “fine people”.
When news writers and opinion piece editors talk about worries, concerns, fears within the GOP, they are doing the public a great disservice. It is a one-sided view of reality that fails to mention the most important element. “Frightened GOP fears their growing radicalized base far more than Trump” is an accurate assessment.
In the view of some, there is no means to escape the GOP. Members have to stay and be frightened, raise money and support something that they fear. Because, as we all know, changing your registration on a voter form, well, there isn’t a level of frightened enough to make that happen.
We have to stop giving free passes. The GOP knows what Trump’s rhetoric is doing to the country and to their base. They won’t stop it because they are more frightened of their base than Trump. They won’t stop it because they see political opportunity in it. They won't stop it because none of them have the leadership required to say: this is wrong and I will not participate.
Miss me on Republicans fearing rhetoric. If you choose to do nothing, to go along, because you know others will pay the price for horrible ideas and you will benefit it isn’t fear — it is just standing by as an arsonist burns another neighborhood down and thinking: “Well, at least my property values will go up”.