The silver lining of Trump’s corrosive campaign
What could possibly be the silver lining of the presidential bid of a candidate whose comments and actions are degrading, undemocratic, bigoted and just plain cruel?
How could there be an upside to a campaign that makes one wonder whether it’s safe for children to watch the evening news or even presidential debates?
Frankly, Donald Trump’s candidacy is so offensive, so frightening and so unprecedented in the United States that it compels us to a much-needed collective focus on decency and civic engagement—a renewal of civitas.
In my lifetime, I have seen plenty of elections in which the candidates attacked each other. But I have never seen a candidate for president undermine the bedrock principles of our constitutional democracy.
Donald Trump has incited his supporters to use violence against peaceful protesters. He has called for a ban on members of an entire religion from entering the United States. He has disparaged African-Americans, Mexicans and the disabled. He has said he would jail his political opponent and led his supporters in chants of “Lock her up.”
When his campaign has faltered, he has raised the unfounded specter that the election could be rigged against him.
This election is not just about politics and policies, but about human decency.
Trump has denigrated women, boasted about repeatedly sexually assaulting women, and hurled vicious verbal attacks against women who report they were assaulted by him. First lady Michelle Obama spoke for many Americans when she gave a speech last week reminding voters that this election is not just about politicsThe silver lining of Trump's corrosive campaign | Huffington Post:
