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How Actions Define Character: Moral Judgments In Politics

How Actions Define Character: Moral Judgments In Politics

Last updated on: February 2, 2026 at 2:53 am by Henry Karlson

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How Actions Define Character: Moral Judgments In Politics 2026-02-02T02:53:38-05:00 Henry Karlson

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SkepticalScience: Ad Hominem Fallacy / Wikimedia Commons

I have seen far too many Christians and Catholics from the so-called “right,” that is, from those who support Trump, ignore the facts used to criticize Trump and respond to his critics by attacking them with ad hominem labels. It’s not just that they insult Trump’s critics, it’s that they think attacking the messenger is a proper response. They think that if they label someone, that is enough to discount what they have to say. This is why their rhetoric ends up being a fallacious argument. They have gone from calling Trump’s critics as having “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS), to being woke, progressive, socialist, communist, or liberal. Again, they think that is all it takes to dismiss those critics. What is telling is that these same people are among the first to demand people to be civil to them, which they mean, they think no one should be able to insult them or question their character. They do not want to be criticized for what they do (or what they fail to do). Often, those who engage them find out their discussion ends with some form of gaslighting; they ignore Trump’s actions, or say there is not enough information to make an honest judgment concerning them, but they will be quick to berate Trump’s critics, calling them angry, irrational, and imprudent without demonstrating why those labels are valid.

I don’t like having to engage such fallacious gaslighting because I believe it should the obvious to all of good will how ridiculous it is. I don’t want to give any suggestion that there is any validity to what they have to say. However, due to the way such criticism continues, and it seems some people are being influenced by it, I thought I should say saying something. Certainly, I see some of it being said against me, but it is clear, I am being used as an example to represent Trump’s critics in general. What follow are a few of the thoughts and responses I have concerning the absurd situation we find ourselves in, especially in regards the way Trump and his supporters act toward others. To be sure, I sometimes share some of my opinions of others, and in doing so, give them some labels, but when I do so, it is not an ad hominem fallacy because I am not marking an argument based upon my opinions: I am sharing the judgment I have made based upon my observations, and usually, it is found in the midst of my main argument and presentation of facts. This is why it does not make sense for them to suggest Trump’s critics are not engaging the virtue of prudence. It seems to me they are projecting upon others what they are doing. Their accusations make sense only to those who ignore the critical observations being made; if they would address the facts which have been mentioned, even if they disagreed with the conclusions I and others draw from them, it would be obvious that prudence has not been ignored.

The way I make my determinations about others, such as Trump, his administration, his supporters, and ICE, is based on facts, that is, on what they say and do. When I see grave injustices promoted by them, it is not irrational to point them out and say we must resist them. And, if I make some judgment on their character, that is, who they are as persons, it is done the same way I (and others) reflect upon the way we get to know anyone, including and especially God.

Theology tells us we know God by God’s actions (with revelation being a very special kind of activity, one which offers us more direct insight than some of God’s other actions) We will not comprehend who God is. God is so transcendent to us, God transcends all the names we give to God, including the name of God itself. By nature, God can even be said to have no name. We apprehend God through God’s actions; they give us the means by which we predicate qualities to God, qualities which serve as the foundations for the names we give to God, such as: Wonderful, Counselor, Good, Truth, Beauty, Savior, Love, Lover of Humanity, Creator, Preserver, and Judge.

Again, we come to know others similar to the way we come to know God. We know them by their words and deeds. Just as we do not come to know God by comprehending God’s essence, God’s inner life, we will find it difficult, if not equally impossible, to know others in relation to their inner life. But, we can and will know and comprehend them far better than we can God; their words and actions tell us more about them than God’s words and actions tell us about the inner nature of God. Thus, most of what we know of others is through external observations, from what they say and do, and through our observation of each, we can discern whether or not we find them to be trustworthy. If their words and deeds do not match each other, we can know they are hypocrites, and as hypocrites, we know they are not trustworthy. Similarly, those who try to gaslight are a kind of hypocrite, because it is a special form of dishonesty, one which tries to pretend some virtue or truth is being preserved by the way they manipulate the facts, generating, in the end, a falsehood intended to confuse someone so much, they do not know truth from falsehood, right from wrong.

Gaslighting is one of the most common techniques used by Trump and his followers to confuse the public. They will first say something which sounds good, like saying we should support law and order, punish criminals, or make sure elections are secure. But if we look at what the mean by this things are not so clear. They will redefine the law, and demand we follow their redefinition, as can be seen in the way Trump thinks he can deny birthright citizenship by executive order. Similarly, in relation to ICE, they will say ICE only goes after violent criminals; that sounds nice until we see that it is the foundation for them to say that proves anyone taken in by ICE must be a violent criminal, and if they are a violent criminal, they do not have the right of due process. They will suggest due process is only for those who do follow the rule of law (which of course, means no one will receive due process, because anyone who is charged by them as breaking the law are, and so do not deserve due process). This, again, shows how they are gaslighting us. For it is only after due process has been engaged and brought to a proper conclusion can the state determine if someone is a criminal. And, even if someone were a criminal, that does not take away from their Constitutional protections; every time they are charged with a crime, they must be given due process; if it is ever denied them, then the Constitution and its protections become null and void.. With such gaslighting, Trump and his followers will suggest anyone hurt by ICE deserves what happens to them, because ICE would not act unless the person was a criminal (and non-citizen). Again, it is clear, they are begging the question when they do this, and those who tell people not to be imprudent and criticize Trump and his administration are never seen telling Trump the same thing!

Time and time again, those who point out various facts, and use them to criticize Trump and his administration, or the actions undertaken by ICE, are treated with contempt by those who quickly complain if someone dares call them out and call them a name when they do so. When they are confronted with what they support, and the contempt people feel for the evil going on, they act like that is the worst thing possible, and focus on that instead of the injustices being discussed. This seems to be a very common practice of those Christians coming from the so-called right. And again, they will do so with gaslighting, so that, as they ignore the law, the Constitution, and the actions which the administration is doing, they will say they want law and order and the Constitution to be followed. Why, then, won’t they speak out when the facts show ICE is breaking the law and ignoring the Constitution? They don’t want to discuss the means ICE uses, because that means violates the rule of law. Then, the obvious question is, how is ICE enforcing the law if they are breaking it themselves? They aren’t! And, to be sure, the infractions are not minor; among them, we find torture, rape, locking people up without proper food, shelter, or medical care, and ignoring people’s religious liberty. They are harming pregnant women and children. When confronted, they unjustly kill those who speak out and try to help those being unjustly hurt. Since ICE is not trying to change this, but rather, rejoice in the death they cause, this is why people view them as murderers; being law enforcement agents does not defend them, instead, it only makes the case against them that much clearer as they are using their supposed authority to deny people their basic right to life! The rule of law is clear, the use of deadly force is prohibited except in the most extreme situations, and that certainly is not the case when someone is already pinned down on the ground!

Some might want to call me a liberal. Some might want to call me a progressive. Some might want to call me a socialist. Some might want to call me a communist. Those who do so must define those terms and explain how they are justified. They never do. They often do not know the meaning of those words. But even if they were valid, that would not justify rejecting my criticism of Trump. It would not prove I am wrong. They would have to do more than engage an ad hominem fallacy. They would have to show the error of my arguments. They will have to show where I get the facts wrong, or why the conclusions I made concerning them are wrong. They don’t want to do so. All they want to do is silence me. And that is, of course, what they will not do.

* This Is Another Post From My Personal (Informal) Reflections And Speculations Series

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N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

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