We Can’t Afford to Let This Become the New Normal

Last updated on: May 7, 2016 at 12:28 pm by Libby Anne

We Can’t Afford to Let This Become the New Normal 2016-05-07T12:28:07-04:00 Libby Anne

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After Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee this week, the New York Times ran a story on what Trump says a Trump presidency would look like. What struck me full in the face as I read it is that this—this treatment of bigotry and fascism as though it’s just one more flavor of American politics—is now the new normal.

On Inauguration Day, he would go to a “beautiful” gala ball or two, but focus mostly on rescinding Obama executive orders on immigration and calling up corporate executives to threaten punitive measures if they shift jobs out of the United States.

And by the end of his first 100 days as the nation’s 45th leader, the wall with Mexico would be designed, the immigration ban on Muslims would be in place, the audit of the Federal Reserve would be underway and plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act would be in motion.

“I know people aren’t sure right now what a President Trump will be like,” he said. “But things will be fine. I’m not running for president to make things unstable for the country.”

Reading this was surreal, and downright scary. The article’s author never took issue with any of these things, instead listing them as though they’re things politicians just say—another day, another presidential candidate.

Modern America has never seen anything like a Trump administration. Business leaders and even entertainment figures new to politics have been elected governors, of course, and insurgents like Newt Gingrich rose to power.

But this is different. A Manhattan real estate developer and bombastic reality television star, Mr. Trump would be a president like no other. Yet historians suggest the country would adjust: He would quickly find himself consumed with the urgent and normalizing tasks of building a cabinet, assembling senior staff and reassuring Wall Street and the public that he was capable of governing America.

Just like that? The country would just adjust? And what about the country’s Muslims and undocumented immigrants? I suppose they would just “adjust” too?

So I became curious. What did people say after Hitler’s rise to power? I know some people are getting tired of the comparisons, but frankly, I think there’s worth in drawing on historical comparisons where they are relevant. And—well—you tell me if this newspaper article feels relevant:

Will Hitler Be Tamed by Power?

John W. Hallowell, Daily Boston Globe, February 4th, 1933

Adolph Hitler has at last become Chancellor of the German Republic. The career of Hitler in the last few months has been as eventful as that of political Germany. At the height of his power, as measured by the number of voters, he made a bold bid to capture the Presidency last Spring. But the Germany people reelected aged Paul von Hindenburg, the only figure in present-day public life who commands the fidelity and admiration of every party in the Republic.

. . .

Hitler found himself offered the Chancellorship in a Cabinet largely composed of enemies and opponents. He could not refuse this time. As a result, we see today the fourth Chancellor within the short space of nine months.

. . .

Hitler knows that unless he follows a policy of national reconstruction and unless he abandons the wild and rash program which won him his position he too will be summarily dismissed.

He has been given his position because he is leader of the largest party, and this is the greatest vote-getter. But no longer can he make great promises and let his oratorical powers flow in condemnation of the Jew, the corrupt Republic, the aged President, and hated France and Poland. He has now committed himself to those very policies he formerly railed against.

Let us examine his first speech made from the Chancellor’s chair. This time he could not sweep into a crowded hall to receive the plaudits of his followers. This time he could not descend from the blackness of the night by airplane into a brilliantly lighted stadium, thunder forth his radical program, and as dramatically depart. This time he spoke over the radio. He appeals to all Germans to forget their hatred. He asks for unity and toleration from the people, until he can put conservative plans of unemployment relief and agricultural reconstruction into effect. He hopes Germany will not have to arm. He asks other Nations to disarm to enable Germany to stay at peace. Not a word about expulsion of the Jews is said.

Who is this tamed speaker? Can this moderate statesman be the fiery demagogue who lashed his audiences into storms of excitement by demanding an army equal to France’s, by calling for expulsion of all Jews from Germany, by promising everyone a job? Where are the proud assertions of Germany’s rights to the Polish Corridor, to freedom from foreign examination, to an equal place in European society? Can this be Hitler?

The fact that it is Hitler shows two things. First, he is tamed by his associates, no longer speaking for himself, but for a Government he does not control.

Second, he is now in the position where he must face the music, and stand or fall on accomplishments, not promises. Like many politicians, Hitler becomes calm and moderate in office, leaving behind him violent declarations and rash promises.

The Reichstag fire occurred on February 27th, and, well, we know the rest of the story.

Frankly, I’m worried. We cannot afford to treat this as politics as usual. Our rhetoric is shifting. It is now politically acceptable to call for a 30-ft border wall with Mexico, the expulsion of 11 million undocumented immigrants, and a ban on accepting Muslim immigrants or refugees. It didn’t used to be politically acceptable to say these things. As a result of these shifts, I watched the Republican congressional primary in my district go places I hadn’t realized a Republican congressional primary could go.

We can’t afford to assume or pretend that Trump will moderate his positions, or that he surely could not in fact expel 11 million people from our country. I know people who work with underprivileged children, and the Latino kids among them are getting antsy—and well they should. We can’t afford to normalize this.

We can’t risk letting this become the new normal.

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