When I was a student at George Mason University, I took a logic class, which I was required to take, and one day in that class I remember hearing a discussion on a hypothetical moral dilemma. The dilemma was if you were in Germany in the 1920’s, and you met Adolf Hitler, and you had the foresight to know what he would end up doing, would you kill him. Murder is wrong, but would it be worth it to stop Hitler and save your country. And by saving your country it would be justified.
Now, I grew up at a time when we understood history, we had a proper sense of context, we had an aversion to over-the-top rhetoric, which to us would be inherently dishonest. We had a sense of proportion, a sense decorum, and an understanding of the real meaning of words. I didn’t know anyone that would promiscuously throw around words like genocide, racism, fascism etc. I lived in a time when Hitler’s name would be brought up only as an historical figure never did I hear it mentioned while talking about an American political candidate, and certainly not in comparison with a nominee from one of the two major parties.
How did the Fuhrer’s name come up in this election. Well, General John Kelly, who worked in the White House for President Trump brought it up, because he is opposed to Trump’s candidacy. Trump fired him, and said unkind things about him, and John Kelly responded by saying Trump said some nice things about Hitler. Kamala Harris, slipping in the polls decided to pass along Kelly’s claim. It is really sleazy. She is careful not to claim in so many words that Trump is another Hitler, rather she passes along the hearsay. That is Kelly’s claim. The mainstream media runs with it as news, but Kelly has been attacking Trump for about 6 years now. That fact doesn’t stop the media, rather they treat Kelly’s charge as in effect an October surprise. Not the words of a partisan disgruntled ex-employee.
The lateness of the charge signals two things to me, desperation on the part of the Harris campaign and poor taste. So far there have been two attempts on President’s Trump’s life and for a little time after those attempts there was the stated desire, including from Harris, to turn down the rhetoric. But Kamala and the Democrats are staring at defeat. Her Joy and good vibes campaign was ineffective. Her friendly media campaign has bombed. Now she has nothing left but the “My opponent is like Hitler” card.
How did the Fuhrer’s name come up in this election. Well, General John Kelly, who worked in the White House for President Trump brought it up, because he is opposed to Trump’s candidacy. Trump fired him, and said unkind things about him, and John Kelly responded by saying Trump said some nice things about Hitler. Kamala Harris, slipping in the polls decided to pass along Kelly’s claim. It is really sleazy. She is careful not to claim in so many words that Trump is another Hitler, rather she passes along the hearsay. That is Kelly’s claim. The mainstream media runs with it as news, but Kelly has been attacking Trump for about 6 years now. That fact doesn’t stop the media, rather they treat Kelly’s charge as in effect an October surprise. Not the words of a partisan disgruntled ex-employee.
The lateness of the charge signals two things to me, desperation on the part of the Harris campaign and poor taste. So far there have been two attempts on President’s Trump’s life and for a little time after those attempts there was the stated desire, including from Harris, to turn down the rhetoric. But Kamala and the Democrats are staring at defeat. Her Joy and good vibes campaign was ineffective. Her friendly media campaign has bombed. Now she has nothing left but the “My opponent is like Hitler” card.
I can’t recall the last time if ever that a candidate resorted to my opponent is like Hitler card, succeeding, and it seems to me that there are a couple drawbacks to such a negative claim. Once a candidate plays this card there is nowhere else to go. What can be worse than being like Hitler? What else can you add? My opponent is a Nazi, and he wants to cut taxes on the rich. Or my opponent is another Hitler and on top of that he has yet to release his medical report, what is he hiding. Or my opponent is like Hitler, and he wants to take away a woman’s right to choose. Now I think Hitler was pro-abortion. A couple weeks ago Harris did claim Trump failed to disclose his medical records and last week he is a Hitler like fascist.
It may have the opposite effect then Harris desires; it may be that such harsh attacks inoculate Trump from every other negative attack. In addition, what if she won, claiming that half the country voted for a 21st century Hitler. Half the country would either be a Nazi or stupid. It would poison the well of good will on Capitol Hill and across the country. Now sure she doesn’t care about that right now, and as far as more attempts on Trump’s life coming from such an invidious comparison, well, she may believe that the secret service competency has been strengthened by years of DEI policies. So that’s a risk she is willing to take.
Will Kamala’s latest attack, that Trump is an authoritarian, Hitler like Fascist work? Probably not, mainly because Trump was President for four years. He has a stellar unHitler like, pro US Constitution track record. Just a couple of examples, Trump didn’t require members of the military pledge personally allegiance to him like Hitler did, nor did he invade France, or any country for that matter. I also believe that if you are going to compare someone to Hitler, that such an explosive charge requires real examples, not hearsay, like so and so said he “admires” Hitler. Or Nazis once held a rally at Madison Square Garden and Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden.
According to the real clear politics average Kamala has been losing ground since the Walz Vance debate in early October. Now I don’t put too much faith in polls. but I think they can be helpful to spot trends. They trend has not been a friend to Kamala.
The late British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said that a week is a lifetime in politics, and perhaps Harris still has time to overtake Trump. But before that she has to first to stop her decline. Has she hit the bottom yet? I am not sure she has.
I think it is more likely that she will continue to lose voters over the course of the final week.
David Shephard is the author of two books. Elections Have Consequences, A Cautionary Tale.
Norton’s Choice: An Inside Politics Exposé: Shephard, David: 9781892538802: Amazon.com: Books
1 comment
Why would a Republican volunteer repeat a Democratic talking point like this? Do you like losing elections? Why don’t you explain what is wrong with Kamala Harris instead? No swing voter reading your blog post is more likely to vote for your preferred candidate as a result of reading it. They might be more likely to vote for your candidate if you explain what is wrong with the opposing candidate instead.