“One country, one constitution, one destiny.” Daniel Webster
In the hours after the attempted assassination of Former President
Donald Trump, a local Trump supporter messaged me, “You lefties must be happy
now.” I had engaged in past conversations with this individual but never
discussed politics.
Sunday morning, Senator J.D. Vance, while in the mix as
Trump’s running mate, tweeted, “Today is not some isolated incident. The central
premise of the Biden campaign is that Trump is an authoritarian fascist who
must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to Trump’s attempted
assassination.”
My first example above was an emotional response. Immediately
following the assassination attempt, pro-Trump Republicans were in shock, angry,
and needed to lash out. Millions of
Republicans across the country probably shared similar views toward their neighbors
who supported President Biden.
The second illustration was self-serving and political. Senator
Vance constructed a well thought out message to please Trump only days before
his V.P. selection. (It worked) Vance was irresponsibly seeking to increase the
temperature on an already volatile situation to arouse Republican support.
The Democrats’ response to the assassination attempt has
been understandably muted. Many privately believe that Trump’s own
encouragement of political violence during the January 6th insurrection and his
rhetoric since then have helped remove the guardrails on keeping elections
non-violent. However, in the immediate aftermath of a presidential candidate
coming within several millimeters of losing his life, Democrat attack ads and
negative campaigning were curtailed. Democrat
leaders, beginning with President Biden, reached out to the former president to
give him their best wishes and to denounce violence.
No one can predict how the attempted assassination will affect
the election. It is likely that the issue of President Biden’s age and removal
from the Democratic ticket will fade. Former
President Trump will gain sympathy from undecided voters. The photo of Trump
with blood streaming down his face and his raised fist will become the most
iconic symbol of the campaign.
Going forward, the two campaigns should seek a reset and
agree to focus on the important issues facing our country. Thoughtful
discussion should replace radical rhetoric. Trump’s nomination speech at the
Republican convention this past week, will set the tone for the remainder of
the election season.
Apart from the campaign, the assassination attempt will
raise a host of issues. Law enforcement will focus on the forensic evidence.
Congress will want to know how it was possible for a twenty-year-old loner with
a long gun to situate himself on a roof 120 yards from the former president.
Internet conspiracy theories circulated by Russian disinformation sites and
right wing provocateurs will run wild.
Psychologists and profilers will examine the postings, life,
family, and motives of the shooter. National campaign officials will reconsider
whether outdoor rallies are worth the risk. Grassroots movements of Americans
fighting to protect people from gun violence will increase their visibility. Notably,
the federal Brady Bill, requiring background checks, was passed after the
attempt on President Reagan’s life.
If one stands back from the initial shock of this
assassination attempt, it is clear that in American history political violence
has never been acceptable, but also all too common. Four sitting presidents
have been killed by political violence. (Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield,
William McKinley, John F. Kennedy). Three presidents have been injured by
attempted assassinations. (Ronald Reagan while in office, former presidents
Theodore Roosevelt and Donald Trump).
Other important political figures running for president have
been the subject of assassination attempts. (Robert F. Kennedy was killed;
George C. Wallace was injured.) Since the nation’s founding, fifteen members of
Congress have been killed and fourteen suffered injuries from attacks.
The question becomes, where does American democracy go from here?
Some thoughts to consider come from the venerable British newspaper, the Financial Times, always an excellent
observer of American Politics.
“The responsibility of America’s political class to reassert
the importance of political calm has never been more important. Violence has no
place in democracy. The undermining of free speech and political tolerance, and
the rampant rise of social media disinformation, has been a feature of American
politics over the past decade. The partisan divide between Democrats and
Republicans has only grown wider and more toxic. Sadly, Saturday’s events are not an anomaly
in the country’s long experiment with democratic governance. Assassination
attempts or plots against presidents, presidential candidates, and other
political leaders have been all too common. How democracies respond to moments
like this are the real test of their mettle….
In the past, assassinations or attempted assassinations have provided a wake-up
call for the American political system, allowing voices of reason to reassert
themselves. That is needed today more than ever. Politicians on all sides have
a great responsibility to urge calm and stop the vitriol. Any public statements
must be worded carefully. Republicans need to speak up, and avoid the
temptation to use the event as a rallying cry…
The clear message that needs to emerge from this sorry episode is that violence
is unacceptable, and that a divided country that resorts to physical force to
resolve its issues is undoubtedly a weaker one.” Editorial Board 7/14/24
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