The support of the Vatican<\/a>, for example, is not the only reason that Italy\u2019s Benito Mussolini surged to power, but it was a key ingredient. And now, we may be seeing the beginning of a related phenomenon in our own presidential election: First it was Chris Christie\u2014deeply flawed and unloved as he is, he\u2019s still a legitimate governor and political force. Now, we have the prospect of Pawlenty\u2014bringing with him real credentials from a \u201cnice\u201d state. Who\u2019s next?<\/p>\nSome will endorse Trump out of party loyalty: You know, the old adage about Republicans not falling in love, but falling in line. Others will just give up and get on board after seeing the handwriting on the wall. All of them will earn the dubious distinction of being political enablers–knowing that Trump is wrong for the country, but lacking the courage to stand up against the bully, and fearful of the retaliation that could come their way if they say what needs to be said.<\/p>\n
Many endorsements don\u2019t mean much. People like celebrities, but their political views and endorsements don\u2019t carry that much weight. The Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi sympathizers, and other nativist, anti-immigrant groups are already on board. That\u2019s not a surprise. But they\u2019re seen, by most voters, as fringe groups. When mainstream politicians and institutions start throwing their support behind a candidate like Trump, people sit up and take notice:\u00a0 They bring an aura of legitimacy to a candidacy that could otherwise be seen as an anomaly or an aberration.<\/p>\n
And, while the establishment wing of the Republican party pretends to be going ape shit over a Trump takeover, it\u2019s not that much of a stretch to imagine that, in the end, the big dogs will roll over and support Trump.\u00a0 Fox News\u2014the propaganda wing of the Republican party\u2014has appeared to turn on Trump, but not before enabling him by giving him virtually unlimited air time. And, in the end, Fox too may find a way back to loving Trump\u2014if only as a way ensuring\u00a0 ratings, profits, and access if Trump wins. Personally, I don\u2019t view Fox as a legitimate news source, but many people do. So, when Fox comes out strong for Trump, it will be another step in sanctioning his rise to power.<\/p>\n
Okay, so the New York Times probably won\u2019t succumb. But many other news sources and influential institutions, like churches, perhaps, may. And when that happens, watch out: An America \u201cled\u201d by a legitimized Donald Trump would be an extremely scary place.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Don’t kid yourself: With help from people and institutions viewed by the voting public as “legitimate,” Donald Trump could win. Many mistakes of omission<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2119,172,202],"tags":[2459,2654,2550],"yoast_head":"\n
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