The Truth About the Democrat's Resistance

Democrats hate Donald Trump.  They hate him to the marrow of their bones.  As dedicated liberals, they perceive him as an existential threat to their most cherished ideals.  They are therefore eager to see his political ambitions stymied.  As swamp creatures, they do not want their home drained.

And so, liberals are fighting back with every weapon at their disposal.  When Obama was president and Republicans disputed his programs, Democrats castigated them for being “oppositional.”  They insisted that the loyal opposition be loyal.  This was supposedly for the national good.

Now that they are on the outside, their attitude has changed.  Now they not only embrace opposition, but find this stance too tame.  They have instead decided upon full-scale “resistance.”  They will not only fight Trump, but use revolutionary means to stop him in his tracks.

Actually, they have gone farther still.  They don’t just resist; they sabotage.  They have actively sought to destroy a vile president and the institutions and individuals that sustain him.  As with the Romans when they defeated Carthage, they propose to leave not a single stone standing.

Yet this means destroying our democracy.  First, they will not allow Trump the assistance he needs to run the government.  Senatorial Democrats intend to prevent this by slow-walking the confirmation of any and everyone nominated for office.  This way, Obama holdovers can continue to wreck mischief.

Second, they make unsubstantiated charges against those associated with Trump.  If they can keep these folks off balance by thrashing their reputations, they will not have the space to implement the president’s agenda.

Third, every legislative proposal issued by the administration is carpet-bombed.  The hyperbole has reached record levels.  Thus, repealing and replacing ObamaCare will leave millions dead, while reigning in the budget is a comic book exercise in futility.  Merely slowing the growth of spending is depicted as tearing down Solomon’s temple.

The American Democracy once rested on a foundation of compromise and civility.  These have been jettisoned.  Now nasty jokes, snide allegations, and non-stop vituperation are celebrated as courageous attempts to rescue the nation.  People who once rejoiced in their compassion show none for those who disagree with them.

The length to which this assault on our democratic traditions will go has been revealed in the attack on free speech.  When college students bash campus libraries, liberal politicians stand silent.  When conservative voices are shouted down, this is described as protest.

But this is not protest; it is intimidation.  It is not dissent, it is bullying.  When a Montana candidate for congress knocked down a reporter this was denounced as an example of right-wing violence.  The president himself was said to have inspired this behavior.

Yet when demonstrators terrorize the children of conservative officials in their own homes, scarcely a whisper of criticism escapes Democratic lips.  Those on the left are more worried that terrorists will be offended by being vetted before they are allowed into our country.

The world has gone mad.  Political extortionists are praised for their patriotism.  Lies are told on the front pages of formerly respectable newspapers.  Meanwhile, a historic presidential trip to the Middle East is all but ignored in favor of artificial scandals.

Do liberals retain any credibility?  Are there no limits to their malfeasance and anti-democratic schemes?  I do not expect much from politicians.  They have long been masters of hyperbole and hypocrisy.  The real danger, however, is that ordinary Americans may support these excesses.

Politicians would be more circumspect if they thought they might offend voters.  They would be less likely to disseminate falsehoods if they believed these would be condemned.  But they are not, so they will not.

The fault is not in our stars.  It is not merely that the times are out of joint.  Democracy cannot thrive when demagogues are hailed as heroes.  When intimidation and sabotage are allowed to flourish, our hard won freedoms are in jeopardy.  Still, only we can protect our heritage by rejecting those who imperil it.

Melvyn L. Fein, Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology

Kennesaw State University