(DON THOMPSON / iNFOnews.ca)

OPINION

What would Trump and his minions do to win the U.S. presidential election next month? Lie? Cheat? Steal? Yes, all of that and more. And when they are caught - lying, cheating, stealing - they simply double-down…triple-down…quadruple-down.

There you have it, the entire MAGA Republican 2024 political strategy. It’s not about freedom. It’s not about Democracy. It’s not about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. It’s not even about God. It’s as far away from mom and apple pie as you can get…it’s un-American.

Winning more votes…not a chance…and Republicans know it. So, they resort to lying, cheating and trying to to steal the election. Notice that I said “trying”…because no one can stop them from lying…from cheating.

But, don’t think for a moment that the good and decent folks in America are going to stand by idly…and not enforce the rule of law.

MAGA Republicans are so hopelessly ignorant of what America represents that they stand steadfastly behind Trump and Vance…no matter what. What do I mean by…no matter what?

Well, Trump during his debate with Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris said this: “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”

He was talking about the 10,000 Haitians who legally immigrated to America and have settled in Springfield, OH since 1970. Springfield was a dying city 40 years ago…and elected officials there started encouraging…even inviting…Haitians to Springfield to help rejuvenate the city. And it is working…with Haitians willing to fill job vacancies long-time residents of Springfield won’t even apply for.

But facts and truths don't matter to Trump, his running mate, JD Vance, or millions in the MAGA Republicans cult. Even when ABC Anchor and debate moderator, David Muir, tried to fact-check the twice-impeached former president during the debate, Trump insisted it was true. “Well,” he protested, “I’ve seen people on television, people on television say, ‘My dog was taken and used for food.’”

Both Trump and Vance called Springfield Haitians - most of them either already American citizens or on track to become citizens - “illegal immigrants” and “illegal aliens”…not once but in every rally…every media interview…since the initial lie during the debate.

Of course, there’s no evidence - none whatsoever - that a single dog or cat has been eaten by a Haitian…or anyone…in Springfield. It is - of course - a lie…that has been doubled-down, tripled-down, quadrupled-down on.

The hateful rhetoric coming from Trump and the MAGA movement isn’t new. It’s rooted in the same racism and xenophobia that have long plagued America. Irish, Italian and Japanese immigrants…pick any one…were all lied about and vilified by many Americans.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, Democrats were the liars and Republicans held the high ground. But times change, even if people don’t. Today, it is MAGA Republicans who proudly hoist the flag of racism…hoping to rally a group of white people…who will soon become a minority.

Maybe the fear MAGA Republicans have stems from a belief that they will be treated like white folks treated people of colour...who were once minorities. Maybe Republicans are simply projecting on people of colour the despicable actions and behaviour that white folks inflicted - or at the least stood idly by and let happen - when they oppressed others.

The governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, in an opinion column for The New York Times, wrote this: “As a supporter of former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, I am saddened by how they and others continue to repeat claims that lack evidence and disparage the legal migrants living in Springfield. This rhetoric hurts the city and its people, and it hurts those who have spent their lives there.”

Still, my opinion that there are no decent Republicans left in America appears more and more accurate when - in spite of what seems DeWine’s magnanimous admission of disappointment - was followed the same day by his full-throated endorsement of Trump and Vance.

WTF, Mike. Now go sit in the corner with the rest of the racists, bigots and deplorable folks who comprise the MAGA Republican Cult. Where do MAGA Republicans draw the line?

They openly preach hatred against Jews, Blacks, Muslims, Liberals, Democrats, Women…go ahead…try and name a group or race or religion that’s not either white, evangelical or MAGA Republican that they don’t despise and lie about.

Or, turn it around a bit, why do Trump, Vance and MAGA Republicans not only favour Russia’s Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Hungary’s Viktor Mihály Orbán…but laud them over every democratically elected world leader?

Try to forget for the moment, that everything MAGA Republicans do in the House of Representatives, Senate and Supreme Court is advantageous to the wealthiest of Americans. That’s another lie-cheat-steal topic to discuss more fully in another column.

If there are decent folks among the MAGA Cult, they better break away in this month. Because, if they are misled - no, I’m sorry, stupid enough - to believe Trump will be OK if he’s president…that good folks around him would control him, well consider Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine…who’s “saddened”…yet still is voting for Trump…and telling others to do the same.

Better yet, consider virtually every Republican U.S. Representative and Senator. Trump can do anything immoral and illegal…and Republicans do nothing…but support him.

It’s simple really. Kamala Harris has upheld her oath to defend, preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States. Donald Trump violated his oath.

The prosecution rests.

There is no defence.

— Don Thompson, an American awaiting Canadian citizenship, lives in Vernon and in Florida. In a career that spans more than 40 years, Don has been a working journalist, a speechwriter and the CEO of an advertising and public relations firm. A passionate and compassionate man, he loves the written word as much as fine dinners with great wines.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor.

News from © iNFOnews, 2024