Accessories to the Crime

I know some will criticize me, but I think Randy in Coon Rapids, my radio show's regular far right caller, who extolls his love of all things Trump, Republicans and Tea Party, might be starting to come around.

The last few months, ever since Trump won, Randy's been one of those Republicans who, when confronted by things Trump said he was going to do if he won, has insisted President Trump really wouldn't do them.  In November, after I asked him if he was happy the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security were all going away, there was a moment where you could hear the gears of his mind turn.  His long dormant brain was finally saying, "wait a second...if Trump actually follows through on his campaign promise, it'd be horrible for me and my family."  It was a light being turned on, albeit too late, as Randy and the rest of the Trump voters had already given Trump the keys to the White House, without ever thinking about the consequences.

Yesterday, Randy called in to defend Trump's horrific Immigration plan.  He took the position, if we knew drug dealers were coming into the country, wouldn't we stop them at all costs?  It's a typical Republican stupid argument; take a real threat, apply it to your unrelated mistake and make it seem like what you're doing is a far more nobel than it actually is.  It's the Jack Bauer/24 thought process.  "Sure torturing someone is horrible, but there's a nuke in LA!  Wouldn't you do anything to stop a nuke?  We're righteous in our crimes against humanity!"

I caught Randy up with a simple question:  "Randy, what does a drug dealer look like?"  Randy, realizing he couldn't describe the African American or Latino hulk he clearly imagined when he thought of a drug dealer as it would expose his racism, conceded it was a bad analogy, but then quickly went back to defending the Immigration plan.  When I pointed out the terrorist who just struck in Canada was a white guy, he, getting heated, insisted I just proved his point.  He proclaimed blanket bans are the right strategy, not realizing he just called for banning all white men of European descent from entering the US.  He then angrily screamed the ban was about safety, ignoring the valid point guns kill far more people than terrorists every year in America, so if this is about safety, we need to start there (and then buses, lawnmowers and toddlers).

To give Republicans like Randy a little leeway, they're waking up, realizing there's a big difference between a theory of what would happen, verses the reality of implementing said new rule.  Trump voters were solely motivated by their hatred of Hillary, Obama and the Democrats, not by the policies of their party, and are now in shock as what they were screaming for at political rallies is now being implemented.  They're realizing Trump's solutions aren't going to work.  

This is why many Republicans are now VERY quiet.  They know they've made a tremendous mistake, BUT they can't jump the final hurdle, a hurdle Randy and the rest of the Republican voters have been brainwashed into never attempting to jump; criticizing a Republican politician.

If Republican voters don't immediately start getting very vocal about their disappointment in THEIR President, not only will these horrible policies continue to ramp up, but Trump voters won't be able to distance themselves from them.  YOU voted for Trump! YOU'RE watching what he's doing! YOU'RE choosing to remain silent, not condemning the easily condemnable.  YOU'RE accessories to the crime.

In the old south, there were a handful of whites at lynchings who felt remorse and shame for what had happened, but who never spoke out about the abhorrent racist mob injustice.  They were quiet, and, while being silent, they were still part of the lynch mob.  They were just as guilty, and NOTHING will ever change that fact.  

To Randy and all Trump voters regretting your November vote (but...but...but...E-MAILS!); the scorn and ridicule you're keeping in your hearts, out of fear of violating a ridiculous, right wing created standard of 'no criticism of thy own party,' needs to be shared, loudly and publicly. To do so doesn't mean you're a bad Republican.  It means your a decent human.