Another great piece as usual. However, I do take issue with one sentence: "Trump’s supporters quite clearly do not care about lawbreaking per se, only about who deserves to be punished for it." I disagree. I think they do care about breaking the law. What is scary is that they are convinced that Trump has done nothing wrong, whereas they believe that Democrats like Hillary Clinton are corrupt but too clever to get caught. I have personally experienced this attitude. GOP politicians are another thing. They do know better. But I think it is important not to attack his supporters with sweeping generalizations.
Fair enough, Steve. I actually had in mind his elite supporters when I wrote that, not all people who voted for Trump. And you're right that many Trump supporters have convinced themselves that he's done nothing wrong. But I'd argue that one's own rationalizations for one's beliefs don't necessarily undermine the broader claim. Many of his supporters cheered Trump on when he repeatedly mocked and vilified others for taking the fifth over the years. And many of those same folks have, in the past 24 hours, found ways to rationalize his stark about-face on the matter. We're all selective in applying our principles to one degree or another, of course. Some, however, do so more egregiously and shamelessly than others.
Another great piece as usual. However, I do take issue with one sentence: "Trump’s supporters quite clearly do not care about lawbreaking per se, only about who deserves to be punished for it." I disagree. I think they do care about breaking the law. What is scary is that they are convinced that Trump has done nothing wrong, whereas they believe that Democrats like Hillary Clinton are corrupt but too clever to get caught. I have personally experienced this attitude. GOP politicians are another thing. They do know better. But I think it is important not to attack his supporters with sweeping generalizations.
Fair enough, Steve. I actually had in mind his elite supporters when I wrote that, not all people who voted for Trump. And you're right that many Trump supporters have convinced themselves that he's done nothing wrong. But I'd argue that one's own rationalizations for one's beliefs don't necessarily undermine the broader claim. Many of his supporters cheered Trump on when he repeatedly mocked and vilified others for taking the fifth over the years. And many of those same folks have, in the past 24 hours, found ways to rationalize his stark about-face on the matter. We're all selective in applying our principles to one degree or another, of course. Some, however, do so more egregiously and shamelessly than others.