Columnist explains why Trump embraces 'ludicrous' conspiracy theories -- and why it will only get worse
October 09, 2018
Washington Post columnist Paul Waldman slammed the GOP for embracing "ludicrous" conspiracy theories to fuel up their base.
"President Trump, who is now intently focused on the new conservative strategy of pushing the base to the polls by telling it that maniacally violent Democratic 'mobs' are rampaging through the streets and must be stopped," Waldman wrote.
He then explained the reason behind Trump's strategy.
"We know the 'angry mobs!' strategy is about promoting fear and anger because that’s the strategy Trump always returns to in critical moments. And right now, his allies are feverishly working to convince Republican voters that Democrats may be literally coming to kill them," he said.
Waldman continued, "Yet if Democrats protest, and if, heaven forbid, they raise their voices? Then they’re an 'angry mob' on the verge of violence. They’re not people exercising their rights to protest; they’re a dire threat to democracy itself."
He added, "Yet Republican elites keep feeding their base the idea, even though they know how ludicrous it is."
"That’s because Republicans are facing a long-term crisis. The president was elected by a minority of the voters, and senators elected by a minority of the voters just confirmed a Supreme Court nominee who was supported by a minority and will swing the court dramatically to the right in opposition to the desires of most Americans," he said.
Read the full article here.