by Bob Barr
The dual mass
shootings last weekend exposed two uncomfortable truths. First, there is a
cancerous undercurrent of extremism in our society; and second, this phenomenon
is not relegated to one side of the political spectrum or the other. In El
Paso, the shooter killed in the name of white supremacy. In Dayton, the killer
previously praised the violence of Antifa.
Law enforcement agencies and legislative bodies at the federal, state, and
local levels now must address whether new authorities are needed, more funding
made available, or simply better enforcement of existing powers required; in
order to cope with the rising tide of murders that affect families and communities
from Chicago to Texas and from California to Baltimore.
But there is a vital role political leaders can and must play, in addressing
the extremist and violence-oriented thinking that clearly is grabbing the minds
and hands of far too many American men.
Trump’s initial address to the nation Monday in the immediate aftermath of the
El Paso and Dayton rampages, was appropriate — as a first step. The
brevity of the statement was fitting; his visits to the cities-in-mourning
respectful and proper.
What follows in the coming days and weeks, however, is far more consequential
and important, and can emanate only from the Oval Office – a forceful and
unequivocal denunciation of extremism in all its horrible visages, and
especially white nationalism.
It should not have to be said, but it does — there is absolutely no place for
white nationalism or racism of any kind within the conservative movement or the
Republican Party at any level.
For too long the GOP has turned a blind eye to the troubling resurgence of this
odious movement; perhaps hoping that by not drawing attention to it, it would
quietly go away. We see now that is not the case.
Even though race-motivated mass violence is still a statistical rarity in spite
of the headlines it grabs, the cohorts of individuals responsible for the
radicalization of the killers like those in Charleston, Gilroy, and now El
Paso, continue to spread. Worse still, while these individuals may loath the
current GOP and even Trump, through their warped lenses they may see the
Republican Party as the vehicle by which to hitch a ride to a more prominent
role in society.
The Democrat Party has to contend with its own violence-oriented hangers on,
such as Antifa; but the prominence of right-wing extremists and white nationalists
in the context of recent mass shootings, is a curse that needs to be addressed
specifically and urgently.
Trump must no longer ignore those who use his brand as a cloak for their
ignorance and hatred; they must be told in cold, hard, unmistakable terms that
they no longer enjoy safe harbor. He must build on his recent statement, and
rebuke white nationalism for what it is — an ignorant, collectivist mindset
that is wholly antithetical to our Founders’ precepts of freedom and
governance.
White nationalism will not make America great, and its followers should not
expect to find an ally in this President or in any elected leader.
The President’s call for leaders from both major political parties to tone down
the hysterics that surround virtually every political issue, is indisputably
correct and timely. And while the Right by no means bears the burden or
blame for a political climate that incites violence, it can – and should – step
forward and provide leadership out of the toxic bog in which both Parties find
themselves mired.
Trump’s fiery demeanor is a large part of what brought him into the Oval
Office; and his supporters neither expect nor should we want him to change his
personality. In any event, nothing Trump will say will find support in
the eyes of any of the Democrat presidential wannabees, or in the view of most
of their colleagues in the Congress or their enablers in the mainstream media.
But those are not the audiences that matters.
What matters is that Americans everywhere hear a president whose words and
actions (and Tweets) truly transcend the environment which birthed horrendous
actions such as took place in El Paso and Dayton (and yes, also in Chicago)
last weekend. No one but the president can deliver that message. No
one but the president should deliver that message. This is the speech we
need. This is President Trump’s moment.