The Shape of Violence to Come, Maybe By Charles Taylor (Florida)
A report from the mainstream media has it that one in five adult American believe that violence may have to be used to win back the nation, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll. The article extract below points the blame upon Trump, with his criticism of immigrants, and claims that there will be a bloodbath for the country if he does not get re-elected. In fact, Trump's remarks are taken out of context, even given that the article adds "debated" as Trump was referring to the loss of the US auto industry if he was not re-elected. In any case these sorts of mainstream articles almost never offer fair cover, since the Left and antifa have threatened terrorism if Trump is re-elected. Somehow these little details always escape them.
"One in 5 U.S. adults believe Americans may have to resort to violence to get their own country back on track, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll, an attitude that experts say puts the nation in "an incredibly dangerous place" in the months before the 2024 presidential election.
Most Americans, no matter their political affiliation, do not believe that violence is a solution to domestic political divisions, according to this latest poll. But Republicans were more likely than Democrats or independents — and slightly more likely than the population overall – to say force may be needed to course-correct.
During recent reelection campaign rallies, presumptive Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump has questioned the humanity of immigrants, referred to a much debated "blood bath for the country" if he does not get reelected and describes people who have been convicted for Jan. 6 criminal offenses as "hostages."
His speeches often attempt "to convince people the country is going downhill, that things are awful and only he can fix them," said Barbara McQuade, a law professor at the University of Michigan and author of "Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America."
These latest poll results suggest "to some extent, these strategies are working" and highlight that "we need strong voices pushing back," said McQuade, who served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.
"It's an incredibly dangerous place to be," she said.
McQuade added that authoritarians across history have deployed this tactic, conjuring fear to manipulate people's emotions."
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