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Trump and Wallace
Another story---this one in The Washington Post---compares Donald Trump's presidential campaign with those of former Alabama Governor George Wallace, saying both men railed against what's now called "political correctness" (even though the right and the left practice that equally. Ask me about it sometime and I'll give you my soapbox rant).
From the Post column:
"Cabdrivers and cattle ranchers, secretaries and steelworkers, they
hung on every word, memorized the lines, treasured them, savored them,
waited to hear them again. George Wallace was their avenging angel.
George Wallace said out loud what they nervously kept to themselves.
George Wallace articulated their deepest fears, their darkest hates.
George Wallace promised revenge.”
AND
"Wallace’s campaign rallies often turned ugly, as liberal protesters at
them were singled out as a sign of what was wrong with America and, in
some cases, physically attacked. We’re now seeing echoes of that at
Trump’s rallies too."
The Washington Post column by Janell Ross includes the comments of several political historians. It is indeed a good read as you digest today's Thanksgiving feast.
Yes! He is demonstrating pure demagoguery. My friend, Chervis Isom wrote a memoir, The Newspaper Boy, about growing up in Birmingham before and during the civil rights movement. He recounts going to White Citizen Council rallies led by Asa Carter (who went on to become a speech writer for George Wallace). Isom's account of those rallies were so much like what is happening in Trump's campaign rallies. It is one thing to regret what happened in the past. It is another thing altogether to fail to see it coming back around again.
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