Is the Fascist Candidate Worth the Risk?

by Mark M. Bello

Is the fascist candidate worth the risk?

Is Donald Trump a “fascist?” His former generals and Chief of Staff say he meets the definition. The United States Supreme Court recently gave the president power without guardrails—the next president will have almost uncheckable power.

Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden yesterday—one of his featured speakers had this to say:

“I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

Just a joke? Here’s more:

“It’s wild. And these Latinos, they love making babies too, just know that. They do, they do. There’s no pulling out. They don’t do that. They come inside, just like they did to our country.”

Does this type of “humor” appeal to you? Do the comments reflect your views? Do they reflect the views of a majority of Americans?

We’ll find out a week from tomorrow. Meanwhile, The Trump campaign sought to distance itself from the “comic’s” routine. A senior adviser to the campaign said that these comments “do not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”

But they do—.we know they do.

After all, Trump is the candidate who said Haitians were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio and the candidate who said of immigrants, “They’re bringing crime; they’re bringing drugs.” He’s the one who said that there were “good people on both sides” at a Neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville—the same guy who called Baltimore a “rodent-infested mess.”

We know that Donald Trump has a long list of racist and bigoted comments about African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Muslims, Jews, immigrants, women, and people with disabilities. He’s the guy who questioned the citizenship of the President of the United States because he was a black man with an unusual name.

Reconsider Your Protest Vote!

A recent poll showed Kamala Harris leading Trump 45-44 among Latino voters. 11.2% of Muslims support Trump despite his proposed “Muslim ban” while in office; 34% of Jewish voters support him despite his fondness for Hitler’s generals and Charlottesville. Why would millions of Jews, Blacks, and Hispanics support Trump? The most logical reason is that they are exercising a grievance/protest vote. I don’t get it, but I can’t dismiss it either.

This election is too critical to exercise a “protest vote.” I urge my fellow Americans to reconsider.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, fascism is “a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.”

However you feel about the current state of affairs in America, you must know that you live in the greatest Democracy in the world. If you have been listening to Donald Trump and his minions on the campaign trail, his words and actions fit the Merriam-Webster definition. We know it does. Thus, Trump is not only a bigot, he’s a fascist as well.

Let’s turn back from the brink, shall we? There is still time to ensure that Democracy prevails. Put off your “protest vote” for another four years, or wait for a Republican candidate more worthy of your protest.

Democracy is on the ballot, and it is too important to risk for Trump.

Mark M. Bello is an attorney and author of the Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series and children’s social justice/safety picture books. He also hosts the popular bi-weekly podcast, Justice Counts (https://www.spreaker.com/show/justice-counts_1). Mark’s books may be found at all online booksellers and on his website, at https://www.markmbello.com.