The Democrats Need to Make a Bold Move--Now

The Republican Party is never coming back--so the Dems should reach out like FDR

Donald Trump in some ways is very helpful—or at least instructive. His egocentrism and the adoration he gets from his followers leads him to admit the truth—when it would be safer politically if he did not. This happened a few hours ago in South Carolina. At the start of his rally, when he should have been at his most intellectually coherent, he let rip at who he sees as America’s real enemies. In Trump’s mind, of course, this enemy is not dictatorial, Putin-led, Russia, but the democratic NATO states who have been the US’s strongest allies for, in some case, more than 70 years. Trump said that far from being willing to fight for America’s NATO partners (which it is pledged to do by treaty) if Europe didn’t do what he wanted financially, he would encourage Russia to attack Europe.

Trump said “one of the presidents of a big country” at one point asked him whether the US would still defend the country if they were invaded by Russia even if they “don’t pay.”

“No, I would not protect you,” Trump recalled telling that president. “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.

And the crowd roared its delight. You can find a video here.

Donald Trump would “encourage” Russia to attack NATO

For those few Republicans left who will say he really didn’t mean it, or it was a political bluff to get the Europeans to pay more, just shut up. This is not a threat to reduce the US defense footprint, or to slow down weapons deliveries, this is a threat to encourage a genocidal dictator who as this very moment is trying to wipe Ukraine from the map of Europe, to attack the rest of the continent.

Trump’s statement cant be defended or talked away. It can only be acknowledged and prepared for. There are two entities that need to respond to this now. Europe and the Democratic Party. I’ve already proposed 10 steps that Europe should take now. As such, I thought I would propose only two now for the Democratic Party. The first would be tricky but is doable. And for it I’m at least partly motivated by Franklin Roosevelt, who in 1940 was confronted by a Republican Party which, while not as insane as the present bunch, had a large segment that would have been happy to see Hitler take over Europe.

The second will take real boldness—but needs to be considered.