In 1954 during the Army-McCarthy hearings, Boston attorney Joseph Welch interrogating Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (Wisc.) exclaimed, “Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty and recklessness … Have you no sense of decency?” Afterwards McCarthy, notorious for his relentless and reckless accusations about alleged communists in the government, was censured by the Senate and ignored by his party, putting an end to one of most disgraceful and forgettable times in American history.
McCarthy’s chief counsel was Roy Cohn, the same Roy Cohn who tutored the young Donald Trump on how to win and be successful. It is no coincidence that we have seen similar McCarthy tactics employed by Trump since his emergence on the political scene. Clearly Trump is not a typical Republican politician driven by ideology or a personal take on conservative principles. Much like McCarthy and his mentor Cohn, winning is the only thing without regard to truth as well as the road to personal aggrandizement and wealth.
Like McCarthy, Trump will say and do anything that advances his interest. He has no moral compass nor does he have personal principles regarding leading issues such as abortion, immigration or the economy. He will tack whichever way promises him success.
The current presidential campaign is not a referendum on traditional lines – conservative vs. liberal – but instead a parody of a campaign using slander, personal insults, lies and outrageous promises to influence voters driven by Trump and his allies.
Unlike 1954, current Republicans will not defrock Trump. Americans must put patriotism above partisanship and vote “no” to his bid for another term.