A new low in American politics

U.S. President Donald Trump didn’t invent insulting people but with his latest comment about Robert Mueller, he has taken American politics to a new low.

According to former president George W. Bush, Mueller “dedicated his life to public service.” As a marine in Vietnam, he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Former president Barack Obama referred to Mueller as “one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI … it was his relentless commitment to the rule of law and his unwavering belief in our bedrock values that made him one of the most respected public servants of our time.”

What did Trump say about Mueller?

“Robert Mueller just died. Good, I am glad he is dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people.”

A few days ago, I had a meeting with three thoroughly decent people: our local member of Parliament, a dedicated infectious disease physician who volunteers his time to engage in critically important sepsis medical research, and a young medical research assistant who provides necessary supports to this research.

Trump is the source of a spreading attitude of blaming, fault-finding and lack of personal accountability. To quote Trump: “The radical left Democrats have hurt so many people with their vicious and uncaring ways.”

This from a man who referred to another American war hero, the late John McCain as “a loser and a dummy.”

Shoot from the hip and call a spade a spade seems to be celebrated these days. Recently our Conservatives announced a petition to nominate former outspoken hockey commentator, Don Cherry, to the Order of Canada. Cherry is well known for referring to immigrants as “you people.” (Marginally better than Trump’s reference to Somalis as “garbage.”)

Compared to Trump, Cherry is a saint. Cherry famously called former NHL enforcers Stu Grimson, Chris Nilan, and Jim Thompson “a bunch of pukes, turncoats, and hypocrites.” But Cherry, albeit with the threat of litigation, apologized stating “I threw them under the bus and I’m sorry about it.”

If any hockey commentator deserved to have been nominated to the Order of Canada it should have been Danny Gallivan. Danny was a stellar individual who enriched our lives with his colourful vocabulary and was respected by everyone.

Gallivan never had to apologize to anyone. Trump has simply never apologized to anyone. He won’t walk back what he said about Mueller. And herein lies the problem with this cult of abuse that he is modelling: it is pervasive and destructive.

The permission to be cruel and to be our worst selves is being normalized. It is catering to the lowest common denominator. It is always someone’s fault; it is never me. Blame immigrants, bureaucrats, the police, teachers or even your own family. The name of this game is polarization.

But it is not just Trump who bears responsibility here. It is also all the enablers who choose silence over the courage of their convictions when Trump and others model reprehensible behaviour.

What kind of a model is that for children? What happened to taking responsibility for your behaviour and trying to work things out? Sadly, it has disappeared, subsumed under the heading of tribal loyalty and the addictive nature of moralism.

In death, Mueller deserved better from Trump. Yes, Mueller led a criminal investigation into Russian interference into the 2016 United States elections. The investigation produced 34 indictments, six convictions of Trump associates and seven prison sentences.

Trump was neither exonerated nor charged with a crime. Where there is smoke there is often fire, except in the case of Trump.

That fire is obscured by enmity and insults.

Mac Horsburgh writes from Winnipeg.