Re: “Trump pardoned tax cheat after mother attended $1 million dinner” (May 27, Nation & World):
President Donald Trump has been caught in another scandal: He pardoned a man who pleaded guilty to tax crimes just one month after his mother attended a $1-million-a-head MAGA fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. This is a blatant quid pro quo — the sort of thing that would have led to the impeachment and conviction of any other president. With Trump it is par for the course.
Sadly, few Trump supporters will care about this suspicious action. However, MAGA folks will take great joy in watching Trump detractors complain about this fishy pardon. One of my friends wondered whether we are witnessing the death of outrage.
As a scholar who studied political rhetoric for four decades, I believe we must be cognizant that the rules of the game have changed and the rhetorical playing field is no longer the same. The moral of the story is clear: Democrats can’t regain control if their message is primarily a “not Trump” one; they must persuade Americans specifically how they will fix the problems that negatively impact their lives the most. This then can be contrasted with what Trump has and hasn’t done. Such a message offers the best persuasive strategy for Democrats going forward.
Richard Cherwitz, Camas
