As the tumult in the presidential race increases, especially from the Republican ranks, Trump has doubled down — as we knew he would — on the outrageous insults and demeaning of people and countries. He also gave additional validity to his promise to be a dictator from day one by hosting a rally at Madison Square Garden, as if to give credence to a historical gathering there by Nazis in 1939.
In effect, the charge that his ideas are freighted with fascism becomes more evident each day, and Americans had better heed what he promises dictatorially.
Here lately, his surrogates are carrying water for him, most recently comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during his appearance at Madison Square Garden, where he sparked a furor when he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” In this, Hinchcliffe echoed Trump’s comments the other day when he said America is “a garbage can for the rest of the world,” in keeping with his anti-immigrant agenda.
Related: How can any immigrant or person of color support Donald Trump?
Hinchcliffe was only letting his leader know how much he agreed with him on the matter of garbage. It unleashed a backlash from Republicans concerned that it might torpedo plans to embrace Latinos, Black voters, and other people of color. And they better do what they can to repair this situation, with the latest national polls showing Harris resuming her leadership in a race just a few days from the finish line.
Things are getting scarier and scarier as we approach Halloween, and neither candidate can afford a misstep or gaffe in the final push to gain the Oval Office. We agree with Gov. Hochul that Trump’s speech at Madison Square Garden had a ring of concession, but knowing what we know of this snake oil salesman, he will do whatever misdeed is possible to win this election, and like the snake he is, not until we completely disconnect his head will he concede. Even then, defeat is not assured, as we learned so well in 2020.
Kamala and her team are moving wisely, doing overtime in the battleground states, especially in Michigan, where the Arab vote, like everything about this election, is consequential.