DECEPTION,DISHONESTYAND FALSEHOODS

Feb 17, 2018 Editorial, Features / Columnists

When it comes to deception and falsehoods in politics, President Trump has trumpeted a level of leadership far different from his predecessors. He has the record of uttering falsehoods at a rate that is incredible and never seen before.
When Donald Trump won the presidency of the United States, the most powerful position in the world, just over a year ago, billions of people around the world were in shock. The global shock resulted from many factors, but perhaps the chief among them had to do with the concern that falsehoods, rashness and unpreparedness had trumped truth, integrity, reason and fairness. Many had feared that the world had entered a dangerous era; one in which fake news, deception and dishonour would become templates for how other leaders pursue power and lead.
Since Trump’s shocking victory, which he himself did not expect, and his assumption of the presidency, the world has seen a new level of meanness, pettiness and unkindness that is perhaps without precedent; most certainly not in recent history.
Never before has the “leader of the free world” been so unrestrained and reckless in threats of using nuclear weapons, and in showing disrespect to others, seemingly without consequence.
Mr. Trump is perhaps the most unabashed president of the United States in recent history. His administration has been untruthful to the American people with consummate ease and impunity. But a series of events have given hope to Americans. The most recent being the defeat of the Trump-backed Republican senatorial candidate for Alabama, retired Judge Roy Moore by Democrat Doug Jones. Not only did Trump support Moore, but also the Republican National Congress and the divisive and self-absorbed Trump advisor Steve Bannon.
The victory of Doug Jones over Roy Moore was a triumph of decency over decadence and morality over depravity. Moore was credibly accused of sexual crimes of underage girls and has been twice removed from the office of judge in the state of Alabama for violations of the canons of good conduct. It was even alleged that he was banned from a particular mall because of his practice of preying on young girls. Had Moore won the election, it would have been the most cruel affirmation that Trump’s style of leadership of vitriol, verbal abuse, disdain for others, lack of honour and integrity, and sheer crassness were acceptable.
It should be noted that the state of Alabama has not elected a democrat to the US Senate in over 25 years. But most importantly, it should be remembered that Alabama is the home of some of the worst forms of racial injustice, and is where the Montgomery bus boycott gave birth to the Civil Rights Movement led by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his fight for racial equality. The victory of Democrat Doug Jones in a favoured Republican State, clearly indicates that leadership by deception, dishonour and falsehoods will not always prevail in today’s world.
There had been spectacular Democrat victories in recent state elections in New Jersey and Virginia where democratic governors were elected. The victories were the first forceful rebuke of President Trump and his party by the voters. Democrats have capitalized on his unpopularity to capture the governorships and make significant inroads into communities that once favoured the Republican Party. Indeed, it is a sign that the Trump train is being derailed.
But there are other areas in which the Trump’s unflattering world is being unraveled. The recent indictment and guilty pleas of his former aides and advisors by Special Prosecutor Robert Muller, and the likelihood of more to come, are signs that, contrary to what many feared that Trump would become the new norm, and was unstoppable is in fact, thankfully, not the case. Deception, dishonesty and falsehoods will not always triumph.

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