The left seems to be doing everything it can to take down Trump on flimsy charges that seem to be guaranteed to be thrown aside one charge at a time. They try taking him off the ballot in Colorado, while 16 other blue states consider doing the same thing. They accuse him of fraud for overvaluing his Maro largo estate in applying for loans that he’s already paid off. They’re trying to use a Civil War statute not used in over a century to convict him of being an “insurrectionist.” And, of course, Trump must be guilty of election interference for questioning the 2020 election results that half of American voters question.
Such actions give the appearance that they’re fearful of facing Trump and will do everything they can to keep him out of the race. But to everyone following the news, the charges seem blatantly political and unlikely to be successful. Because he’s being wronged, Trump is soaring in the polls, and he is gleefully proclaiming himself as the presumptive Republican candidate before a single primary or caucus vote. To Trump, there is no need to debate the second team!
Of course, many Democrat pundits warn the faithful about how these charges just play into President Trump’s hand. David Axelrod comments are indicative of many others: “All the legal challenges that have been thrown at Trump have so far helped strengthen him in the Republican primary, as he depicts himself as a victim. CO will be the same. What seems like Kryptonite winds up being battery packs in the GOP primary.”
But what if the Democrats want President Trump to be the candidate? After all, they beat Trump in the 2020 election and frustrated the GOP expectations of victory in the 2022 midterms by labeling all candidates as those awful MAGA, Trump-loving Republicans. There is clear evidence that when Trump is running, it helps fuel Democrat fundraising. We also know that nothing gets Democrats to the polls better than keeping that “hated” Trump” out of office. They’ve beaten him before, and the “Hate Trump” voters can’t wait to do it again.
In a recent column, Ann Coulter pointed out the danger of coronating Trump early: “Defying all expectations, by me at least, Republicans have reacted to these garbage prosecutions by saying, Watch this, liberals! We're going to punish you by handing Democrats the presidency, the House and the Senate. You disqualified Trump from the ballot, Colorado? We're going to put Democrats in a position to pack the court! I can't enstupid myself enough to understand why being the victim of legal persecution is supposed to make someone a great candidate for president. Please draw a diagram from ‘These Trump indictments are outrageous!’ to ‘Let's make him our nominee!’"
Democrats certainly know that, even if he is convicted, these charges are weak, are ultimately indefensible, and won’t stop him from running. They know that the conservative U.S. Supreme Court will knock any convictions down before the election. Trump will be saved to run! But to the left, Trump running may very well be their best chance of pulling a victory out of a potential defeat. They don’t want to face the young and successful Governor Ron DeSantis. He could be in office for two terms!
Think back to the classic folklore stories of Brer Rabbit from Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Brer Fox laid a trap for Brer Rabbit by inducing him to get stuck in a Tar Baby and thus had finally captured his long-time tormentor. The fox had him right where he wanted him and began to debate with the trapped rabbit about how he was going to bring about his demise. The wily rabbit, however, tricked the fox by pleading with Brer Fox to punish or torture him in any way except one.
“Drown me just as deep as you please, Brer Fox,” said Brer Rabbit, “but for Lord's sake don't fling me in in that briar patch.” “There's no water nearby,” said Brer Fox, “so I think I'd rather skin you.” “Skin me, Brer Fox, snatch out my eyeballs, tear out my ears by the roots, and cut off my legs,” said Brer Rabbit. “Just please don't throw me in that briar patch.”
Of course, that was exactly what the rabbit wanted and eventually what he was able to get. Since the briar thickets were his normal stomping grounds, he had successfully tricked his enemy and once more scampered out of harm’s way. What is the truth revealed? What you claim to fear is sometimes what you most want to win the day.
Trapped into defending an almost indefensible Biden track record, Democrats may be playing the only card that even gives them a chance of winning. They beg Republicans who think they can’t lose, “Please, I know you have me where you want me, but please, please, don’t make Trump your nominee. Give me Haley or DeSantis, but please spare me having to run against that terrible President Trump. Brer Rabbit may be laughing and applauding on the sidelines of this election soap opera.
Terry Paulson is PhD psychologist, author, and professional speaker on Earned Optimism, Making Change Work, Claiming Your American Dream, and Becoming a Conservative Values Voter. Contact him at terry@terrypaulson.com.