Between Republican front-runner Donald Trump’s campaign theatrics, his over-the-top promises to restore the nation to greatness and his fiery rhetoric, there’s not a whole lot of daylight between the real estate mogul and Adolf Hitler, according to Politico’s chief political columnist Roger Simon.
“Do not say you were not warned. Der Donald has warned you. Security is going to rule in America. And unthinkable things will be done,” Simon wrote in a column titled “All hail Der Donald.”
The story’s subhead reads, “Simon says: Then they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Muslim,” which is a reference to Trump’s repeated claim that he saw “thousands” of American Muslims on television cheering in New Jersey when two planes hit the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
No one has found any broadcast footage to back this claim.
Simon also noted a separate incident last week in Birmingham, Ala., when Trump supporters ganged up on a Black Lives Matter protester at a campaign event, pushing and shoving the activist until he was forcibly removed by security.
“[T]here are things you are allowed to shout, like: ‘We love you, Donald!’ And there are certain things you are not allowed to shout, like: ‘Trump is a racist!'” Simon wrote.
“The Constitution says both are allowed as free speech. But the Constitution does not rule at Trump rallies,” he added. “Security rules. Just as he promised. And so the black man was kicked and punched. Trump looked down upon him with lofty disdain. ‘Get him the hell out of here!’ Trump said. ‘Throw him out.’ The man was led away.”
He added sarcastically, “Trump will protect us from such people. Just as he will protect America from all its enemies.”
Simon continued in this vein for quite some time, explaining in tones of mock adoration how Trump, who leads the Washington Examiner‘s presidential power rankings, will keep Americans safe if they agree to surrender their civil liberties.
“The price we pay will be tiny. We will give up a civil liberty here, a freedom there,” he wrote. “Certain people will be registered. Their houses of worship will be spied upon. Names will be taken down. But as long as these people are not Christians, do you really care? Trump is betting you do not. He is betting that as long as only Muslims are targeted, you will turn a blind eye.”
He then heaped praise on the Democratic presidential candidates, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for publicly denouncing Trump’s campaign rhetoric.
Later, he accused the GOP field, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, of responding to Trump’s provocative rhetoric with “grovel and fawn.”
Each of the aforementioned GOP candidates has at some point during the 2016 primary season denounced Trump’s rhetoric.
Even candidates who have already dropped out of the race, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, had sharp words for Trump, calling him a “carnival act” and a “cancer.”
The lower-tier candidates, including former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have also spoken out against the GOP front-runner.
The only Republican candidates who have largely avoided upsetting Trump are Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Never mind all that, Simon continued, coming around eventually to his conclusion.
“Trump is no fool. He is a man with a plan. Armed with his celebrity status, his vast wealth and his adoption of the big lie as his favorite campaign tactic, he sees the White House within reach,” he wrote.
He concluded, again in tones of mock adoration, “Bigger. Better. Stronger. One dream! One nation! One leader! Der Donald! Hail!”
Simon comparing Trump’s surge in the polls to Hitler’s rise to power is hardly the most hyperbolic thing he has written. In 2013, he suggested America would be “saved” if by some miracle former House Speaker John Boehner and Sen. Cruz were drowned.
