If you want to understand why so many Trump supporters are so disparaging of so-called “elites,” you need look no further than former secretary of state Madeline Albright’s column in the New York Times on Friday.
In her article, Albright assails the Trump administration for its supposedly fascist bent and calls on Americans to rise up in defense of liberal values. “What is to be done?” Albright asks, Well, first, she says, “defend the truth. A free press, for example, is not the enemy of the American people; it is the protector of the American people. Second, we must reinforce the principle that no one, not even the president, is above the law. Third, we should each do our part to energize the democratic process by registering new voters, listening respectfully to those with whom we disagree, knocking on doors for favored candidates, and ignoring the cynical counsel: There’s nothing to be done.”
No problem with that last point: we do need to disagree in civility.
That said, I suspect Albright’s first two contentions will ring hollow to many Americans. For a start, many observers of the media would likely contend that Albright’s conception of “the truth” as it pertains to media reporting is not so absolute in its objective merit. By claiming so confidently that the mainstream media is collectively objective and implying that its critics are evil authoritarians, Albright isn’t exactly “listening respectfully to those with whom we disagree. Media bias, after all, is very real and affects matters both significant and somewhat silly.
Nor does it seem that Albright has Kevin Williamson in mind here!
In the same vein, what exactly does Albright actually mean when she says that “we must reinforce the principle that no one, not even the president, is above the law”? Surely, the vast majority of Americans agree with that premise. Is there any evidence that Trump has actually succeeded in preventing the application of justice as it pertains to him? There is an investigation underway right now that proves otherwise. The special counsel’s work continues, the FBI is led by a widely respected director and the Judiciary retains its independence and constitutionally vested power.
Albright’s words here are the elixir to those liberals who cannot stand the fact that Robert Mueller has not yet sent Trump to prison — which it seems increasingly unlikely he’ll ever do.
So yes, Albright is right when she says we need to listen to each other a little more and a little more respectfully. But perhaps Albright should re-read her article with a little more humility. It testifies as to why so many Americans buy into Trump’s narrative over liberal elites.
