David Arbeitman: Is Trump the new McCarthy?

 As Kamala Harris’ numbers rise and as Donald Trump bemoans the fact that he is not running against Joe Biden, the former president has become desperate to redefine her. Freaked out by her large rallies, enormous fundraising, and powerful acceptance speech at a successful Democratic National Convention, Trump has been flailing and trying to find an effective attack by resorting to labeling her as a “Marxist” and a “communist lunatic,” referring to her as “Comrade Kamala.”

He claims that she is to the left of Joe Biden while at the same time stating that she would continue his policies. It is astonishing that this red-baiting, endemic to the McCarthy era, is not being criticized by the press or refuted by her campaign. To ignore the McCarthyism of the 1950s, where lives were destroyed by accusations, lies and innuendo, is to ignore this dark era in our history and to allow history to repeat itself.

We have become inured to Trump’s wild claims and nonsensical rants. Not confronting the malevolence behind these allegations is a mistake given how susceptible a large segment of the American public is to misinformation.

It is ironic that Trump, an aspiring dictator and admirer of Vladimir Putin, would make these charges given his autocratic plans should he regain power. During a second Trump presidency, his plan, as described in Project 2025, is to replace 50,000 civil servants and government workers with Trump loyalists and sycophants. Don’t be surprised if those fired were registered Democrats accused of having communist sympathies.

David Arbeitman

Florence