A few years back, I explained why Republicans with more moderate reputations—those considered to be the ones who “know better”—yet go along with extremism, play an outsized and dangerous role in the advance of anti-democracy extremism.
And in propping up and shielding Trump himself.
As we watch Trump’s deep dive into fascistic, white supremacist rhetoric get even worse of late, what I wrote then is even more pressing now. Sadly, almost a decade of experience has confirmed the risk of the compliant behavior of this specific type of public figure.
So let me state the case again, first by quoting the late Maya Angelou: “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”
Her wisdom offers one of the central lessons of the Donald Trump era.
In an age where the Trumpian politics of the right has reached dangerous extremes, a lack of courage in powerful people—especially the ones who people assume “know better”—makes them as much a part of the problem as Trump himself.
It makes them enablers.
And it makes them dangerous.
Ironically, the fact that a person is perceived as having broader positive attributes—some moderation, a statesmanlike manner, and broader credibility—actually makes him or her a more dangerous enabler than the Jim Jordans of the world.
Because as we saw time and again when Trump was President, the “moderate” Republican who “knows better” provides a unique benefit for Trump’s purposes.
When these folks enable him, when they provide cover for or excuses for him, or minimize the risk he presents, their more credible “brand” is put to work on his behalf. Their credibility advances his extremism.
Like a parasite, it creates a symbiotic relationship. The good standing of that more moderate Republican creates a protective, moderating buffer for his terrible actions.
And Trump knows it.
In fact, he uses their credibility—and whatever words of support from them he can muster and amplify—to blunt criticism coming his way.
This played out so clearly with Ukraine and his infamous phone call. After the Ukraine Caucus co-chair Rob Portman’s provided cover for Trump’s outrageous actions holding up Ukraine aid, Trump pounced:
“Rob Portman backed me up,” he said to the nation. “And there’s nobody more honorable than Rob Portman of Ohio.”
He knew there was nothing more helpful to prop him up amid the scandal than the words of a credible Republican on Ukraine. Someone people trusted more than him. For Trump, that hijacked credibility was his get-out-of-jail free card.
And while not as explicitly, this especially played out after his election loss of 2020. While credible Republican voices may not have gone all in on the “Big Lie,” for weeks they too dangled the specter of “fraud” or something being amiss. They knew it was over, but some suggested time was needed to sort it out.
They weren’t repeating “The Big Lie,” but even that shred of complicity wrapped “The Big Lie” with far more credibility than it otherwise would have had.
What was needed was a decisive, blunt Romney-style rejection of the lie of a stolen election. Instead, the mollifying and cover and delay from more credible voices provided a huge assist to Trump that built into Jan. 6. And still has ramifications today, where most of the GOP base now believes something wrong happened. Why not? Even those who “know better” don’t really argue the other side.
These days, the Republicans considered to “know better” are still treated with that added credibility by the media and broader political elite today.
They’re the ones sought out as the wise voices of reason in this fraught and divided time. The mature, measured ones while others (like me, probably) are treated as a little too alarmist about the state of democracy.
Interviewed all the time, often on the Sunday shows. Lots of panel discussions and lectures on college campuses. Honorary degrees, even. And the discussion often falls into how we can all start working together. (Like we used to). And they nod and say they’re trying. And the host or interviewer nods along in assent; the audience claps along.
But while they come across as less extreme than Trump in those moments, almost none of them ever separate themselves from him when it matters.
We see it almost weekly:
He says he wants to be a dictator, and they chuckle or shake their heads and tell us he’s joking. He doesn’t mean it, they say. Of course, his supporters don’t seem to get the joke:
They are largely quiet when he talks about “vermin” and “poisoned blood,” as if these words aren’t a five-alarm fire, with ominous historic parallels.
At best we hear a mild scolding, like he’s a child and not in line to be the GOP candidate for president.
After each indictment, they say the process has been too political. (Nikki Haley just suggested she would pardon him!) :
The ones in the House vote to impeach Joe Biden. ALL of them caved to Trump there. It’s ok, they say, because maybe evidence will turn up along the way.
They grimace when asked point blank about Trump being elected again, as if it’s a painful choice for them…but in the end they say they’ll vote for Trump over Joe Biden if forced to.
But because they appear pained about that choice, they’re treated as if this is somehow better than the all-in enthusiasm of Jordan or Marjorie Taylor Green. When in fact, because of their added credibility, their willingness to vote for another Trump presidency boosts Trump more than Jim Jordan’s endorsement, and makes his success more likely.
In all these cases, their more credible voice sends a signal that the plain truth (e.g., he lost the election, the process leading to his indictments was fair, he is uttering the words of white supremacy and fascism) and all these dire warnings should simply be ignored. Because even those who “know better” don’t seem alarmed enough to vote against him, or even speak out against him when it matters. And they are to be trusted.
In all these ways and more, their less extreme brand is being hijacked by Trump and extremists to advance that extremist cause.
And they are proactively allowing it to happen.
They are complicit.
They are HELPING that extremist cause.
Over time, much like Portman led to JD Vance (now disdainfully destroying all his predecessor’s hard work on Ukraine), they become the transitionary figures to the extremism. And their more moderate brand serves as a primary vehicle facilitating that horrible transition.
To build off Maya Angelou, in this age of extremism, if you lack basic courage, regardless of any other “virtues” you may have, you are dangerous. And those other virtues actually make your lack of courage that much more more dangerous. Because your virtues are being harnessed to serve a horrible cause.
In the process, you are doing grave damage to democracy.
As Trump gets closer to being nominated, and as his rhetoric grows more dark and dangerous by the day, that complicity and cowardice grow ever more dangerous.
But there is a choice!
And now is the time to make it.
It’s time to use your credibility, and the fact that you have built up standing as “knowing better,” to stand up—at long last—for America.
For democracy.
Don’t let your added credibility benefit Trump for one more moment, for one more day.
And in case this sounds naively optimistic, or unrealistic, we are seeing people do this.
Judge J. Michael Luttig—a rock-ribber conservative retired judge—is doing it:
Liz Cheney is doing it.
Others are doing it.
And it matters!
Want proof? This is precisely the type of standing up (Kasich, Taft, Montgomery, O’Connor) that created a multi-partisan coalition that saved Ohio’s democracy in that illegal special election in August. Their voices added huge credibility to the “No” campaign—and helped convince 100,000s of Ohio Republicans to Vote “No” on Issue 1 in August. And that made a huge difference in defeating it.
(By the way, one pattern from Issue 1 is that if you are retired from politics, or have announced your retirement, your voice is still key. You are as or more trusted than anyone. So what are you waiting for?)
It’s time.
You know who you are.
And we know who you are. (And for anyone of us who know some of these folks, it’s time to make this simple, reasonable request of them).
Portman traded away whatever reputation for reasonableness he had by voting to acquit a clearly guilty president in two impeachment trials and by failing to acknowledge Joe Biden's election win for over a month. Splitting the difference with craziness and extremism doesn't work. Portman knew better. He just didn't care.
Excellent call to action! And spot on. You can't be completely virtuous and ethical in other areas if you only speak truth when it's convenient.