Secretary of State bars Trump from ballot in Maine | The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell
In the latest captivating installment of "Rachel Maddow Presents: Déjà News," a formidable roundtable of experts, including Jonathan Capehart, Eugene Robinson, and Barbara McQuade, dissect the contentious topic of Donald Trump's political future. They delve into Shenna Bellows' assertion that Trump played a pivotal role in the January 6th insurrection and explore the possibility of his disqualification from holding office under the 14th Amendment.
Beyond the immediate aftermath of the Capitol riots, the conversation shifts to the broader impact of misinformation on American history and politics. With insights from figures such as Nikki Haley and David Blight, the episode takes a hard look at the appropriation of Lost Cause ideology within the GOP, challenging Haley's controversial remarks on the Civil War. Moreover, this thought-provoking session casts a light on the philanthropic efforts of the KIND Fund to advance education for girls in Malawi, demonstrating the power of commitment to global progress and learning.
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1-Page Summary
The Insurrection and Disqualification of Donald Trump
Trump's Role Instigating the January 6th Attack on the Capitol
Shenna Bellows concluded that Donald Trump significantly contributed to the events of January 6th by propagating election fraud lies to arouse his supporters. Trump knew of and backed actions to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election, setting the stage for the January 6th insurrection. Furthermore, Bellows found that Trump's fiery language and failure to promptly denounce the attack served as implicit support. Once the violence started, Trump's delay in responding indicated a serious neglect of his presidential responsibilities during the crisis.
Efforts to Keep Trump off Ballots Under the 14th Amendment
In light of the findings regarding Trump's participation in the insurrection, there are moves to disqualify him from future political office through the 14th Amendment. This constitutional measure may prevent any individual who has incited insurrection from holding public office.
Republican Embrace of Lost Cause Ideology and Lies About the Civil War
Current political narratives, especially within the Republican Party, are entwined with Lost Cause ideology and misrepresentations of the Civil War to remain politically viable. This mindset impacts how politicians like Nikki Haley respond to questions about historical events, tailoring their statements to align with the dominant party narrative shaped by Trump's influence.
Nikki Haley's False Claims About the Cause of the Civil War
Nikki Haley, when questioned about the cause of the Civil War, avoided stating that it was about slavery and instead framed it as an issue of government reach and personal liberties. This stance is consistent with the Lost Cause narrative, which minimizes the role of slavery in favor of other factors. Historians, however, firmly agree that slavery was central to the Civil War. In a later statement, Haley contradicted her earlier remarks by admitting that slavery was the root cause of the war.
Efforts to Keep Girls in High School in Malawi Through the KIND Fund
Away from politics, the KIND Fund is making strides in increasing the education rate for girls in Malawi by providing scholarships and essential school supplies, including shoes. While just 7% of girls there graduate from high school, efforts by the KIND Fund have enabled students like Audrino Kaipa to not only complete high school but also to advance to college. The fund also supports the provision of desks to Malawian schools, further assisting in the educational development of the region.
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Clarifications
- The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution includes a provision known as the "Disqualification Clause," which states that individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States may be disqualified from holding public office. This clause was originally intended to prevent former Confederates from reentering government positions after the Civil War. Efforts to disqualify individuals like Donald Trump from future political office under this clause stem from the belief that his actions surrounding the January 6th insurrection meet the criteria outlined in the 14th Amendment.
- Lost Cause ideology is a historical narrative that emerged after the Civil War, seeking to portray the Confederacy in a positive light and downplay the role of slavery in the conflict. It romanticizes the antebellum South, emphasizing states' rights and honor while minimizing the brutality of slavery. This ideology has been used to justify segregation, uphold Confederate symbols, and distort historical facts about the Civil War. It continues to influence political narratives, particularly within the Republican Party, shaping perspectives on race, history, and identity in the United States.
- Nikki Haley's initial avoidance of stating that the Civil War was about slavery aligns with the Lost Cause narrative, a historical revisionist ideology that downplays the role of slavery in the conflict. The Lost Cause narrative emerged after the Civil War and sought to portray the Confederacy in a more favorable light, emphasizing states' rights and downplaying slavery as the primary cause of the war. Haley's later admission that slavery was indeed the root cause of the war contradicted her earlier remarks, highlighting the complex and contentious historical interpretations surrounding the Civil War.
- The KIND Fund in Malawi focuses on increasing girls' education rates by providing scholarships, school supplies, and desks to schools. Their efforts have helped girls like Audrino Kaipa graduate high school and progress to college. The fund's impact includes improving educational opportunities and infrastructure in Malawi, aiming to address the low graduation rates among girls in the region.
Counterarguments
- Some may argue that Shenna Bellows' conclusion about Trump's role in the January 6th events is subjective and that there is room for interpretation regarding the extent of his influence.
- Critics might suggest that questioning the legitimacy of an election is within the rights of political figures, provided it is done within the legal framework and without incitement to violence.
- There could be a debate over whether Trump's language constituted implicit support for the insurrection or whether it was simply inflammatory political rhetoric.
- The delay in Trump's response to the January 6th attack could be argued as a failure in judgment rather than a deliberate neglect of presidential responsibilities.
- Opponents of using the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump might argue that such a move sets a dangerous precedent for disqualifying political figures and could be seen as undemocratic if not handled with clear and objective legal standards.
- Some Republicans may contend that their understanding of the Civil War and its causes is more nuanced than the Lost Cause ideology and that there is a legitimate historical debate over the multiple factors that led to the war.
- Regarding Nikki Haley's comments on the Civil War, some might argue that politicians often speak in broad terms to appeal to a wide audience and that her initial comments were an attempt to focus on themes of governance rather than a denial of the role of slavery.
- While historians agree on the centrality of slavery to the Civil War, some may point out that historical interpretation is complex and that other factors also played significant roles in the conflict.
- In reference to the KIND Fund, critics might argue that while the initiative is commendable, long-term sustainability and local empowerment are crucial, and such programs should ensure they are not creating dependency.
- There may be concerns about the effectiveness of foreign aid programs like the KIND Fund and whether they address the systemic issues that lead to low graduation rates for girls in Malawi.
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The Insurrection and Disqualification of Donald Trump
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows found evidence that Donald Trump played a significant role in instigating the attack on the Capitol on January 6. The findings were damning, with Bellows concluding that Trump not only used election fraud lies to inflame his supporters but also encouraged the use of violence and failed to take timely action once the violence erupted.
Trump's role instigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol
His use of election fraud lies to inflame supporters
Bellows concluded that Trump used the false narrative of election fraud to provoke his supporters. Evidence indicated that Trump was fully aware of and supported efforts to delegitimize the 2020 election, contributing to the events that led up to January 6th.
His encouragement of violence and initial support of the attack
Bellows found that Trump actively encouraged violence through incendiary rhetoric and initially supported the attack. Trump's actions and the lack of an immediate response to the violence were seen as a form of encouragement by his supporters.
His failure to take timely action to stop the violence
Furthermore, Bellows noted that Trump failed to take timely action to stop the violence on January 6th, which suggests a dereliction of his duties as president during a critical time.
Efforts to keep Trump off ballots under the 14th Amendment
Efforts are underway to keep Trump off ballots under the 14th Amendment based on the claim that he instigated an insurrection against the American government.
Republican embrace of Lost Cause ideology and lies about the Civil War
The discussion extends to how current political narratives, particularly among Republicans, incorporate elements of Lost Cause ideology and manipulate historical events for political survival. Nikki Haley, among other Republicans, must sidestep the truth and lie about the cause of the Civil War to maintain political relevance within a party influenced by Trumpian politics.
Nikki Haley's false claims about the cause of the Civil War
Nikki Haley was asked the cause of the United States Civil War during a campaign event and evaded mentioning slavery. She instead gave an answer centered on government oversight, individual freedoms, and restrictions, which was a falsehood. David Blight described Haley's response as tied to the Confederate Lost Cause ideology, which claims the war was not about slavery but about federal overreach. Historians a ...
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The Insurrection and Disqualification of Donald Trump
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Clarifications
- Efforts to keep Trump off ballots under the 14th Amendment involve attempts to disqualify him from running for office based on the argument that his actions instigated an insurrection against the U.S. government. This legal strategy aims to prevent Trump from appearing as a candidate in future elections by invoking the 14th Amendment, which addresses issues related to rebellion or insurrection against the United States. The 14th Amendment disqualification process is a constitutional mechanism that can be used to bar individuals from holding public office if they are found to have engaged in activities that go against the principles of the Constitution. This approach is a significant and contentious legal maneuver that seeks to address concerns about Trump's alleged role in inciting the events of January 6th.
- The Lost Cause ideology is a historical narrative that emerged after the American Civil War, seeking to portray the Confederacy in a positive light and downplay the role of slavery in the conflict. It romanticizes the antebellum South, glorifies Confederate leaders, and minimizes the impact of slavery. This ideology has been used to justify segregation, uphold white supremacy, and distort historical truths about the Civil War. Today, elements of the Lost Cause narrative persist in some political circles, influencing discussions on race, history, and identity in the United States.
- Nikki Haley made false claims about the cause of the Civil War by initially avoiding mentioning slavery and instead focusing on government oversight and individual freedoms, which contradicted historical consensus. Her response aligned with the Confederate Lost Ca ...
Counterarguments
- The evidence of Trump's role in the Capitol attack, while presented as conclusive by Shenna Bellows, may be subject to legal scrutiny and defense arguments that challenge the interpretation of his actions and statements.
- Some argue that Trump's claims of election fraud, while false, were a manifestation of his right to free speech and his genuine belief in the validity of those claims, rather than a deliberate attempt to incite violence.
- There is a perspective that Trump's rhetoric, although inflammatory, does not directly equate to an encouragement of violence, and that individuals are responsible for their own actions.
- The delay in Trump's response to the violence on January 6th could be argued as a result of confusion or poor advice from his team rather than a deliberate dereliction of duty.
- The application of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Trump from holding office is a legal argument that can be contested, with some legal scholars suggesting that its use for this purpose may be unprecedented and legally complex.
- While Nikki Haley's initial comments on the Civil War may align with Lost Cause ideology, it is possible that her statements were an attempt to address a broader range of issues rather tha ...
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