How ‘Stop the Steal’ Captured the American Right

[BidenPresident]

The movement to reinstate President Trump has gone far beyond him — and now threatens the future of American elections.

In 17 of the 27 states holding elections this year for secretary of state — the top elections officer in 24 states — at least one Republican candidate is running on the claim that the 2020 election was illegitimate, according to the States United Democracy Center, a nonpartisan democracy watchdog organization. In four of the eight Republican primaries held so far, that candidate has won.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/19/magazine/stop-the-steal.html

 

[BidenPresident]

The Pennsylvania State Capitol, in Harrisburg, is a Beaux-Arts landmark that on its eastern side echoes the west terrace of the U.S. Capitol, and the scene there on Nov. 7, 2020, four days after Election Day, strikingly prefigured the one in Washington two months later. On the plaza below, more than a thousand strong, were the Donald Trump faithful, in MAGA hats and every possible variation of red, white and blue clothing, waving the banners of the campaign. “Stop the steal!” they chanted. “Stop the steal!”

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/19/magazine/stop-the-steal.html

 

[martin]

Interesting column. Didn't know "America is a republic not a democracy", a catch phrase of the Right, came from the long gone John Birch Society. Why conservatives have wanted and still want to demean democracy is puzzling though why they are illiterate about doing it isn't. A republic is a democracy, as is every other nation state except a monarchy. Maybe the Right wants us to be like The People's Republic of China, or the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

 

[BidenPresident]

Interesting column. Didn't know "America is a republic not a democracy", a catch phrase of the Right, came from the long gone John Birch Society. Why conservatives have wanted and still want to demean democracy is puzzling though why they are illiterate about doing it isn't. A republic is a democracy, as is every other nation state except a monarchy.

Agree. The people arguing that our nation is not a democracy are the ones wanting authoritarianism. They really are opposed to democracy.