From "Twelve More Years!" to "Lock Her Up!" Donald Trump Whips Proto-Fascist Michigan Crowd Into Frenzy by Jon Queally!
(2020-10-20 at 22:27:51 )

From "Twelve More Years!" to "Lock Her Up!" Donald Trump Whips Proto-Fascist Michigan Crowd Into Frenzy by Jon Queally!

"Donald Trump held a Nazi rally in Michigan. There is no other way to describe it."

United States President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally on October 17, 2020 in Muskegon, Michigan. President Trump has ramped up his schedule of public events as he continues to campaign against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ahead of the November election.

From encouraging his supporters to chant "Lock her up!" against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to again trolling the nation with the idea that he would ultimately stay in power longer than the constitutionally-mandated two-term limit, President Donald Trumps fascist instincts-leanings also clearly shared by many in the crowd-were on full display at a Michigan rally Saturday, just over two weeks before Election Day.

Earlier this month, federal agents said they foiled a plot by far-right individuals to kidnap Gov. Whitmer over Michigans Covid-19 health restrictions, but that did not stop Donald Trump from going after her in his remarks at the event in Muskegon.

"You have got to get your governor to open up your state," Donald Trump said to cheers from the crowd. Acknowledging the recent plot against Ms Whitmer but downplaying its seriousness-"I guess they say she was threatened," Donald Trump said-the president railed against what he called "draconian, unscientific" lockdowns that public health experts have specifically and repeatedly said are crucial to stem severe outbreaks and keep the pandemic in check.

In response to Donald Trumps comments about Ms Whitmer, the crowd began chanting "Lock her up!" As the chant spread and grew louder, Donald Trump said into the microphone: "Lock them all up!" which seemed to be reference to other Democratic lawmakers in the state or elsewhere who have pursued-unlike the president and many GOP-led state governments-robust public safety measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Donald Trump says "lock them all up" as his fans direct "lock her up!" chants toward Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was the victim of a kidnapping-assassination plot recently hatched by Donald Trump supporters -Aaron Rupar October 17, 2020

Even as the rally continued, Gov. Whitmer responded in real-time to condemn Donald Trumps rhetoric and goading of the crowd.

"This is exactly the rhetoric that has put me, my family, and other government officials lives in danger while we try to save the lives of our fellow United States of Americans," Ms Whitmer tweeted. "It needs to stop."

Donald Trumps behavior in MI, stoking a "lock her up" chant about Gov Whitmer-just 9 days after a plot to kidnap her was discovered-is simply incitement to violence.-Abdul El-Sayed, MD, DPhil October 17, 2020

Later, when the crowd began chanting "Four more years! Four more years!" in favor of Donald Trumps reelection, the president interjected and said: "You really drive them crazy if you say 12 more years-12 more years. Then they say "He is a fascist!""

In response, the eager crowd followed his lead and chanted: "Twelve more years! Twelve more years!"

"Joe Biden will surrender our country to the mob," Donald Trump told his supporters, vowing that if reelected he would "save our country from the mob."

Donald Trump then promised to build in his second term what he dubbed the National Garden of American Heroes-or maybe, he said, it would be called "The Trump Garden of American Heroes"-as well as instituting a new pro-United States of America education curriculum for the nations students designed to counter critical explorations of United States history that have become reviled by the Republican Party and other right-wing factions.

Donald Trump then returned to the idea-as he has repeatedly during his first term-that he would find a way to remain in power not for just one more term, but perhaps indefinitely.

"We will be here for four years, and then if we decide to go for an extra four, or eight, or something," Donald Trump said.

In response to the display by the Republican president and his supporters, writer and political analyst Jodi Jacobson tweeted Saturday night: "Donald Trump held a Nazi rally in Michigan. There is no other way to describe it."

Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.