“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” There are so many obvious, mundane things that connect men like Donald Trump, Roger Ailes, and Bill O’Reilly. They’re all white men. They’re all old. But the truly creepy thing about them is the power they wield over other’s peoples’ lives. These men are in fact rulers of mini universes, and it is within these universes that we see their true character. The recent revelations about Trump’s behavior toward women; the characterizing of Ailes’ Fox News Corp. as a “sex-fueled Playboy mansion;” and O’Reilly’s role as second in command of sexually harassing women at Fox News Corp. show us what happens when the unhinged think—and act like—they can do whatever they want. Such an attitude is clinically referred to as narcissistic personality disorder. That’s another commonality this demonic trio (more than likely) shares.
As distasteful as Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly are, neither of them is running for president of the United States. Donald Trump is the Republican party’s nominee. Donald Trump. The man who described his crime of sexual assault as “just talk.” Donald Trump. The man who glared at and hovered over his Democratic party rival Hillary Clinton numerous times throughout their second debate like he was going to physically assault her. The terror involved in depending on men like these for livelihoods and career advancement must be unbearable. The terror of one of them becoming commander in chief? Unimaginable.
Recent revelations about all three of these men should not be surprising. They are long known to be racist bigots but for Trump, Ailes and O’Reilly, there appears to be some kind disconnect, some cognitive dissonance when it comes to sexism. For far too many, the connections between racists and haters of women/the feminine seem to be blurred—or ignored altogether. That’s unfortunate not only because of the injustice involved, but because so much information is available, literally in front of our noses.
Hopefully, clarity has begun to sink in. Because time is running out.
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