The above quote was made by Henry Wallace, Vice President once under FDR during WWII, when the country was at war with fascism more than 80 years ago. It is dangerous again today, only that threat has come home. Most politicians today not in America’s fascist Republican Party seem to avoid calling them by their real name. And by doing so are avoiding the elephant in the room. Especially since Hillary Clinton was blasted for warning us of those dangers in 2016 by the corporate controlled media when she claimed that half of Trump’s supporters could be compared to “a basket of deplorables.” In politics, telling the truth can be dangerous and backfire on you big time.
I think most would agree that Wallace and later Hillary understood where the roots of fascism come from, as many other did at the time. And today the corporate monopoly which owns and runs the mass media has made it, by its silence on the matter, a key battle ground issue to defend and save American democracy. And America’s profoundly racist history presents the bulls eye for where and with who in the white masses to build a fascist movement upon.
Is There a Way to Stop Fascism?
Which bring me to the so far unanswered question of whether or not those of us opposed to the rising fascist movement have in our hands a way to defeat it’s rise? The corporate owned media, perhaps unintentionally and perhaps not so unintentionally, avoids labeling the new Republican Party as either authoritarian or fascist or anything even close to that, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. This is in effect an important bias which enables the fascist movement to be legitimized. Part of the motive might be business profits orientated, there not wanting to lose or piss off the Republican rank and file or their leadership. The other reasons relate to their corporate news reports not leaning Democrat because the latter are backing policies measure of reform and tax reform notions which will negatively affect corporate profitability. Neither are legitimate excuses.
The Corporate Media Gives Equal Time or Better to the Fascists
Either way, the corporate media is giving, at minimum, equal time to the fascists in the public arena in their coverage. And not allowing the pressing national issues that are at the heart of what’s happening to our Democracy and Constitutional government to be debated or discussed. The media has also provided a level of cover for the rank obstructionism of the Republicans in covering up impeachable offenses by their president, including the coup attempt on January 6th, and their almost universal blocking of much needed progressive legislation, for which they blamed President Biden and never the Republicans.
Forcing the Proverbial Cat Out the Bag
One way which comes to mind to put a lot of pressure on the media to stop effectively acting as a mouthpiece for the fascists is to launch a national debate on whether to preserve our democracy or destroy it and allow it die in the hands of an authoritarian dictator. Force the cat out of the bag, so to speak, and try to force the media to take sides. Use the word authoritarian, dictatorship and fascism. Break the blackout in the media on using these words and concepts. Timing, planning, and coordination, along with a massive Spring demonstration in support of Democracy and reform, should be considered. Inaction in this could easily lead to defeat and demoralization.
The time has long since past that we should wait for the corporate friendly media to cover the fascist planned takeover of America. I call on the Democratic Party leadership to recognize the mortal danger we are in. If the Republican fascists succeed in their goals to repress the massive numbers of progressive black and progressive white voters in the states they control, they will have succeeded without having to pull off another coup. Without the free and unhindered right to vote, it will be replaced by violence and assassination to settle matters. I think even a decent percentage of Trumpers, while not being won over to the progressive side, can be made to see the real motives of their party if the issue of authoritarian control comes true and the right to vote becomes meaningless. The Centrist Democratic leadership has already done a very poor job of countering the big election lies of Trump. It’s time to lead or step aside. And rebuild moral among Democratic and progressive voters.