Our increasingly poisonous and divisive politics took a deadly turn over the last week with a deranged, white supremacist Trump supporter sending some of the biggest targets of President Trump’s caustic and over-the-top personal attacks pipe bombs through the mail and a self-proclaimed anti-Semite killing 11 Jewish Americans and injuring 6 others during a worship service at the Tree of Live Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Unfortunately, these are not merely isolated and random incidents. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) there was a 57% increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes in 2017--the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency. Bias incidents in general also jumped up significantly last year. A recently released comprehensive analysis of online activity conducted by the ADL, which included interviews with Jewish social media experts, reports that, “Those interviewed spoke about the rise of an emboldened anti-Semitic community online and consistently correlated this rise with the election of Donald Trump.”
Whether the president intends it or not, one consequence of his rhetoric has been the emboldening of the Alt-Right, White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis and bigots of all stripes. This is not to say he is responsible for the violent acts of a deranged few. But his refusal to clearly and consistently renounce bigotry and his continued nodding and winking to the fringe right has made an already fraught situation, even worse.
The polarized, partisan and increasingly tribal nature of our politics, however, preceded President Trump and in fact created fertile soil for his divide and demonize approach. Fixing this is not just the responsibility of our leaders; it begins with us. Research shows, for example, that both self-identified Democrats and Republicans are much more likely to view members of the other party as not only wrong, but evil than they were 20 years ago. Too often, we live in our own silos, consuming media that reinforces our own beliefs, convinced of our own righteousness and persuaded that we have nothing to learn from people with whom we disagree.
We must all work to change the tone and focus more on what brings us together as Americans-rather than what tears us apart. We must reward elected officials who search for common ground through principled compromise-rather than punish them for being insufficiently pure. If we reward constructive problem solving and civility at the polls, self-interested politicians will provide more of it.
It is especially important that we all think about the roles we can play because we can expect no assistance from our president in healing our divisions. President Trump’s reaction to the pipe bombs was telling and predictable. He took no responsibility for improving the tone of the political debate and blamed the media. Even worse, his reason for blaming the media was not a merit-based reasoned appeal to all media whatever its’ ideological perspective to be more respectful of the opposition and tone down vitriolic attacks; it was that media was too critical and unfair to him.
President Trump is simply never going to look in the mirror-at least not to do anything other than admire his reflection. He is simply not going to appeal to our better angels. That makes it all the more important that we all look inside ourselves and reach out to our fellow Americans, whether we agree or disagree with their politics. It is up to each of us to get back in touch with our common values and heal our nation
Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.
Related Slideshow: GoLocal Statewide Poll - FULL RESULTS, Conducted by Harvard’s Della Volpe Oct. 2018
Sponsor: GoLocal Prov
Sample: N=502 Rhode Island General Election Voters
Interviewing Period: October 5 – October 9, 2018
Directed by: John Della Volpe, Harvard University, SocialSphere, Inc.
Slideshow: responses are not in the order of the questionnaire
This question is about the total income of YOUR HOUSEHOLD for the PAST 12 MONTHS. Please include your income PLUS the income of all members living in your household (including cohabiting partners and armed forces members living at home).
What particular ethnic group or nationality - such as English, French, Italian, Irish, Latino, Jewish, African American, and so forth - do you consider yourself a part of or feel closest to?
When it comes to voting, do you consider yourself to be affiliated with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Moderate, or Unaffiliated with a major party?
In November, there will be a statewide general election for Governor and many other state offices. How likely is it that you will vote in this election? Will you definitely be voting, will you probably be voting, are you 50-50...
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Will ensure that we have high-quality affordable health care.
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Will make government more accountable to the people.
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Is committed to improving education in public schools.
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
Next is a series of qualities and attributes that candidates for Governor could possess. Which candidate for Governor does each attribute apply to most? [RANDOMIZED]
If the election for Governor were held today and the candidates were: [ROTATE] Democrat Gina Raimondo, Republican Allan Fung and Independent Joe Trillo, for whom would you vote?
Attorney generals in several states have begun investigating sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy, opening investigations and issuing subpoenas for documents.
Do you favor or oppose the Rhode Island Attorney General opening an investigation into the Archdiocese of Providence on issues related to possible sexual abuse of children?
If the election for the U.S. Senate were held today and the candidates were: [ROTATE] Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse and Republican Robert Flanders, for whom would you vote?
Recently, it was announced that state officials approved a fast-track regulatory review of Massachusetts based Partners HealthCare’s proposed takeover of Care New England, Rhode Island’s second-largest hospital system, and operator Women & Infants, Butler and Kent Hospitals. [RANDOMIZED]
Do you believe the quality of care for Rhode Islanders will:
Recently, it was announced that state officials approved a fast-track regulatory review of Massachusetts based Partners HealthCare’s proposed takeover of Care New England, Rhode Island’s second-largest hospital system, and operator Women & Infants, Butler and Kent Hospitals. [RANDOMIZED]
Do you believe the number of jobs available to Rhode Islanders will:
Earlier this year, legislation was filed in the General Assembly that would require that all Rhode Island public schools have a school resource officer on the premises -- if a school has over 1,200 students -- two school resource officers would need to be present.
Do you support or oppose expanding Rhode Island’s free college tuition program at the
Community College of Rhode Island to the state’s two four-year colleges so that the last two
years of tuition at Rhode Island College and URI would be free for those recent high school
graduates, who are in a solid academic standing, and on track to graduate in four years? It is estimated that the cost of the program would be $35 million.
Do you support or oppose an Educational Bill of Rights for students and parents in Rhode Island that includes:
1) The right to be taught by effective teachers.
2) The right not to be taught by teachers who, after due process evaluation, fail to meet standards established by state and local education officials.
3) The right to appropriate academic materials and resources.
4) The right to safe, clean and environmental-friendly school facilities.
5) The right to emotionally supportive schools that do not tolerate harassment, discrimination or abuse.
6) The right to attend a school where funding is based on student need with the goal of providing
access to adequate educational opportunities.
7) The right to a pathway out of a failing school.
8) The right to a fair, accurate and transparent assessment system that measures student
performance and need.
9) The right of parents to current and reliable information about their child’s progress and performance.
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