When our president says do it … that means that it is not illegal
We keep saying MAGA is a cult of personality surrounding Donald Trump. Exhibit Infinity is this clip below from MSNBC.
None of what we are seeing is new, Bishop William Barber said here on Saturday, referring to conservatives’ voter suppression efforts since before the Civil Rights era. But I can’t help seeing how the MAGA defense of all crimes Trump-related calls back to former President Richard Nixon’s famous 1977 interview with David Frost:
Frost: So, what in a sense you’re saying is that there are certain situations and the Huston plan or that part of it was one of them where the president can decide that it’s in the best interest of the nation or something and do something illegal.
Nixon: Well, when the president does it … that means that it is not illegal.
Frost: By definition –
Nixon: Exactly … exactly….
Plotting to overturn an election, battling police, sacking the Capitol, stealing state secrets … it’s all legal, by definition, if the president does it or sanctions it.
If there is blame to be assigned for Jan. 6, Joe Scarborough observes, the MAGA panel believes it’s Nancy Pelosi’s fault, it’s Democratic operatives’ fault, it’s the Capitol Police’s fault. Those arrested for the violence are political prisoners, etc. They have mainlined the kool-aid. Some of them probably have no memory of Nixon, but excusing their own for what are clearly crimes is nothing new, is it?