In his newsletter today, Dan Pfeiffer discusses the political ramifications of the DC Circuit’s ruling yesterday that Trump is not entitled to immunity for his crimes. (You can subscribe at the link.) An excerpt:
If there is one thing we know about Donald Trump it’s that he never lets anything go. He still takes time at his rallies to complain about the Mueller investigation into his campaign’s ties to Russia. I know our collective sense of time might be warped, but that investigation began SEVEN years ago.
Even if the Supreme Court rules against Trump or refuses to take up his appeal, he is never going to stop talking about why he should be immune from prosecution. Each missive is more unhinged than the last. Here’s what he posted on Truth Social (via an account that reposts his “Truths” to Twitter):
This reads like a bomb threat from a particularly illiterate person at the end of a coke binge. As a general rule, we should amend the Constitution to bar people who communicate in all caps from the presidency. It’s truly disqualifying.
In terms of politics, Trump’s insistence on immunity is not only politically self-sabotaging but also contradicts public opinion. The vast majority of Americans believe Trump has committed a crime. According to a recent Navigator Research poll, 63 percent of Americans — including 30 percent of Republicans — believe Trump has committed a crime.
When you step back for a minute, this is a truly stunning stat. That poll paints a stark picture: a considerable portion of voters actually believe Trump has broken the law, yet they’re still considering casting their vote for him come November. It’s a puzzling contradiction. But here’s the kicker: when the majority already see you as a wrongdoer, trying to pitch the idea of immunity becomes a tough sell. .
Also, and I find this very reassuring as an American, most voters oppose the concept that a president should be immune from prosecution. A PBS Newshour poll found that only 35% of voters support Trump having immunity from criminal prosecution from actions he took while in office.
We’re living in an era of extreme polarization where most issues tend to split the population right down the middle, with each side digging into their partisan trenches. It’s not often we come across an issue where the scales tip so heavily, with only 35% in favor and a significant 64% opposed. Trump’s staunch advocacy for the minority viewpoint presents us with a unique opportunity, and frankly, it’s one we shouldn’t pass up.
He goes on to say that research done on this subject shows that certain arguments work the best, this one in particular:
No one is above the law, not even a former president. When someone breaks the law, they should face repercussions. There shouldn’t be one justice system for everyday Americans and another for the rich and powerful where they pay no consequences for their crimes.
Pfeiffer adds:
Most of us aren’t crafting political ads; instead, we’re engaging in everyday conversations with friends and family to persuade them. That’s why it’s crucial to highlight Trump’s attorney’s admission about Trump’s belief that a president can’t be prosecuted for murder. This powerful example cuts through the noise and resonates with everyone—well, maybe except Trump himself.
In my personal experience, that argument is very effective. I had occasion to use it on a Trumper and he refused to believe it until I pulled it up on my phone. He was taken aback, to say the least. A lot of times these people just haven’t heard anything but Fox propaganda.
And I cannot help but note, once again, that for some reason we have never had this problem in our entire history until now. Nixon was a criminal and his successor pardoned him. Why would he have done that if a president has immunity? Bill Clinton was accused of committing perjury in a dismissed civil case and agreed to a plea deal with the special prosecutor one=ce he was out of office by giving up his law license. Why would he have done that if a president has immunity?
No, Trump is the biggest criminal we’ve ever had as president. He is totally corrupt, a disgusting adjudicated rapist, he stole classified documents and he tried to illegally overturn the election inciting an insurrection. Please. This is a first. And god help us, it had better be the last. If he isn’t held accountable I’m pretty sure it won’t be.