Bill Barr’s latest atrocity
by digby
Bill Barr added to his long list of fascistic comments in a speech this week. Like authoritarians before him, he warned the people that unless they “respect” the government, they shouldn’t expect the government to protect them from criminals:
But I think today, American people have to focus on something else, which is the sacrifice and the service that is given by our law enforcement officers. And they have to start showing, more than they do, the respect and support that law enforcement deserves ― and if communities don’t give that support and respect, they might find themselves without the police protection they need.
That’s the Attorney General of the United States of America, not even pretending to adhere to American values.
Emptywheel made the right point about this
HuffPo asked who he meant to include in this comment, but DOJ refused to answer.
So I guess we should just assume Barr means to target his comments at the most visible critic of policing powers in the country, Donald Trump, who routinely attacks law enforcement on his high follower Twitter account. That would suggest that the Attorney General just threatened to withdraw the protection of the FBI from the President, his family, and all his flunkies last night.
Bill Barr and I totally disagree on policing, so it’s no surprise we disagree here. I think the FBI should continue to protect Trump and his associates, even while they investigate some of them for their criminal behavior. I think it’s a rash threat, on Barr’s part, to withdraw that support simply because Trump doesn’t like being investigated like any other suspected criminals.
If only. Unfortunately, we all know that Barr will do ANYTHING to protect Trump. He’s speaking to American people of color and citizens who protest the government.
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