#Charlottesville again?
Alt-Right leader and pundit Richard Spencer returned to Charlottesville on Oct 7th with about two dozen Alt-Right supporters. They hollered for 10 minutes beside a (covered) Confederate statue. Then, local Police peaceably escorted the Alt-Right yellow bus out of Charlottesville.
The national media stayed home, offered cursory coverage, and re-printed local stories.
Trump’s strategy? Let the events play out in #Charlottesville. Trump offered mealy-mouthed acceptance for the Alt-Right. He let his extremist supporters have the day and kept his far-right base satisfied. In a few weeks, national media redirected us to even more extreme Trump fucked up craziness.
Sorry, I am calling it. Without any political fallout, we never compelled Trump to renounce white supremacy, or even say racism was bad. Are Democrats completely disorganized and feckless? Do dissenting Republicans just sit on their hands to save their sorry asses in 2018 elections? Our politicians are pathetic on both sides of the aisle, but more important, statesmanship is absolutely and clearly dead in the US Congress. It has no power at the polling booth.
Trump’s demonstrated bankruptcy of morals and pandering to extremist conservative voters should surprise no one. The warm embrace of open racism probably made Trump even more popular with the far-right block. The White Nationalist movement, shouting from the fringe, played its part. Give credit where it’s due: well-played, White House.
The Alt-Right drive for national stature is mostly over. Alt-Right, you still here? Expect mostly local news coverage from now on. August’s far-right fringe gatherings garnered sufficient national exposure, and satisfied Trump’s radical conservative voter base.
#Charlottesville let White Nationalists down easy and escorted them politely off stage, and out of the national media limelight. Trump moved on, but keep your shields and torches ready in case he needs you later. Further free speech events are scheduled, and University of Florida braced, but future host venues just look for excuses to cancel.
Alt-Right’s 15 seconds of national fame? Just about over.
