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A wider range of voices than you might think.
Fantasies of a more responsible, conciliatory, less racist President Trump than the one in evidence on the campaign trail died immediately with the elevation of white nationalist, virulent misogynist Breitbart news chief Steve Bannon to the post of White House chief strategist.
Demands for a reversal of this deplorable decision to appoint perhaps the biggest ringleader of “deplorables” to this influential post were immediate.
They even include some (but not enough) Republicans.
Nancy Pelosi:
“There must be no sugarcoating the reality that a white nationalist has been named chief strategist for the Trump administration.”
Michael Keegan, president of the progressive pressure group People for the American Way:
“By choosing Steve Bannon as chief strategist, Trump has made clear that he intends to carry the racism and anti-Semitism of his campaign straight into the White House. The website Bannon ran is a home for the white nationalist right that elevates racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic tirades and conspiracy theories.”
He continued: “This isn’t about partisan politics; no one with Bannon’s record should be anywhere near the White House.”
Glenn Beck:
“He’s a nightmare and he’s the chief adviser to the president of the United States now.”
John Weaver, Republican strategist who ran John Kasich’s campaign:
“The racist, fascist extreme right is represented footsteps from the Oval Office. Be very vigilant, America.”
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism:
“In his roles as editor of the Breitbart website and as a strategist in the Trump campaign, Mr. Bannon was responsible for the advancement of ideologies antithetical to our nation, including anti-Semitism, misogyny, racism and Islamophobia. There should be no place for such views in the White House.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations:
Bannon’s selection “sends the disturbing message that anti-Muslim conspiracy theories and white nationalist ideology will be welcome in the White House.”
Southern Poverty Law Center:
“In his victory speech, Trump said he intended to be president for ‘all Americans.' Bannon should go.”
Oh, but it’s okay because, Newt Gingrich, Kellyanne Conway and Mike Huckabee all think Bannon is dandy.
Newt Gingrich:
"... But the fact is—and you get this with all these smears of Steve Bannon. Steve Bannon was a naval officer. He was a managing partner of Goldman Sachs. He was a Hollywood movie producer. You know, the idea that somehow he represents―I had never heard of the alt-right until the nutcakes started writing about it.”
Using anti-Semitism to fight anti-Semitism. Brilliant!
Kellyanne Conway:
“Frankly, people should look at the full resume ... I’m personally offended that you think I would manage a campaign where that would be one of the going philosophies.”
Really? What campaign was she involved in?
Reince Priebus:
“He’s very, very smart, he’s very temperate.”
Reminder: This temperate fellow once praised Michele Bachmann, Ann Coulter and Sarah Palin by pointing out that they are not, “a bunch of dykes that came from the Seven Sisters schools up in New England.”
Paul Ryan:
“I’ve never met the guy, so I have no concerns.”
Weird logic, all right. Has he met David Duke?
Mike Huckabee:
“Critics of Steve Bannon know he’s smarter and tougher than they are. When CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) doesn’t like you, that is a good thing.”
Note to the Huckster: It’s time to stfu.
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