In one of his most troubling recent comments, former President Donald Trump made an urgent plea for support from the women of America at a Pennsylvania rally on Monday night: “I will be your protector.”
Actually, if you missed it, his extended remarks really are worth your time. “I am your protector. I want to be your protector. As president, I have to be your protector,” Trump averred, before warning that the “fake news” will make too much of his words.
“You will no longer be abandoned, lonely or scared…You will no longer be in danger,” he continued. “You will no longer have anxiety from all of the problems our country has today. You will be protected, and I will be your protector.”
Finally, a president who can cure anxiety!
Then, sounding like a snake oil salesman promising a miracle tonic, he added, “Women will be happy, healthy, confident and free.”
And finally, the non-sequitur coup de grace: “You will no longer be thinking about abortion.”
Trump has said many things over the years that could be construed as misogynistic, paternalistic, condescending and even quasi-fascistic. But this one struck me as an underrated example of Trump revealing his dark worldview.
Let’s start with the assumption that........