John Kasich has released a devastating new ad that links Donald Trump with a version of the famous quote from German Pastor Martin Niemoller about the Nazis.
x YouTube VideoMy own (hopefully correct) transcription. On screen text identifies speaker as Col. Tom Moe, US Air Force, Vietnam POW.
(dramatic music)
I would like anyone who is listening to consider some thoughts that I've paraphrased from the words of German Pastor Martin Niemoller.
You might not care if Donald Trump says Muslims must register with the government because you're not one. And you might not care if Donald Trump says he's going to round up all the Hispanic immigrants because you're not one. And you might not care if Donald Trump says it's OK to rough up black protesters because you're not one. And you might not care that Donald Trump wants to suppress journalist because you're not one. But think about his, if he keeps going and he actually becomes President he might just get around to you and you better hope that's there someone left to help you.
There are different version of the original but according to the wiki page for Martin Niemoller this is the version he preferred.
When the Nazis came for the communists, I did not speak out; As I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats, I did not speak out; I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; As I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews, I did not speak out; As I was not a Jew.
When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.
Make no mistake about it but Kasich is linking Donald Trump directly to the Nazis. I see this as a sea change as far as inter-party Republican attacks against Trump . None have come anywhere near close to this. It couldn’t be more direct unless it had superimposed a swastika on Trump’s arm.
I’m sure I’m not the only one here who hasn’t already thought the exact same things about Trump as was expressed in this ad but to hear another Republican say it out loud just astounds me. They aren’t renowned for their introspection.
No way of knowing if this will have a negative effect on Trump’s campaign. Nothing else has. Kasich is so far back in the pack I wonder if Trump will even acknowledge it. But it would make a good visual with Trump standing behind a podium ranting and raving loudly about how he isn’t a Nazi and he’s nothing like Hitler all the while gesticulating madly with his arms and blaming various minority groups.
Wonder how many in the Republican base won’t even know the original context. A more depressing thought is how many of Donald’s fervent supports will see the ad and think that the Col. Moe is right. It doesn’t apply to them. They aren’t Hispanic, or Black or Muslim but are the real Americans and have nothing to worry about. Trump will look after them.
I didn’t believe it was possible that in my lifetime I’d see what it must have been like when Hitler came to power. I was wrong. I bet it looked just. like. this.