https://todon.eu/@CrimethInc/112782702007709408

The Trump campaign aims to use today’s shooting as a sort of Reichstag fire to incite his supporters to step up street violence while calling for more state repression targeting his enemies of choice.

The Biden campaign has already paused all outbound communications and withdrawn their television advertisements, ceding the entire field of narrative to Donald Trump, who will have no compunction about using his status as a victim to advance his efforts to victimize others.

One of the classic mechanics of totalitarianism is that protecting the safety of the leader becomes a justification for violence against large swathes of the population.

As centrists join the far right in paving the way for totalitarian rule under Trump, we have to organize to defend our communities. If you have been in denial about the challenges ahead of us, this should be a wake-up call to find each other and prepare for them.

  • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
    644·
    4 months ago

    The Biden campaign has already paused all outbound communications and withdrawn their television advertisements, ceding the entire field of narrative to Donald Trump, who will have no compunction about using his status as a victim to advance his efforts to victimize others.

    This is why we can’t have nice things. Fucking feckless Democrat leadership being timid in the face of a fascist takeover 🤦

    • perestroika@slrpnk.net
      27·
      4 months ago

      Knowing psychology, almost any PR advisor will advise to temporarily cease media attacks against a person who’s been shot.

      As a minimum, messages may need to be reworded, because Trump is likely to change his messaging after his narrow escape.

      • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
        111·
        4 months ago

        I see what you mean, but to go completely incommunicado is just shooting themselves in the foot and tacitly admitting that “Trump is even worse” is their ONLY strategy to avert what’s by now looking like almost inevitable defeat.

        • perestroika@slrpnk.net
          9·
          4 months ago

          The interesting part: Democrat officials made public statements about going silent for a while, and those statements reached headlines even in Europe. You can go silent and still have your statements in headlines.

          Also, as far as money and efficiency are involved - if they save money now, they can advertise more later. Currently, advertising against Trump would have a low efficiency, since he currently receives positive attention. I think their current action plan is “let’s wait for Trump to open his mouth”.

          • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
            101·
            4 months ago

            You can go silent and still have your statements in headlines.

            Yeah, but those statements were statements of sympathy and the Dems patting themselves on the back for taking the high road. At best, they won’t do anything, but more likely those statements all help Trump.

            if they save money now, they can advertise more later

            Sounds good in isolation, but the campaign was at the very beginning of an emergency push to claw itself out of a hole with a major PR offensive. They can absolutely NOT afford to take their foot off the gas right now.

            Later, they’ll just be bailing water from a ship that’s already on the bottom of the ocean.

            Currently, advertising against Trump would have a low efficiency

            Continuing to try to convince people that Biden is capable of doing the job would be just as effective and just as crucial for the survival of the campaign’s chances for success as it was yesterday.

            I think their current action plan is “let’s wait for Trump to open his mouth”

            Which is a ridiculously unwise plan. The right wing echo chamber music other for profit yellow press will treat any direct reaction to one of Trump’s ridiculous lies and fascist policy statements as a mean bully attacking a poor shooting victim who never harmed anyone.

            They were slowly beginning to either fool the country into believing that Biden is capable or picking a replacement but now neither is likely to happen and this will be the last free presidential election.

      • proleEnglish
        62·
        4 months ago

        OK, but this isn’t PR for a big budget film, this may decide whether we have a future as a republic or not.

        Definitely re-worded, but to just stop altogether is foolish and so short-sighted.

      • Muffi@programming.dev
        2·
        4 months ago

        Why wouldn’t it be smart to go full-on anti gun ownership as a PR response from the Democrats now?

        • GroundedGator@lemmy.world
          2·
          4 months ago

          Because you are a reasonable person.

          Everytime there is a violent act involving guns and the left says that we need to do something, the right will make excuses. This will not sway a single one of them to think the guns might be the problem.

          Gun sales will increase now because liberals are coming to take them.

    • rayyy@lemmy.world
      23·
      4 months ago

      Republicans have no principles. Democrats have no spine - Professor Alan Lichtman.

    • rayyy@lemmy.world
      7·
      4 months ago

      ceding the entire field of narrative to Donald Trump

      Does anyone else see a great money grift coming on? MAGAs will be sending their entire paycheck.