By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
The whole "nationalist" thing, when it comes to Trump, has always confused me. The classic definition of nationalism, based on the writings of the Founding Fathers, and other persons from that era, is that nationalism is the call for a strong national identity through a powerful centralized government. While patriotism is love of country, nationalism is love of government. Alexander Hamilton, and his big government allies, were nationalists. They imagined America as being the next great empire that would replace Britain as the nation over which the sun would never set.
Thomas Jefferson, while envisioning the expansion of the territories and States under the name "United States of America", foresaw the republic's future as being very different. Rather than "nationalism," he embraced the concept of republicanism. Under republicanism, while the expansion of the United States may still occur, patriots like Jefferson envisioned that growth being through territories and countries voluntarily applying to become States in the United States (if it had not been for the Missouri Compromise, based on their requests for joining the United States, much of northern Mexico, Cuba, and the Yucatan Peninsula would States in the U.S.).
The advent of fascism, and more specifically, Hitler's Nazism, which led to the Second World War, changed the original definition of nationalism. The National Workers Socialist Party (Nazi) altered the definition of nationalism, from the rest of civilization's point of view, to mean "master race" (racism), and "marked by a feeling of superiority over other nations". Then, during recent events in America, in dictionaries the word nationalism has become a synonym for patriotism. From the Founders point of view, those words were antonyms.
Since "marked by a feeling of superiority over other nations" is now considered a fascist definition in the minds of the Marxist Democrats who seek equality at any expense, even if that means equality in misery, Trump's America First message was twisted into being a fascist message.
The liberal left has, since the election of Donald Trump (of whom they now regularly call a nationalist) lumped anything they disagree with into the nationalism pile of soundbites. From their point of view, nationalism is a racist, white supremacist, gun-toting, bible-thumping, segment of society who wants to bring back Jim Crow laws, and are willing to treat the Muslims and Mexicans the same way the Nazis treated the Jews.
Except, their all-things-against-liberalism definition of nationalism is not fully accurate. In fact, the more notorious things they claim to be nationalist are actually close to being correct, but it's not Republicans that embrace those things. White Nationalism was created by the Democrat Party during the Civil War Era. The KKK was created by the Democrat Party to act as a militant arm of the party to stop blacks and white Republicans from voting in The South during the Reconstruction Period. Jim Crow laws were also a creation of the Democrat Party. As for the strong central government as suggested nationalism means by the Founding Fathers, isn't it also the Democrats who constantly seek to expand the powers of the federal government, despite the fact that such expansion is in complete opposition to the United States Constitution?
As for the myth about the Dixiecrats flipping the political parties so that all of the racists in the South (Southern Strategy) changed over from Democrats to Republicans during the Sixties and Seventies. . . that is not true. The Democrat Party is still the party of slavery, Jim Crow laws, the KKK, and racism.
When it comes to the modern definition of nationalism, the "Bible-Thumping", "gun-toting" part was added because of the liberal left's disdain for God, and their disagreement with enabling a population the arms to defend themselves against the tyranny the leftists so eagerly desire.
In short, most of what the liberal left Democrats accuse Trump of being are actually attributes of the Democrat Party, but because they threw "religion" into the mix, they claim his alliance with church leaders just proves he's some kind of fascist nationalist even more so.
The problem is, people believe the rhetoric because they don't realize that the lexicon has been altered, and the whole thing is based on a false premise.
During the early years of the United States, the constitutional principles and philosophies that guided this country were very simple. The authorities the federal government have are expressly enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, and if the power is not listed, the federal government does not have the power; the federal government was created to handle the external issues, conflicts between the States, or anything that directly influences protecting, promoting, or preserving the union; the States are unique, individual, autonomous entities who handle their own issues and interests within their borders (Tenth Amendment: Since the States have original authority over all issues, if the federal government does not have an authority over an issue, and the issue is not prohibited to the States, the authority over the issue belongs to the States); we do not have three co-equal branches, the Congress is supposed to be the strongest of the three, followed by the President, and the judiciary; separation of church and state does not exist in the Constitution - the politicians prayed, and the pastors preached politics, but both restrained themselves from taking control of the other - the strength of America was in its churches - even Benjamin Franklin understood that "only a virtuous people are capable of freedom".
If we are not a godly country, we are not capable of liberty, or the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
On Friday, President Donald Trump addressed the Values Voter Summit, a gathering of Christian conservatives who call for America to return to being a godly nation, and a group who expects our leaders to place God above politically perceived government powers and elite positions.
Trump, to the consternation of the Democrats, summed it up nicely at the Christian convention. "We Don't Worship Government, We Worship God."
The Values Voter Summit first emerged during the George W. Bush presidency in 2006, but neither Bush, nor Obama, ever attended. Trump, however, gladly accepted their invitation, and last Friday he reminded Christian voters that he is in their corner. "We know that it's the family and the church — not government officials — who know best how to create strong and loving communities," Trump told them.
Trump continued his claim that he plans to do what he can to protect religious liberty. The appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court was a part of that effort. The crowd gave the President a standing ovation.
Trump noted he signed a religious liberty order on the National Day of Prayer that eased enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, which involves government in the political activity of churches (an unenforceable law that is not only unconstitutional, but has never caused a church to lose its non-profit status, anyway). Trump added that on another front to protect religious liberty, with an executive order he weakened the contraception mandate in Obamacare.
"We are stopping cold the attacks on Judeo-Christian values," Trump said to applause.
Since the Republicans in Congress have refused to simply repeal Obamacare like they promised when they were a minority under Obama, Trump has been working to weaken the Affordable Care Act where he can through executive orders, beginning with his order to end subsidies paid to lower income individuals. Not only does the federal government not have the authority to subsidize health care, but the establishment of those payments eliminated the safety net programs of the States which were less expensive, more accessible, and constitutional. Trump explained that without a repeal by Congress, his effort would have to be a "step by step by step" process and that the latest action to kill the subsidies was a "big step."
"We're taking a little different route than we had hoped, because getting Congress — they forget what their pledges were," Trump said. "So we're going a little different route. But you know what? In the end, it's going to be just as effective, and maybe it'll even be better."
The crowd also applauded Trump's recent criticism of NFL players who have knelt during the national anthem. He received a standing ovation when he proclaimed that "we respect our great American flag."
The biggest applause erupted when Trump said, "We're saying 'Merry Christmas' again."
"And as a Christmas gift to all of our hardworking families, we hope Congress will pass massive tax cuts for the American people," Trump continued. "That includes increasing the child tax credit and expanding it to eliminate the marriage penalty. Because we know that the American family is the true bedrock of American life."
When he talked about our efforts overseas in the war against Islamic Terrorism, unlike his predecessor, Trump was willing to use the language that identifies the enemy; "radical Islamic terrorism."
"In this administration, we will call evil by its name," Trump said. "We stand with our friends and allies, we forge new partnerships in pursuit of peace and we take decisive action against those who would threaten our people with harm."
"In protecting America's interests abroad, we will always support our cherished friend and partner the state of Israel."
"We're confronting rogue regimes from Iran to North Korea," he continued. "And we are challenging the communist dictatorship of Cuba and the socialist oppression of Venezuela. And we will not lift the sanctions on these repressive regimes until they restore political and religious freedom for their people."
When referring to the recent shooting in Las Vegas, Trump used words like "courage" and "resilience" to describe what he saw when visiting the victims in Nevada, and also while touring areas devastated by hurricanes in Texas and Florida.
Since the Republicans in Congress have refused to simply repeal Obamacare like they promised when they were a minority under Obama, Trump has been working to weaken the Affordable Care Act where he can through executive orders, beginning with his order to end subsidies paid to lower income individuals. Not only does the federal government not have the authority to subsidize health care, but the establishment of those payments eliminated the safety net programs of the States which were less expensive, more accessible, and constitutional. Trump explained that without a repeal by Congress, his effort would have to be a "step by step by step" process and that the latest action to kill the subsidies was a "big step."
"We're taking a little different route than we had hoped, because getting Congress — they forget what their pledges were," Trump said. "So we're going a little different route. But you know what? In the end, it's going to be just as effective, and maybe it'll even be better."
The crowd also applauded Trump's recent criticism of NFL players who have knelt during the national anthem. He received a standing ovation when he proclaimed that "we respect our great American flag."
The biggest applause erupted when Trump said, "We're saying 'Merry Christmas' again."
"And as a Christmas gift to all of our hardworking families, we hope Congress will pass massive tax cuts for the American people," Trump continued. "That includes increasing the child tax credit and expanding it to eliminate the marriage penalty. Because we know that the American family is the true bedrock of American life."
When he talked about our efforts overseas in the war against Islamic Terrorism, unlike his predecessor, Trump was willing to use the language that identifies the enemy; "radical Islamic terrorism."
"In this administration, we will call evil by its name," Trump said. "We stand with our friends and allies, we forge new partnerships in pursuit of peace and we take decisive action against those who would threaten our people with harm."
"In protecting America's interests abroad, we will always support our cherished friend and partner the state of Israel."
"We're confronting rogue regimes from Iran to North Korea," he continued. "And we are challenging the communist dictatorship of Cuba and the socialist oppression of Venezuela. And we will not lift the sanctions on these repressive regimes until they restore political and religious freedom for their people."
When referring to the recent shooting in Las Vegas, Trump used words like "courage" and "resilience" to describe what he saw when visiting the victims in Nevada, and also while touring areas devastated by hurricanes in Texas and Florida.
He also had a few words for the fake news being put out by the media, largely in relation to his administration's response to Puerto Rico being hit by two hurricanes. He said he was in contact with leaders in all the ravaged areas. Evidence has shown that in reality, in some cases, Puerto Rico's leadership has failed to take proper actions regarding the incoming federal aid.
While this was the first time Trump addressed the Values Voter Summit as President of the United States, it was actually his third speech to the Christian conservative gathering; previously speaking at the event in 2015 as a candidate and then in 2016 as the Republican presidential nominee.
While this was the first time Trump addressed the Values Voter Summit as President of the United States, it was actually his third speech to the Christian conservative gathering; previously speaking at the event in 2015 as a candidate and then in 2016 as the Republican presidential nominee.
"As long as we have pride in our country, confidence in our future and faith in our God, then America will prevail," Trump said.
Trump was followed by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and the following morning former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon addressed the gathering. Bannon, in his speech, declared war on the GOP establishment, of whom conservatives identify as liberal left infiltrators into the Republican Party.
Trump was followed by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, and the following morning former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon addressed the gathering. Bannon, in his speech, declared war on the GOP establishment, of whom conservatives identify as liberal left infiltrators into the Republican Party.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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