Trump encouraging mob mentality

Imagine a high school principal, speaking to a group of students who are upset about certain teachers, saying, “If I could fire those SOBs, I would!” It’s a good bet that those students would be deliriously happy. Of course, the teachers wouldn’t be fired, but you can bet the students would feel well within their rights to show greater disrespect toward them and even abuse them — either verbally or physically.

The principal, through his ill-advised choice of words and delusional sense of omnipotence, has removed any sense of obligation to follow the rule of law and made a certain population vulnerable to mob rule. As we already know, “certain populations” in this country have a long and disturbing history of being vulnerable to mob mentality. Our president had yet another opportunity to distance himself from expressing support for this shameful and ongoing history. Instead, he chose to embrace it. Again.

This story was originally published September 30, 2017 at 8:30 AM with the headline "Trump encouraging mob mentality."