Enemy of the People

One of Donald Trump’s favorite phrases is “fake news” which is any news that he doesn’t like, or is critical of him. He doesn’t use the term when he makes up fake or “alternate facts” to justify his position on anything. He uses this charge to attack the main stream news media when it calls him out on his ridiculous rhetoric. But recently his accusations against journalists have taken an even darker turn. Trump admits he doesn’t read, so it’s no surprise he isn’t a student of history. The term “enemy of the people” was used by people like Hitler and Stalin. Hitler used the phrase “lugenpresse” or “lying press”. He eventually took over any publications that opposed him so he could spread his philosophy of hate without the resistance of a free press. “Lugenpresse” was even designated non-word of the year in Germany in 2015 by Nina Janich, a professor at the Technical University Darmstadt . She was head of a panel that evaluates words. She said the word was “contaminated by the Nazis.” In the Soviet Union, when you were branded an enemy of the people by Joseph Stalin you usually ended up dead.

What’s really scary is Trump probably didn’t know or understand the history behind the phrase. His use of language and name calling is crude and juvenile. He uses words like “disaster” to exaggerate things that are wrong with the country or a policy. He says his ideas or plans will be “incredible” or “unbelievable”. He made up demeaning nicknames for his opponents like a school yard bully. “Crooked Hillary”, “Lying Ted”, “Little Marco”. His supporters obviously loved the tough talk. But it appealed to the base instincts in us all. Rather than engage in reasonable, adult conversations about important issues, Trump resorted to childish name calling, and bluffed his way through debates without really explaining how he was going to deliver on all his big promises. It’s now becoming obvious why he wasn’t specific. He appears to be overwhelmed. He contradicts what he said to get elected. He has surrounded himself with dangerous extremists who used the same inflammatory language. Trump’s strategist Steve Bannon calls the media “the opposition party”, and says, “We are a nation with a culture and a reason for being”, given Bannon’s background, that means a white nationalist culture.

All presidents have had complaints about the news media, and some have tried to control it or punish it. The Kennedy administration tried to stop CBS News and NBC News from filming and reporting on the digging of tunnels under the Berlin Wall in the early 1960s to free desperate people from communist East Berlin. They succeeded in stopping CBS, but NBC News defied the administration and produced one of the most important news documentaries of the Cold War. Nixon had his famous “Enemies List” of reporters and activists he thought were out to get him. He was recorded in an Oval Office phone conversation with Press Secretary Ron Ziegler demanding retaliation against the Washington Post for its coverage of  Watergate, “I want it clearly understood that from now on, ever, no reporter from the Washington Post is ever to be in the White House. Is that clear? No church service, nothing that Mrs. Nixon does…and no photgraphers either…Now that is a total order, and if necessary I’ll fire you, do you understand?” The Post was allowed in the briefing room. History shows what happened when the Post and other news organizations refused to back down in their search for the truth.

Words matter, especially when spoken by the president. A free press is guaranteed by the Constitution. Journalists work for citizens. There are more places then ever to get news and opinion. We are free to choose whom we believe and trust. Journalists make mistakes and have to be held accountable. When a news organization loses its credibility, it loses everything.  The same goes for a president. “Enemy of the people” is a strong and dangerous charge. History shows that real enemies are those who put themselves above the truth.