Rand Paul thought of banning Muslims first — how come Donald Trump gets all the credit? Michelle Goldberg on the Islamophobe behind Trump’s hate: Frank Gaffney and his anti-Muslim cohorts laid the groundwork for Trump’s rise. On Fox, “Islamophobia is really nothing but a myth”. Is an immigration ban on Muslims unconstitutional, and President Trump couldn’t exclude Muslims by himself, could he? Kira Lerner on what Trump’s plan to ban Muslims would look like if actually enacted. Don’t think Trump will ever pass a Muslim Exclusion Act? Just ask Sen. James G. Blaine. Jeet Heer on how Trump differs from demagogues past. If you support Trump, you are unpatriotic. Un-American? Trump’s Muslim ban is sadly all too American. Trump’s attacks on Muslims fit a pattern of persecution — just ask Jews, Catholics and Mormons. Muslims are the new Jews as fascism goes mainstream. White nationalist and anti-Muslim fringe embrace Trump proposal. This neo-Nazi response to Trump’s anti-Muslim plan says it all.
Sarah Posner on Trump’s Messianism and the Christian Right. Franklin Graham is not alone in viewing Trump’s ban-Muslim-entry proposal as an act in defense of, rather than defiance of, Christian principles. Nearly everyone thinks Trump’s Muslim ban is a bad idea — except these Trump supporters. A poll finds 68% of Trump’s supporters would vote for him if he bolts the GOP. Igor Volsky on how Trump’s plan to ban Muslims is in line with the rest of the GOP. Trump has his Riefenstahl: “Yes, he’s almost a Coltrane of hate and incitement. But it's not about Trump. It's about his supporters” — and if you step back from the awfulness, it’s a fascinating experiment to see unfold. Nate Silver on how Republicans and polls enable Donald Trump. It is time for responsible Republicans to say they won’t back a Trump-led GOP.
Jeb Bush floats the theory that Trump might be a false flag operation planted by Hillary Clinton. Trump proves that liberals have been right all along: The Left nailed the pathology of the conservative movement years ago — The Donald is just making that impossible to deny. Jamelle Bouie on why we’re stuck with Trump: The GOP is a captive of the Donald’s supporters, and so are the rest of us. Along with Trump’s rhetoric, the stakes for 2016 have risen dramatically. What will Donald Trump do when he loses? Trump may not get the nomination, but he has already won. Leslie Savan on how Trump wins even if Time magazine doesn’t name him its “Person of the Year”. Trump gives Muslim on fence about radicalizing just the push he needed.
