Trump uses dangerous language. America doesn’t need a ‘Godfather-in-chief’

President Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen publicly testified before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday. Whether he told the truth this time we cannot say. That will become clearer as more evidence emerges.

What we can say is that Cohen’s testimony contained at least one true assessment: America does not have a president but a mob boss. Trump’s leadership is couched in the vocabulary of intimidation of organized crime.

Mob bosses rarely get their hands dirty, at least not the ones portrayed in movies and television like Vito Corleone and Tony Soprano. They have lieutenants and underlings for that sort of thing. They choose their words carefully so that the intent is clear even if the literal meaning is muddy.

It was a chilling moment when Rep. Brenda Lawrence asked Cohen why he fears for his and his family’s safety. “What do you think [the president] can do to you?” she asked.

“A lot. And it’s not just him. It’s those people that follow him and his rhetoric,” Cohen replied.

Rhetoric like when the president responded to Spike Lee’s speech after winning an Oscar for “BlacKkKlansman” with a tweet calling it “a racist hit on your president.”

Or when he falsely tweets that Democrats “don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth.” Or when he says that the media wanted to “destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will ‘flip.’ ” Or when he called Cohen a “rat” after he turned on the president.

Hit, execute, flip, rat … these are the words of thuggish leaders who demand unwavering loyalty and exact merciless retribution against those who betray or oppose them.

On the campaign trail Trump urged supporters to attack protestors: “If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously, OK? Just knock the hell … I promise you I will pay for the legal fees.” In other words, the “family” will protect you.

Meanwhile, after the arrest of an actual domestic terrorist who planned to kill the president’s political enemies, Trump tepidly responded: “It’s a shame.” When asked if his own hostile language egged the suspect on, the president said, “I think my language is very nice.” Incredible.

The president’s language of violence and intimidation signals to the devoted and thoughtless in his base that they have found a leader who shares their un-American beliefs. They, in turn, respond to his suggestions. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida sought to intimidate Cohen with threats via Twitter the night before Cohen’s testimony. The tweet had suggested without any evidence that the married Cohen had “girlfriends,” and suggested Cohen confess that to his wife. Gaetz has apologized. He was a loyal foot soldier, but now the Florida Bar is investigating him.

Trump’s messaging should frighten people who believe America is better than an organized crime family.

Many conservatives support Trump because they like his policies. The right Supreme Court nominations help them ignore the disgusting elements of Trump’s character. They don’t need Trump and his fringe supporters for that. Other conservatives would deliver similar tax policies and judicial nominees.

Cohen concluded his testimony warning, “I fear that if [Trump] loses the election in 2020, there will never be a peaceful transition of power.” That’s not so far-fetched given how Trump has primed his devoted followers.

Mob bosses don’t let go of power easily.

This story was originally published February 28, 2019 at 10:16 PM.