The first Trump, or the second McCarthy?

History won’t be a kind judge to either, but the Republican party also faces judgment

It is time to make the case that the current Trump era is not as unprecedented in American political history as some would argue. Donald Trump’s actions (and the populist support he continues to receive), suggests an earlier political figure whose egotistical and disreputable tactics fostered a dark political era that bears his name — Joseph McCarthy.

McCarthy held political ambitions much earlier in life. After establishing his law practice at age 28, he unsuccessfully ran for district attorney in 1936 and then won election as a district circuit judge in 1939. When the Second World War broke out, McCarthy realized that a sparkling military record was critical to any future political aspiration. He joined the marines, served in a noncombat role debriefing pilots, and made sure to join several missions in an observer capacity, thus allowing the opportunity to “create” a heroic military reputation (“Tail Gunner Joe”) out of thin air. His “war wound,” which he variously attributed to anti-aircraft fire or a plane crash, actually occurred when he fell off a ladder during a party aboard ship.

Trump was not trying to burnish political aspirations while coming of age during the Vietnam War, and chose to avoid military service, opting for a medical deferment due to bone spurs.

The political loyalties of both men were secondary to their drive for power. Neither displayed strong Republican Party leanings in their early years and seemed to move in the direction that was most politically expedient. McCarthy first ran as a Democrat in the Roosevelt years of dominance, and switched to the Republicans in order to win a senate seat in the Republican stronghold of Wisconsin. Trump moved from the Republicans, to the Reform Party, to the Democrats, and back to the Republicans between 1987 and 2009. Once in power, neither placed a high priority on playing by party rules. And both showed a willingness to throw anybody under the bus to protect themselves or further their own interests.

It would be difficult to find two more glaring examples of political demagoguery — exploiting emotions, prejudices and ignorance to create power. McCarthy discovered his cause when he declared in 1950 that he had a list of 205 known Communists working in the State Department. Although this was a complete fabrication, the resulting sensation gave McCarthy the basis on which to create his power base which he maintained through lies and subterfuge for the next four years.

Trump has demonstrated a proclivity for lying that is unprecedented in American political history and allowed him to ride his populist wave all the way to the presidency. His completely spurious “birther” accusation that Obama was born outside the U.S. is a modern day version of McCarthy’s “list of spies.” And the sheer volume of lies and false allegations provide a bizarre form of protection. As each wild allegation is investigated, the confirmation of its mendaciousness becomes lost as the next set of unfounded allegations grabs fresh media attention. As the public becomes inured to the constant onslaught, the traditional expectations of honesty are abandoned. Smears and unfounded allegations against a foe become, for both men, standard operating procedure.

There is a telling connection between the two men. Roy Cohn served as a key McCarthy assistant during the witch hunt investigations, as well as his chief counsel during the Army-McCarthy hearings. Years later, he became a legal representative and mentor for Trump. And neither man swayed far from the fundamental rules Cohn drilled into them for achieving political success: Never retreat, never apologize and never admit to a mistake. When anyone attacks you, counterattack twice as hard.

History has passed judgment on Joseph McCarthy and the era he created, and it will judge Donald Trump as well. But there is an entity that must also stand before history, and that is the Republican Party. The founding fathers of the U.S.A. were careful to establish checks and balances in their new political system so that demagogues could be controlled.

Although the party system was not a part of their creation, its emergence was probably inevitable. Each party now has a role to play in maintaining the checks and balances within the fabric of American democracy.

With respect to both McCarthy and Trump, this is a role in which the Republican Party has failed miserably. In both cases, the party powers are acutely aware of the loose cannon in their midst and choose to ride it for the purposes of political expediency at the expense of the fundamentals of democracy that they are constitutionally obligated to respect. History will not be favourable in its final judgment.