Not so different

Reader Herb Stark would benefit by substituting “Barack” for “Donald” and “Obama” for “Trump” in his letter (“Politics and Purim,” March 5). The only other change necessary for the letter to express the views of the American Right toward the former president would be to change “departments,” which Mr. Stark says Trump’s various appointees are committed to dismantling rather than managing, to “nation.”

Obama and Trump are far more alike than most in the political world might admit. The principal differences are where they lie on the political spectrum and their personal style: Trump is crude while Obama effects sophistication. Their approach to governance is remarkably similar: Do what I want or I will attack you.

Obama was misperceived by the Left. They supported him when he pursued destructive policies like the Iran deal because he was their man. Trump, on the other hand, has been recognized by the Right for what he is, as should be obvious from the ongoing nose-holding in Commentary. Republicans in Congress have a tricky task before them: Trump is nominally from their party but not really one of them, and they face a continuing choice between backing and opposing him, with unknown consequences for either choice.

Recognizing the similarities between Trump and Obama isn’t an academic exercise because if the Left fails to do so and doesn’t revise its goals and strategy accordingly, it will ensure that both Obama and Trump achieve the destructive goals the two sides attribute to their opponents.

It won’t be possible to heal the divisions in the American body politic until the Left understands why the Right was so upset with Obama. YALE ZUSSMAN Framingham, Massachusetts