Terry Bracy: The return of the Red Scare

Like an autoimmune disease, the Red Scare lies in remission for long periods but never completely disappears from the American political system. Twice during the last century, it has been used by politicians to punish their enemies while simultaneously quenching their thirst for publicity.

The first Red Scare came in response to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the fear — ultimately unrealized — that communism would overtake the American working class. The second arrived in the 1950s, when the rise of McCarthyism and its "red-baiting" tactics was magnified by the first wave of television in American homes. The Star Chamber-style hearings led by Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his infamous counsel, Roy Cohn, received wall-to-wall television coverage.

The victims included leading figures in academia, government and the arts, most of whom had no connection whatsoever to the Communist Party. McCarthy was eventually censured by the Senate and stripped of his committee chairmanship, but by then his Red Scare had infected much of American society. Even Arizona's public schools required teachers to sign loyalty oaths.

One educator who refused on principle was George Miller, a Marine veteran wounded during the invasion of Saipan. Miller lost the teaching position he loved and was forced to earn a living painting houses. Decades later, he would go on to become one of Arizona's most distinguished mayors.

There is no one more dangerous — or more predictable — than a political leader facing a disastrous election, and that is where President Trump finds himself today. By nearly a two-to-one margin, Americans regard him as a self-dealing failure, and public polling suggests those feelings have become unusually intense. In only one state, West Virginia, does his favorability reach 50%.

Trump's response has been to unleash a third Red Scare by pointing to recent victories by left-leaning Democrats across the country. In recent speeches, the president has warned the nation about the electoral success of self-described social democrats, portraying them as a threat to democracy. "They use the word social democrat because it sounds so nice," he said, "but it's really communism you are talking about."

Trump's strategy for political survival — and that of his MAGA movement reaches back to his relationship with Roy Cohn, who became one of his principal advisers in New York business and politics. Above all, Cohn taught Trump two rules: always attack and never apologize. Even as many of his domestic and international policies falter, the president continues to boast of historic successes while seemingly imagining his likeness carved onto Mount Rushmore.

The newest target is ANTIFA, a term with German roots originally associated with groups that opposed the Nazis during the 1930s. My own research has identified neither a headquarters nor a membership roster for this amorphous movement. Nevertheless, it has become a favorite punching bag for MAGA extremists and a convenient substitute for successful public policy.

President Trump portrays ANTIFA as a sprawling army of left-wing fanatics threatening national security. In reality, this Wizard of Oz-like creation has, at his direction, been designated a domestic terrorist organization. Running a campaign based on such political theater may prove difficult when the messenger himself is increasingly viewed by critics as "Putin's poodle."

The World Cup

Nothing pleases me more than hearing the observations of foreign visitors who have come to the United States for the World Cup. Time and again, I have watched television interviews and read social media posts praising the friendliness, generosity and openness of the American people.

Despite President Trump's controversial intervention regarding a penalty involving U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, the fans I have seen interviewed have spoken warmly of American customs and hospitality. Many say they cannot reconcile the welcoming nation they have experienced with the image of crime, anger and division portrayed in the news.

The explanation, of course, lies not with the American people but with a political system that has too often produced failed leadership. If we give the election as much energy and commitment as we do building world-class sports teams, Americans can begin the battle to restore our Republic.