Perspective: The focus is not on the offense, but on the offender.
Last week, President Joe Biden took a step in the right direction when he called his opponent a "convicted felon," though he didn't mention Stormy Daniels, the adult film actress who accused Trump of an affair (which Trump denies), or the hush money payment to keep the story hidden during the 2016 campaign.
It's time to move past the details of these scandals, because the public is not convinced that these disturbing facts automatically disqualify Trump from being president. Instead, it's the punishment that holds more significance, as we see with Trump meeting virtually with his probation officer on Monday.
In essence, this story isn't about Stormy Daniels or payoffs, but about the conviction that highlights an unfit leader. Though some people don't view this case as one of the most serious against Trump, it's one that found him guilty. We need to make this conviction a central theme in a campaign that argues Trump is not suitable to lead our nation or the world.
Despite the opinions of my former boss and a brilliant political mind, Bill Clinton, I believe successful campaigns should focus on the past rather than the future. We need to use Trump's conviction as a starting point to remind voters of all the wrongdoings he has committed before and during his presidency.
There are significant concerns about Trump's potential actions in his second term. It's been reported that he plans to eliminate civil servants and replace them with loyalists. Some Republican National Committee candidates have been asked if they think the 2020 election results were illegitimate.
Democrats can make a strong case against Trump based on what he might do in the future. However, targeting the past is even more effective. In 2016, many voters justified their choice of Trump by thinking, "It won't be as bad as everyone says." Now, they're asking, "Was it really that bad?" The Biden campaign must eliminate any perceived justification for voting for Trump.
Voters have either forgotten or minimized the damage caused by Trump's tenure. When I discussed Gaza's impact on the campaign with a group of seasoned political professionals, they feared Biden would face backlash from Arab Americans in Michigan. When I pointed out that Trump banned citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, some of them asserted Trump didn't actually do that.
Reminding voters of the truth is crucial. Voters need to be constantly reminded of every aspect of Trump's wrongdoings. Trump's conviction gives new life and importance to the federal documents indictment and the election interference cases in Georgia and Arizona. Though these cases probably won't be resolved before the election, and Trump denies any wrongdoing, the accusations carry more weight in light of his recent conviction.
All the things that didn't convince voters in 2016 are now more likely to hurt Trump's re-election chances. Trump is racist, dishonest, xenophobic, and a pathological liar. He admires Russia and China, while belittling American veterans as "losers." Trump has been impeached twice, and a jury found him guilty of sexual assault.
The list goes on and on. These attacks should unite Democrats and sway undecided voters.
Trump's intentions for the future are frightening. However, it's his past actions that will likely lead to his defeat. If voters focus on the choice between Biden and Trump, they will eventually vote for Biden, even if it's with great reluctance.
Lastly, let's not forget that America takes pride in its progress as a country, both in military, diplomatic, and economic arenas.
There's nothing more effective than portraying Trump as a threat to all that makes us remarkable. The gist is America boasts of its incredible history and should not allow this man and his infamous MAGA hat to waste the 250 years of esteem and influence we've been building.
We're the "indispensable nation," as per ex-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's famous words. Whether they want to admit it or not, the world relies on the US to create partnerships and hinder rivals. Our democratic model is a blueprint replicated across the globe. This isn't the nation that can be directed by someone found guilty of breaking the law—that's how things work in countries without a legal framework. We're above that.
This is a message every Democrat needs to unite behind.
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Considering the focus on the offender rather than the offense, many people form their own opinions about Trump's suitability to lead.
Despite various perspectives, the conviction serves as a powerful argument against Trump's fitness to govern, highlighting a pattern of unethical behavior.
