John Kasich slams Donald Trump's 'dangerous rhetoric,' linking it to Nazi Germany

Screenshot from John Kasich's attack ad on Trump
(Image credit: Screenshot/Youtube)

The Republican presidential candidates have been slow to criticize Donald Trump, seemingly cowed by his wild popularity and promises to punch back at anyone who speaks ill of him. That makes Ohio Gov. John Kasich's latest campaign ad all the more refreshing — and unusual. Released on Tuesday, the ad links Trump's "dangerous rhetoric" to Nazi Germany.

In the video, Col. Tom Moe, a former POW from Vietnam, references a poem from the 1950s by the anti-Nazi pastor Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —Because I was not a Socialist.Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —Because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

Moe turns the poem around, applying it directly to Trump. "You might not care if Donald Trump says Muslims must register with the government, because you're not one," he says, going on to walk through some of Trump's more notorious headlines. Then comes the chilling kicker: "But think about this: If he keeps going and he actually becomes president, he might just get around to you," Moe says. "And you better hope that there’s someone left to help you."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Watch below. Jeva Lange

Continue reading for free

We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.

Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.