On Wednesday, the president tweeted out a campaign ad:
It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country. Vote Republican now! https://t.co/0pWiwCHGbh pic.twitter.com/2crea9HF7G
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018
One of the closing messages of the midterm campaign, the ad offered a toxic message linking together immigration, crime, and Democrats. In its naked fear-mongering, it recalled the Willie Horton ads run by the George H.W. Bush campaign in 1988, which are widely regarded as a classic example of racist incitement. In fact, in its overt bigotry, the ad is even worse than the Horton one.
Many commentators drew the comparison:
Republicans once were ashamed of their Willie Horton past. Trump is a foul racist demagogue. And the whole party is complicit. https://t.co/4oqv0i5avc
— Tim Dickinson (@7im) October 31, 2018
So did the Willie Horton ad feel like a significant moment at the time or was it only given that status by history?
— James O'Malley (@Psythor) October 31, 2018
This Trump video is way more horrendous but I’m not even sure we’ll remember it even tomorrow. https://t.co/tTlEvXdhtu
Wow! He’s pulling a Willie Horton. Donald is disgusting.
— TrudyM (@TrudyM11) October 31, 2018