I recently commented this Tweet by @BriannaWu that quotes FDR. My comment in full:
FDR is by no means a perfect figure, but how the far-right vilifies him on all matters really illustrates their fascist roots.
That turned out to be an understatement. Within minutes I experienced a small handful of far-right responses vilifying FDR on all matters. Most of the vilification came from FDR’s very real authorization of Executive Order 9066, which forced Japanese American citizens into internment camps. There is no debate that the interment of American citizens was an inhumane and horrible act. I could have been more specific when I call him an imperfect figure, but then again my whole tweet was a generalization to make a point that was ultimately proven right by these very responses.
While most are willing to debate the merits of our country’s various leaders in spite of their faults, those on the far-right aren’t interested in debate. They don’t really care about Japanese interment camps during World War II. We know this because our current president gets approval from 91% of Republicans despite (or maybe because of) his repeated support for horrific detention of immigrant families. The far right merely sees the tragedy of Japanese interment camps as nothing more than a trump card they think can shut down debate about a progressive president who was both wildly popular and successful.
The far right doesn’t want to debate, because a debate on FDR is a debate on Social Security, the FDIC, and the G.I. Bill to name a few. Actually debating FDR on all matters is a losing proposition. The far right knows this, so they deal with FDR the same they do with any losing position. They find a trump card, and they use it over and over again in a meager attempt to shut down any debate.