BEST BIRTHDAY WISHES EVER #gabbagabbahey https://t.co/Bdrnp05bQt

— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) August 11, 2023

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One has been caught making remarks that are intolerant and sexist. He’s facing multiple criminal prosecutions.

The other has similarly gotten into trouble for words and behaviour that are sexist and racist – and he’s been found guilty of violating two federal statutes while in power.

We are speaking, of course, about Donald Trump in the first instance, and Justin Trudeau in the second. And what is remarkable isn’t that both men committed misogynistic and racist acts — and broken the rules.

What’s remarkable is that their partisans — MAGA with Trump, TruAnon with Trudeau — have stayed with them. Even when both have revealed themselves to be the worst kind of politician.

Regrettably, politicians are regularly caught doing awful things: Racism, sexism, breaking the law. Happens all the time. It’s been happening since Jesus was a little fella, in fact.

But why — why, why, why? — does a segment of voters stick with two men who are so clearly unfit for any public office? Why do TruAnon and MAGA forgive every sin committed by their cult leaders?

It is bizarre and frustrating, to be sure. Most of us don’t understand it.

In Trudeau’s case, a majority voted against him in 2019 and 2021. In Trump’s case, a larger number of Americans also voted against him.

But their hard-core supporters remain stubbornly committed to Trudeau and Trump, arguably more than ever before. Despite the overwhelming evidence that has been marshalled against them.

Paradoxically, it is that evidence — allegedly breaking the law, breaking moral and ethical codes — that seems to have strengthened, not diminished, the loyalty of Trump and Trudeau’s partisans.

The very things that have pushed the majority away from Trump and Trudeau are the same things that have consolidated their grip on their respective parties. How can that be?

Three reasons.

One, scandals have little to no impact on many voters these days. We in the media and other politicos are mainly to blame. Citizens have seen the media — and political adversaries — cry “scandal” far too often. And, as in the parable about the boy who cried wolf, that cry just doesn’t change many minds anymore.

Unless Trudeau and Trump’s core see their man led away to a cell, wearing an orange pantsuit and handcuffs, they don’t believe what they’re hearing. Even if the evidence is overwhelming.

Two, social media. In the good old days, before Twitter and Facebook — which, in the latter case, is now actively censoring any Canadian news — it was harder to identify and organize partisans. It was hard work.

In the social media era, however, hardcore Trump or Trudeau fanatics can find each other — instantaneously, for free — just by typing in a hashtag. When they do, the committed partisans tend to stay within their own echo chamber, disregarding any evidence that is critical of their leader.

They start to regard disagreement as treason. They start to believe in conspiracies. And they see those on the other side as the literal enemy, who must be destroyed at all costs.

Three, and finally, Trudeau and Trump lead movements, not political parties. Trump has literally called MAGA a movement — and Trudeau has repeatedly called his TruAnon base the same thing.

In real political parties, control comes from the bottom up. In a movement, power comes from the top down. And, so, the leader at the top needs to be defended at all costs.

Which is why Canada and the United States remain saddled with Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump.

And it’s why both men — despite the evidence, despite what the majority think — aren’t disappearing anytime soon.

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Leave the unelected ones out of it.

Many of us – most of us, if you believe the statistics – have been through it.  It is sad.  It is painful.  It is like death without dying, almost.

And the last thing anyone needs, when going through a marital split, is to have the whole world watching.

But make no mistake: the whole world is indeed watching.  Justin and Sophie Trudeau’s simultaneous and identically-worded statement, announcing their separation after almost two decades together, rocketed around the globe within minutes,

Top story on CNN World: “Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie are separating.” ABC News: “Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau separating from wife, Sophie.” The BBC: Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau and wife Sophie to separate.”

Everyone has read the statement, by now, but this part should be seen and remembered: “As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build…For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy.”

And the children, here, are not politicians.  They are not high-powered bureaucrats.  They are just kids – all under the age of 15.

Their father stirs up strong emotions, pro or con.  After nearly a decade in power, he (understandably, predictably) has made decisions that are controversial.  Sometimes, his decisions – as we all saw during the Ottawa occupation last year – produce very, very strong reactions.

But the folks who hate Trudeau still shouldn’t go after his kids or Sophie.  They are not elected people.  They do not wield great power.  They are just people, now dealing with something that is always sad without limit.

So, we need to heed those words at the end: “We ask that you respect our and their privacy.”

There will those who ignore that, of course.  The Internet is already surging with wild conspiracy theories and cruel speculation.  None of it will be repeated here.

And, yes, in the days ahead there will discussion – hopefully moderate and respectful – about the political ramifications of Justin Trudeau, single Dad, leading his Liberal Party into another electoral battle.  Will he do that? Can he do that? Should he do that?

All of that, and more, will be discussed and debated, from coast to coast.

But for now, this is just one of many, many separations happening in Canada – most of which lead to the 50,000-odd divorces that happen every year.  Out 100,000 or so marriages that take place every year in this country.  Half end.

For those of us who have been though it, the Trudeau announcement conjures up memories of near-limitless despair and misery.  Even if you dislike Justin Trudeau, you have to give him that much: today is one of the worst days there can be.  On that, trust those of us who have gone through it.

So, let’s leave them alone on this day, and leave the political speculation to another day.  There will be lots of time for that.

Today, instead, let’s give them the privacy that they asked for.

And that they deserve.

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