Lest We Forget: The Big Lie Behind the Rise of Trump

In this new video, Bill Moyers and four historians dissect the big lie Trump rode to power: the Birther lie.

[@OfficialAndies]

So much respect for Bill Moyers, his conversations with Joseph Campbell will stay with me for the rest of my life

[@Delta_Tesseract]

Let's make humanity more human again!

[@whatwhatwhat4086]

bill Moyers is one of the sharpest guys on TV

[@susansofiaslate11]

Thank you Mr. Moyers & clear-sighted Professors for the educational perspective. I would like to see this played in classrooms around the country as part of a new Civics & Citizenship course. The Obama Foundation's new project could use your input.

[@outlawJosieFox]

Susan Sofia Slate Betsy Devos won't allow it

[@Applecorecafe]

Bill please keep up this great work.

[@requiemforamerica8432]

You realize that it's the hillary team that first started questioning obama's eligibility when she was running against him, right?

[@strife57x]

A group supporting Hillary, not Hillary's campaign team. Also, more important is whom embraced the lie.

[@KMac329]

This article, link below, from Politifact debunks the claim that Hillary started the Birther Movement. www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/sep/16/donald-trump/fact-checking-donald-trumps-claim-hillary-clinton-/ You also need to appreciate the larger argument being made in this video, that an ingrained sense of white privilege and entitlement and superiority are the reasons so many white people were and are willing to believe in the falsehoods of Birtherism, embrace Trump, and believe in all the other lies he's come out with. It's also the height of hypocrisy for Trump supporters to now complain that LibProgs and the Press are trying to de-legitimize Trump.

[@robertharaway8196]

+

[@MIKELIN8]

So, Senator Obama's rage back in 2008 at Hillary's campaign about the 'turban picture' was mistaken?

[@BigBroTejano]

Less we forget, this was started by the Hillary campaign.

[@theothelion8421]

Now that we know he was correct, what does it mean? It demonstrate the depth of the description that all of these well meaning individuals participated in.... research it for your self, objectively.

[@llh3025]

Trump's birther claims are correct?

[@keldsor]

Nice to have you back again !

[@chadhoffman6769]

Still one of the best documentaries on the fool in chief. What a disgrace to humans everywhere!

[@KempireRadio]

This was eye opening.

[@djacob7]

I'm ashamed of my country.

[@gregorys6838]

One thing I have to admit, this president does not like war.

[@deborahhoffman7394]

We need to keep on talking about these issues to educate the public.

[@cydoman8014]

Perhaps Trump's irrational preoccupation with his nearly three million vote loss in the popular vote isn't as related to his ego as some think. Clear memories of his focus on Obama's birth certificate exist in the population so he cannot escape ownership of birtherism. Nor can he claim he put it to rest in 2011. Too many vids of his repeated forays into birtherism after 2011 are around to debunk his claim on that. The birther thing was asked and answered when Obama ran for his Senate seat. It was a Republican issue then and I think the birth certificate was produced. Trying to lay the birther issue on Clinton is a stretch too far. The rigged election narrative was resurrected by Trump for all the reasons Trump uses controversial statements: to call attention to himself or to redirect attention from something he wants to keep hidden. Or, knowing Trump's ego needs, preferably both. Working the Obama-isn't-the-legitimate-President ploy convinced Trump of the usefulness of the legitimacy issue. Now that he is facing that issue himself, he may be freaked at the fierce energy he knows such an issue can exert over his authority. In Trump's case it isn't a birth certificate, but his own actions and statements favoring Russia and Putin, arguably a trap he built himself. Looking back over his behaviors it seems Trump had intentions of withdrawing US support for sanctions against Russia all along. His hiring of Manafort (closely tied to the ousted Putin backed Yanukovych, former President of Ukraine) as campaign manager, appointment of Exxon CEO Tillerson as Secretary of State (closely tied to Putin and a potentially mega-billion oil bonanza in the Arctic) plus rumors of Trump's imminent pull out from Russian sanctions (using negotiations over nuclear disarmament as cover despite a very recently finished agreement on that subject between Obama and Medvedev which Trump was unaware of!) places a lot of worrisome speculation on his legitimacy as President. Trump cannot be happy with that. Had the UK report on Trump's ties to Russia not appeared in public, none of this intense speculation would have occurred. Although it seems Washington DC knew about the report, it had not been made public prior to the election. Had it been, who knows what would have happened? Still, one can understand why Trump might find the title "Putin's Puppet" nightmarish. He cannot sustain any loss in his small base, and being known as a Russian lackey would not be very acceptable to them. As needy as Trump is to be acknowledged the only king of the hill, he may continue to bleed his remaining political capital on "rigged" elections, but events might soon overtake him. Sooner or later, even his heartiest supporters are going to ask where the high paying, good benefits, great retirement, holiday pay, three week vacations with overtime JOBS are. That is what his supporters expected and still expect. Too much silence on this expectation from Republicans is a danger to Republicans in Congress. Big on talk but results not so much? Not beautiful at all.

[@deborahhoffman7394]

Cyd Oman Its just a scam which he should be ashamed of. He's not and is why is is so horrible.

[@fredgarvinMP]

Cyd Oman Wow cyd. Great lucid analysis. Very well put. You should get yourself a show, great comment.

[@jimmykeech2467]

Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet

[@martinko4086]

I do not understand WHY it took so long for President Obama to provide such a basic document like his Birth certificate ?? That kind of document need to be in the fife from DAY FIRST for everybody to see .

[@twilarakestrow3467]

I am a typical american which an average income. Race had nothing to do with it. His radicalism and extreme-ism for promoting non-American values was the problem

[@suestefsos2296]

The sheriff of Arizona and a detective were the ones that started it about Obama?

[@dakotabuddha]

bill we need to hear more from you... PLEASE

[@eblgraphics]

That is the truth hands down...

[@reginarobertkrystyn]

Obama's mother was an American from Kansas. You can't get more American than Kansas. If you're American, you can give birth to your child wherever you want - your child is American. If you're not American and you give birth to your child on American soil - the lobby of a U.S. embassy, perhaps - your child is American. But who pays attention to the constitution these days?

[@lightbox617]

Nell Painter, in my universe, is a graphic artist of serious talent, who's work reflects her understanding of History. She has shown, here in Newark, at Affero Galleries and we (artfrontgalleries.com) hope she will show in our nonprofit, pop up galleries here. Glad to see she is getting some exposure in the press and only hope she gets more.

[@shkoder123]

Can you explaing Obamas Quotes on Islam?

[@4tech69]

Thank you Bill.

[@charlenef.9055]

When will drumph finally release his tax statements and who will play the pivotal role in achieving that.?

[@ron4640]

tragedy

[@williamfritz189]

He's basically a salesman. My salesman buddies talk for hours about how to sense the driving desire in the target. It's never the product, or any product. It's a self-image, a grievance, a forbidden lust. But that is what you sell. That is what you sell.

[@jakemf1]

This is what this country wanted (at least 1/2) and boy is it going to get it! We have killed the golden goose!! This country is just shameful!

[@petitepeds8028]

Found this video in 2020, and guess what? It appears Obama's middle name is Hussein. I'd say thats' a Muslim name right!

[@frederickmowry526]

I will remember the faces of hate for ever,the faces of love are the ones that last in my heart...own your hate...do not be amazed if you lose stuff,your job,car,house,people, but stand hard...but one thing you will not learn from all this.is love...These words are towards trum..not you,or you reporting...

[@nicoles1182]

TRUTHFUL!! AWESOME VIDEO

[@kylel5223]

Lest we forget: Before the election.....remember when the money, money, money song was painful and made your skin crawl because The Apprentice was just so tacky. Now its like some Viking song of Prophetic DOOM.

[@elgringograndelattegringo4357]

didn't Hillary start this birther trip? if Obama was adopted...

[@bradd4546]

this documentary lost me towards the end.... "Nixon was a public servant" we have to end the rule of Democrats and rebuilicans as we now it. they are party before country. a third party must rise.

[@killerb.8040]

His grandmother said that he was born in Kenya. Two or three days later she died.

[@GordonPoon]

Let’s go Brandon!

[@Yourismouter]

HUH?! Bill Moyers is out of retirement again?! :D

[@Delta_Tesseract]

I'm ashamed to call myself human sometimes. When people of all races, creeds, create such artificial divides it makes me ashamed of this species we call human. Let's make humanity more human again!

[@mendelemochersforim]

Disagree with all of them. Did they vote Democrat?

[@ms.m7995]

I'm embarrassed to be an American and ashamed of what this country is becoming under trump "leadership."

[@jjayneartworkx]

yes...half of advertising is psychology...obombma got awarded best campaign by the advertising society/group after he won the first round...false advertising exists. look up: the medium is the message (massage)...

[@missinginbc]

hahahaha this is bs

[@fredgarvinMP]

Flo Florence Incisive and cogent argument there, Flo!

[@gwheyduke]

The Donald is truly a scary person

[@marionkeenan2980]

Trump is not worthy enough to shine Obama's shoes. America what did you do?

[@billmckidd4051]

You have to love grammatically incorrect signs, held by illiterates. "Where are your papers?"

[@kenproctor2308]

Not buying this Bill...

[@Dorian_sapiens]

breitbart.com There you go. Run along now.

[@fredgarvinMP]

Ken Proctor Bill's on PBS, he's not selling.

[@kirsteni.russell5903]

Trump spectacularly lost the popular vote, but the Electoral College, which was meant to prevent the election of an unqualified candidate for the presidency, elected him. There IS a deep strain of ugly racism in this country, but that's not the only reason Trump was elected. Some people who voted for him were disaffected Bernie Sanders supporters. Other disaffected Bernie Sanders supporters may have voted for a third party candidate, as I did, rather than for Hillary Clinton. Trump was already an unpopular president when he was sworn in, and his popularity is still limited to a minority of Americans. I voted for Obama twice, and he did win the popular vote in each of his elections, but I don't doubt that racism still infects this country. Nevertheless, I believe the election of Donald Trump reflects a more complex sickness in this country

[@JabraGhneim]

A reminder that we need to keep pressing for Trump's tax returns.

[@jamesroche636]

Pretty Weak one-sided narrative .. This "little lie" that this special doesn't mention is that 200 counties, predominately rural, in America voted for Obama twice and then turned and voted for Trump in 2016 .. This was disappointing!

[@macduggles]

Yes Donald Trump tells a lot of lies, but that's not the point, it's about whom and what that he lies about. In America, certain lies are acceptable and others aren't.