丁刚：身背34项指控，特朗普为什么能当上美国总统？

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近日，美国前总统特朗普在纽约州纽约市出庭应诉。目前，特朗普面临34项重罪指控，最高刑期可达136年。《人民日报》高级编辑、中国人民大学重阳金融研究院高级研究员丁刚就此在4月5日《环球时报》英文版发表评论文章，中文版授权人大重阳发布，以下为文章中英文版：

既然特朗普不具备一个总统的资格，但他又怎么能当上总统，而且是通过了所有的竞选程序，并且准备二次参选？这肯定是什么地方出了问题。

本文字数约2300字，阅读需要4分钟。

2019年11月11日在纽约的特朗普。新华社记者 王迎/摄

当地时间4月4日下午，美国前总统特朗普在纽约曼哈顿地区法院出庭接受问讯。据哥伦比亚广播公司消息，特朗普对起诉书中的34项指控表示不认罪。

特朗普成为美国历史上第一位面临刑事指控的前总统。

虽然有关特朗普本人的“花花公子”式的生活、造假账，以及煽动仇外情绪的言行，早在他参加竞选时就已经沸沸扬扬了，但这并没有太多地影响他的竞选，也没有什么人或者机构来审查他的候选人资格。最终，特朗普还是当上了美国总统。

现在这些指控中的最重要的一项是因在大选后支付“封口费”给色情明星，此事直到2018年Michael D. Cohen 承认是他的安排，调查才开始。科恩曾是特朗普的私人律师和中间人。

特朗普现在被起诉，基本上朝着民主党人设计的方向而演进的，就是把特朗普塑造成为一个根本不具备总统资格的人，而是一个不折不扣的“骗子”。他粗俗不堪，浅陋无知，蔑视少数族裔和女性，无视事实与科学，靠煽动仇外主义情绪和鼓吹白人至上主义思想而当选。用一位美国学者的话来说，一个最不应当成为美国总统的人偏偏就当上了美国总统。

对特朗普的调查和起诉符合美国法律程序，看上去也体现了法律的严肃性：即使贵为美国总统，也不能因违法而逃脱法律的惩戒。

但是，这种说法或者说看法是经不住再问一个为什么。一直在“围观”这场发生在最民主国家的“戏剧”的各国观众们心里早就有了这个为什么：

既然特朗普不具备一个总统的资格，但他又怎么能当上总统，而且是通过了所有的竞选程序，并且准备二次参选？这肯定是什么地方出了问题。

美国总统大选每一次都是一场激烈的拼搏战，而在这样的竞争中，两党更在意候选人怎样为本党赢得更多的选票，而不是他或她是否有资格作为总统候选人。“partisanship”具有压倒一切的重要性。为了拉到更多的选票，竞选团队甚至不惜欺骗选民，有意隐瞒候选人的违法行为，致使两党的激烈相争演变成为一场为了各自私利而采取各种非法手段的“战争”。

候选人的“资格”在攻击对方的时候是能起到一定作用的，但是，特朗普的出现又恰好是在美国社会极度分裂的状态下。他将自己定位为中下层白人的利益代表者。支持他的选民更在意的是他是否会代表选民的利益说话，或者干脆就是要选一个“异类”的总统来表达自己的情绪。他们不在意他或她是怎样的一个人。

特朗普此次受到指控的所有问题，无疑都牵扯到他的个人品质。随着美国媒体不断地爆出猛料，还有更多的一些对特朗普的指控也涉及到他的个人品质。其中的一些问题并不是他当总统以后才出现的，只是没人追究而已。

当一个选举制度没有对候选人进行严格的审查机制，那么这个机制大概就不能算是民主的。

民主是一个完整的过程，如果其中的一些程序要么被滥用或盗用，要么一些环节干脆被“省略”，那它的结果就一定不能算是民主的。

尤其是对美国这样的世界头号强国来说，谁当总统，什么样的人当总统，他的个人品质如何，绝不是一个小问题。

因此，我们是不是可以这样说：既然“特朗普一世”昨天能够通过选举而当选，那么特朗普二世、三世今天、明天或者后天也会接踵而来。这也许不是一次对特朗普的审判就能阻止得了的。

以下为英文版

Under current 'democratic' electoral system, more Trumps could be elected

By Ding Gang

On Tuesday, former US president Donald Trump appeared for arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court, New York City, where he pleaded not guilty to 34 charges at a hearing.

Trump became the first former president in US history to face criminal charges.

Although there was a buzz about Trump's "playboy" lifestyle, financial fraud and xenophobic rhetoric since he entered politics, it didn't affect his campaign much, and his candidacy was not scrutinized. In the end, Trump was elected president of the US.

Currently, the most prominent of these allegations is that of "hush money" paid to a porn actress after the election, an investigation that did not begin until Michael D. Cohen, Trump's personal lawyer and intermediary, admitted in 2018 that he had arranged it. 

Trump's indictment now essentially evolves according to Democrats' playbook to disqualify his candidacy to run for president, and frame him as a "liar." He is depicted as vulgar and ignorant without respect to minorities, women and science, but was only elected by fomenting xenophobia and white supremacy. According to an academic, a man who least deserves to be president of the US was elected.

The investigation and prosecution of Trump follows US legal procedures and appears to reflect the rigorousness of the law: even the president can't escape punishment under the law.

But this argument does not stand up to scrutiny among the "onlookers" of this "drama" which took place in the most democratic country.

Since Trump is not qualified for a presidency, how could he win the campaign through all the procedures and even prepare to run for the second term? There must be something wrong.

Every presidential election in the US is a tight battle, and in such contests, both parties are more concerned with how a candidate can win more votes for their party, than whether he or she is qualified to be the presidential candidate. 

"Partisanship" was of overriding importance, and the campaign teams even lied to the voters and intentionally concealed the illegal acts of the candidates in order to win more votes. As a result, the fierce competition between the two parties turned into a "war" in which they resorted to various illegal means for their own interests.

A candidate's "qualifications" can play a role in attacking the other side, but Trump's emergence came at a time when American society was deeply divided, as the former president positioned himself as an advocate for middle- and lower-class whites. Those who supported him cared less about who he is than whether he speaks for their interests. They simply elected a "different" president to express their feelings.

All of the issues of which Trump has been accused undoubtedly involve his personal character. As the US media continues to bombard, more accusations against Trump could also touch on his personal character. Some problems existed even before he became president, but were simply not paid attention to and looked into.

When an electoral system does not have a rigorous vetting mechanism for candidates, it is probably not democratic. Democracy is a complete process; if some of the procedures are either abused or misused, or are simply "omitted," then its result must not be considered democratic.

Especially for the world's No.1 power like the US, who is the president, what kind of person is the president, and his personal qualities are by no means small problems. We might argue, since "Trump I" was elected, Trump II and III will follow, and this may not be stopped by a single trial of Trump.

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