I think this is an example of why American exceptionalism is so dangerous. If other countries were to implement policies that Baker has proposed, put in place,

I think this is an example of why American exceptionalism is so dangerous. If other countries were to implement policies that Baker has proposed, put in place, followed, etc., then it would be bad, and I suspect Baker would be able to recognize the badness. But America can do it because, well, America is already the Land of the Free, didn't you know? So obviously those abuses can't happen in America, because America is the Land of the Free. That's how he can dismiss the evidence, because that's other countries, and the lesson doesn't apply to America. Probably this doesn't bubble up to conscious awareness, and perhaps in Baker's case I'm being too generous and he really is just a straight-up fascist. But for average folks, who don't have any political power, and who nonetheless buy into this nonsense, I think this is a common frame they use to convince themselves. This is the great danger of nationalism.