Making Sense of
Trump’s Appeal © 2016
Countless times, Donald Trump has been exposed as a compulsive liar. Just as often, he’s behaved like a spoiled, hypersensitive brat, who became unhinged at the slightest provocation whenever things didn’t go his way. You would need a scorecard to keep track of the people he’s insulted.
He insulted nearly every one of his competitors during the Republican primary. Then, he referred to Ms. Clinton as “Crooked Hillary.” Now he’s calling her “The Devil.” This is from a grown man who’s behaving like a third grader.
But there’s more. In interviews on foreign policy, Trump showed he didn’t have a clue, and he clearly didn’t know what he was talking about. The other day, after feedback from his comments about a fallen soldier, Trump now is claiming the election may be rigged against him. Something is wrong with this man. Is he also paranoid?
Media pundits, and ordinary people, have been amazed that Teflon Don has been able to insult people, be exposed as a serial liar, be accused of running a scam university, make overtures to Russia to spy on Hillary Clinton, and still be popular with his supporters.
The fact is, Trump supporters don’t care about any of that. They don’t care if he’s two-thirds of a Rice Crispy, and that he’s snapped, cracked, and now, he’s ready to pop. They don’t care because he is appealing to their racist, religious, gender, and sexual prejudices. That's why he can say anything, and they still love him.
What Trump’s supporters had been thinking privately, and in close groups with relatives and friends for years, Trump has been saying publicly. He has given them cover and made it acceptable for bigots to come out of the closet.
Facts and common sense have little effect on bigotry, because bigotry is a type of mental illness. The same people who supported the Tea Party, opposed affirmative action, defended the Confederate Flag, and voted for the most extreme conservative politicians are now drawn together and are making Trump their hero.
Trump’s supporters don't support him based on his qualifications, or the fruits of their research on the issues. They couldn’t care less about his position on the issues except as it relates to their bigotry. They couldn’t care less about the litany of insults he has hurled after someone got under his very thin skin. What they care about most is that he legitimizes their bigotry. He speaks to their bigotry.
Not surprisingly, the least educated among us and the least informed people are among his biggest supporters. They naively believe Trump is for them. But Trump is and always has been for Trump. That’s something he’s proven over and over.
Just recently, in a discussion with a Trump supporter, the supporter was asked if he could credit President Obama for cleaning up the mess he inherited from George W. Bush. The Trump supporter had an excuse and claimed things are worse under Pres. Obama than when Bush left office. He also was asked if Michigan benefitted when Pres. Obama reached out to save the auto industry.
The Trump supporter had an excuse for that one too. In his mind, the president should have let the auto companies go bankrupt, and that somehow they would be better off today. In example after example, the Trump supporter reached for excuses to discredit the president and to make a push for Trump. When asked about Trump’s qualifications, his answer was, “He’s a billionaire.”
If a person is rich, many people assume that person is smarter, more ethical, and knows it all. Bernie Madow was wealthy, but he also was a crook. Drug dealers often are rich, but they aren’t the types you would want to elect as president.
Without question, those voting for Trump are:
• Voting their racial prejudices.
• Voting their religious biases
• Voting their female and sexual prejudices
Trump’s Appeal © 2016
Countless times, Donald Trump has been exposed as a compulsive liar. Just as often, he’s behaved like a spoiled, hypersensitive brat, who became unhinged at the slightest provocation whenever things didn’t go his way. You would need a scorecard to keep track of the people he’s insulted.
He insulted nearly every one of his competitors during the Republican primary. Then, he referred to Ms. Clinton as “Crooked Hillary.” Now he’s calling her “The Devil.” This is from a grown man who’s behaving like a third grader.
But there’s more. In interviews on foreign policy, Trump showed he didn’t have a clue, and he clearly didn’t know what he was talking about. The other day, after feedback from his comments about a fallen soldier, Trump now is claiming the election may be rigged against him. Something is wrong with this man. Is he also paranoid?
Media pundits, and ordinary people, have been amazed that Teflon Don has been able to insult people, be exposed as a serial liar, be accused of running a scam university, make overtures to Russia to spy on Hillary Clinton, and still be popular with his supporters.
The fact is, Trump supporters don’t care about any of that. They don’t care if he’s two-thirds of a Rice Crispy, and that he’s snapped, cracked, and now, he’s ready to pop. They don’t care because he is appealing to their racist, religious, gender, and sexual prejudices. That's why he can say anything, and they still love him.
What Trump’s supporters had been thinking privately, and in close groups with relatives and friends for years, Trump has been saying publicly. He has given them cover and made it acceptable for bigots to come out of the closet.
Facts and common sense have little effect on bigotry, because bigotry is a type of mental illness. The same people who supported the Tea Party, opposed affirmative action, defended the Confederate Flag, and voted for the most extreme conservative politicians are now drawn together and are making Trump their hero.
Trump’s supporters don't support him based on his qualifications, or the fruits of their research on the issues. They couldn’t care less about his position on the issues except as it relates to their bigotry. They couldn’t care less about the litany of insults he has hurled after someone got under his very thin skin. What they care about most is that he legitimizes their bigotry. He speaks to their bigotry.
Not surprisingly, the least educated among us and the least informed people are among his biggest supporters. They naively believe Trump is for them. But Trump is and always has been for Trump. That’s something he’s proven over and over.
Just recently, in a discussion with a Trump supporter, the supporter was asked if he could credit President Obama for cleaning up the mess he inherited from George W. Bush. The Trump supporter had an excuse and claimed things are worse under Pres. Obama than when Bush left office. He also was asked if Michigan benefitted when Pres. Obama reached out to save the auto industry.
The Trump supporter had an excuse for that one too. In his mind, the president should have let the auto companies go bankrupt, and that somehow they would be better off today. In example after example, the Trump supporter reached for excuses to discredit the president and to make a push for Trump. When asked about Trump’s qualifications, his answer was, “He’s a billionaire.”
If a person is rich, many people assume that person is smarter, more ethical, and knows it all. Bernie Madow was wealthy, but he also was a crook. Drug dealers often are rich, but they aren’t the types you would want to elect as president.
Without question, those voting for Trump are:
• Voting their racial prejudices.
• Voting their religious biases
• Voting their female and sexual prejudices