Send Out the Clown: Why Donald Trump Is Dangerous
Watching media coverage of the Charleston church shootings by a racist 21-year-old man, I saw only one person make a connection to the speech made by billionaire, hustler, and media clown Donald Trump just one day before the massacre of nine black people in a Bible Study class. On Bill Maher's HBO show Friday, Representative Luiz Gutierrez made the point that both the killer and the clown had discussed rape. Bill, a Trump enemy, and the other panelists didn't seem particularly interested in connecting Trump's racist rants about Mexicans and the killer's racism toward blacks. But I believe the connection should be made. Even if this killer didn't hear Trump's speech and had planned the massacre months or even years earlier, we need to acknowledge that Trump represents the so-called respectable people who incite and give cover to these racist killers.
I admit that when I first heard that Donald Trump was actually running for President, I was delighted. I watched more MSNBC shows on the day of his announcement than I had since 2012, and I planned to watch the Republican debates for the first time ever because I wanted to see how the "real" candidates would respond to Trump's shenanigans. Because I'm a liberal, I thought it would be fun to see "the Donald" calling Jeb, Marco, Ted, Rand, and the rest of the more serious candidates nasty names.
My reaction to his racist, egotistical speech was similar to the responses of the commentators on MSNBC. Trump was just being Trump; he was obnoxious and ridiculous but also kind of funny. When I learned that he had paid actors to show up and cheer so that he could talk about how big and enthusiastic his crowd was, I laughed and looked forward to more fun with Donald and his funny-colored cotton candy hair. Even when the massacre happened, I initially saw Donald's presence in the presidential race as comic relief from another sad story. I said that the one silver lining in the loss of nine black souls was it bumped Trump off television. I knew Donald was steaming because he first had to share air time with the white woman who passed for black and now he had nine dead black people taking attention away from him. I even took advantage of my position as an elderly black woman to post a politically incorrect joke on Jon Stewart's Google+ site. After describing what happened as karma for Donald's playing the race card during the 2012 election, I said, "Spades trumped the Joker."
But then I started thinking about how Donald behaved in 2011-12 and about his racist comments during his presidential announcement speech, and I became angry. I realized that Trump was more dangerous than funny. People like Trump are, in fact, one of the primary causes of the increased racism in our country right now. They are the ones who are feeding the working-class white people's belief that they are victims and that nonwhite people are taking over this country, which belongs to whites. Educated people of all races know that Mexico is not sending people to our country; some of us even know that the immigration from Mexico has slowed since our recession and that Obama has deported more illegal immigrants than other Presidents. But the less educated whites believe the myth of blacks, browns, and yellows taking over our country, led by an illegal President.
The question I have now is why wasn't Donald Trump treated like Paula Deen and Donald Sterling. Deen, who is a celebrity chef, was shamed by the media and at least temporarily lost her television shows because she admitted to using the so-called n-word in private (Deen clearly is not well-educated or smart enough to lie about private conversations). Donald Sterling, former owner of the Clippers, was forced to sell his team because of racist comments he made in what should have been a private conversation to his half-black mistress. Donald Trump made his racist comments in public. In fact, he gave news conferences in which he suggested that the half-black President was not really American and that he probably didn't go to Harvard (although Obama was actually in the news when he was at Harvard because of his historical accomplishments). And then last week he accused Mexican immigrants of being rapists and drug dealers. Where was the outrage?
Donald Trump should not be running for President. He should not have a show on television. And people who are serious about racism, serious enough to boycott states or towns that still fly the Confederate flag, should boycott anything with Trump's name on it.
The media loves Donald Trump not only because he's entertaining but also because he's friendly with journalists and (because he's a fame whore) gives them access. Unlike President Obama, Trump is always ready to sit down for an interview or hold a news conference. But as much as journalists love him, they need to do their job and connect the dots. Forget the Confederate flag. Let's go after people in the media who are promoting the idea that nonwhite people are taking over the country and that the country is no longer great because it's not as white as it used to be. Start with Trump and then move to several Fox anchors.
Although I'm usually against political correctness, I think we need to overcorrect here because we have allowed these racist lies to fester for too long. We should challenge everyone who suggests that America isn't as great as it once was; we should make them defend that statement by pointing out what America did in the past (slavery, Jim Crow, internment of Japanese, massacre of Indians, etc.). If they say Obama is destroying America, we should ask if they mean the white racist America.
As we try to heal our country from still another racist assault, I suggest that we change our focus. Instead of focusing on obvious racist slurs (like "nigger") or racist symbols (like the Confederate flag), let's focus on powerful racists. Start with Donald Trump. Do we really want a racist on the stage pretending to run for President of the United States? Should we really give him a chance to spew his racist hatred in a public forum? Isn't he more dangerous (and less American) than our half-black President and the Mexican immigrants he maligns?
I admit that when I first heard that Donald Trump was actually running for President, I was delighted. I watched more MSNBC shows on the day of his announcement than I had since 2012, and I planned to watch the Republican debates for the first time ever because I wanted to see how the "real" candidates would respond to Trump's shenanigans. Because I'm a liberal, I thought it would be fun to see "the Donald" calling Jeb, Marco, Ted, Rand, and the rest of the more serious candidates nasty names.
My reaction to his racist, egotistical speech was similar to the responses of the commentators on MSNBC. Trump was just being Trump; he was obnoxious and ridiculous but also kind of funny. When I learned that he had paid actors to show up and cheer so that he could talk about how big and enthusiastic his crowd was, I laughed and looked forward to more fun with Donald and his funny-colored cotton candy hair. Even when the massacre happened, I initially saw Donald's presence in the presidential race as comic relief from another sad story. I said that the one silver lining in the loss of nine black souls was it bumped Trump off television. I knew Donald was steaming because he first had to share air time with the white woman who passed for black and now he had nine dead black people taking attention away from him. I even took advantage of my position as an elderly black woman to post a politically incorrect joke on Jon Stewart's Google+ site. After describing what happened as karma for Donald's playing the race card during the 2012 election, I said, "Spades trumped the Joker."
But then I started thinking about how Donald behaved in 2011-12 and about his racist comments during his presidential announcement speech, and I became angry. I realized that Trump was more dangerous than funny. People like Trump are, in fact, one of the primary causes of the increased racism in our country right now. They are the ones who are feeding the working-class white people's belief that they are victims and that nonwhite people are taking over this country, which belongs to whites. Educated people of all races know that Mexico is not sending people to our country; some of us even know that the immigration from Mexico has slowed since our recession and that Obama has deported more illegal immigrants than other Presidents. But the less educated whites believe the myth of blacks, browns, and yellows taking over our country, led by an illegal President.
The question I have now is why wasn't Donald Trump treated like Paula Deen and Donald Sterling. Deen, who is a celebrity chef, was shamed by the media and at least temporarily lost her television shows because she admitted to using the so-called n-word in private (Deen clearly is not well-educated or smart enough to lie about private conversations). Donald Sterling, former owner of the Clippers, was forced to sell his team because of racist comments he made in what should have been a private conversation to his half-black mistress. Donald Trump made his racist comments in public. In fact, he gave news conferences in which he suggested that the half-black President was not really American and that he probably didn't go to Harvard (although Obama was actually in the news when he was at Harvard because of his historical accomplishments). And then last week he accused Mexican immigrants of being rapists and drug dealers. Where was the outrage?
Donald Trump should not be running for President. He should not have a show on television. And people who are serious about racism, serious enough to boycott states or towns that still fly the Confederate flag, should boycott anything with Trump's name on it.
The media loves Donald Trump not only because he's entertaining but also because he's friendly with journalists and (because he's a fame whore) gives them access. Unlike President Obama, Trump is always ready to sit down for an interview or hold a news conference. But as much as journalists love him, they need to do their job and connect the dots. Forget the Confederate flag. Let's go after people in the media who are promoting the idea that nonwhite people are taking over the country and that the country is no longer great because it's not as white as it used to be. Start with Trump and then move to several Fox anchors.
Although I'm usually against political correctness, I think we need to overcorrect here because we have allowed these racist lies to fester for too long. We should challenge everyone who suggests that America isn't as great as it once was; we should make them defend that statement by pointing out what America did in the past (slavery, Jim Crow, internment of Japanese, massacre of Indians, etc.). If they say Obama is destroying America, we should ask if they mean the white racist America.
As we try to heal our country from still another racist assault, I suggest that we change our focus. Instead of focusing on obvious racist slurs (like "nigger") or racist symbols (like the Confederate flag), let's focus on powerful racists. Start with Donald Trump. Do we really want a racist on the stage pretending to run for President of the United States? Should we really give him a chance to spew his racist hatred in a public forum? Isn't he more dangerous (and less American) than our half-black President and the Mexican immigrants he maligns?
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[deleted user]
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Jun 26, 2015 07:30AM
You presented us with a scathing and keen observation, Mary. You zeroed in on the whole, ugly, racist picture Trump spews at the media, and the media pumps to the public. I have always detested him, his views, his TV appearances, his show, his hair, and his wealth, which I believe he inhereted! So much for rugged individualism! Now he parades himself again with his presidential antics. He is a joke that isn't funny anymore. Ignornant people seek their owm level and need another dope to mouth off for them, and give them credence for their hate crimes. Thus, Trump becomes a negative caustive factor. He feels he holds the "Trump" card, but I agree with you, we shouldn't allow him or others to play out their deadly, devicive games. It just isn't funny or acceptable any more. This is life, and not a bloody video gane! Take these jokers off the market! Now!
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He's surging in the polls, Mara, which proves that there are still plenty of racists in America, especially among Republicans. He didn't lay out any plans for improving the economy in that bombastic speech; he just called himself a "job creator" and demonized Mexican immigrants. Fortunately, the Latinos are taking him on, and I'm going to get on Google+ and encourage blacks to join our brown brothers and sisters in demonizing this bigot.
I think that's a good ifea, but in teality, can he knock out Old Party Bush? Can Sanders actuslly topple Hilary?
Am I just not aware, after all the racial hate going on, that people jist don't Get It?
What do you think of Sanders...I understand he marched for civil rigjts years ago, and he may have some economic strategies?
Am I just not aware, after all the racial hate going on, that people jist don't Get It?
What do you think of Sanders...I understand he marched for civil rigjts years ago, and he may have some economic strategies?
Sanders is too old, Mara. I think his age (73) hurts him more than his socialism. He would also be the first Jewish President if he won, and anti-Semitism is still a problem in America. My dark horse candidate is Martin O'Malley, but he's not going to get much attention because the corporate media is afraid of him. He's a populist, 51 years old. Bernie is another Ron Paul; he attracts young folks and foolish folks who don't seem to understand how the system really works. The corporate media is pushing Bernie and focusing on him and trying to ignore O'Malley because they are actually more worried about O'Malley toppling Clinton, their chosen candidate. The corporate media wants Bush vs. Clinton.
