The Trump/GOP Racism Thread

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:49 pm

Pod Save America's latest episode had a great interview with Tim Alberta of Politico who was on to talk about his new book on how Trump took over the GOP. It was pretty fascinating and went a long way to explaining why Trump holds so much power over otherwise level-headed politicians. TLDR - it's all about fear. Tim did not believe that most GOP members agree with Trump's xenophobia and racism, but refuse to speak out against it because doing so will cost them their job. There was a lot more background on why exactly that fear is well-founded, but it has a lot to do with the political makeup of the districts they're coming from combined with the rabid fanaticism of the Fox News base.

Tim supported my position that some level of normalcy will return to the party once Trump is removed, but cautioned that a lot of damage has already been done. Definitely worth a listen.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:54 pm

YellowKing wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:49 pm TLDR - it's all about fear.

it would be pretty fascinating to write one's Republican congresspersonae and call them out on this - see what they respond with.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:59 pm

They'd rather be a slave than unemployed for demonstrating any moral character. How noble.

noxiousdog · Post by **noxiousdog** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:31 pm

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:54 pm
YellowKing wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:49 pm TLDR - it's all about fear.
it would be pretty fascinating to write one's Republican congresspersonae and call them out on this - see what they respond with.

They will admit nothing.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 5:58 pm

noxiousdog wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 4:31 pm
hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:54 pm
YellowKing wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:49 pm TLDR - it's all about fear.
it would be pretty fascinating to write one's Republican congresspersonae and call them out on this - see what they respond with.
They will admit nothing.

I have no comment on the President's latest stupid comment...

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 6:13 pm

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:54 pm
YellowKing wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:49 pm TLDR - it's all about fear.
it would be pretty fascinating to write one's Republican congresspersonae and call them out on this - see what they respond with.

They've all been rolling out a pretty standard pair of responses today:

A) "While it's true that America is for everyone and I don't approve of the chanting, it's even more true that [name Boogeywoman] has expressed despicably anti-American hatred of freedom and capitalism, and that's [equally bad as / much worse than] what we heard from the voters at Trump's rally this week."

OR

B) "It was a political rally. People get excited, like at a sporting event. Also, NOT RACISM."

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 7:10 pm

What's amazing is we still have more than a year to go. Trump (and the GOP) haven't even really started full-blown campaigning yet - and this is where they're going to springboard off from. I feel like there should likely be more outrage - people are talking about it, but I still get the sense there's an general ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at how things are unfolding. This frightens me more.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:04 pm

Smoove_B wrote:but I still get the sense there's an general ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at how things are unfolding.

I'm hoping the outrage is being saved for the ballot box as it did in the mid-terms. Possibly naive optimism, but it's all I've got.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:05 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:59 pm They'd rather be a slave than unemployed for demonstrating any moral character. How noble.

I hope every last one of them gets primaried by a candidate with the wherewithal to call them out as a supporter of a racist turd and their non-action makes them just as much a shitty racist by association. Their seat doesn't have to change parties for them to lose their jobs.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:09 pm

Jeff V wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:05 pm
Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:59 pm They'd rather be a slave than unemployed for demonstrating any moral character. How noble.
I hope every last one of them gets primaried by a candidate with the wherewithal to call them out as a supporter of a racist turd and their non-action makes them just as much a shitty racist by association. Their seat doesn't have to change parties for them to lose their jobs.

The ones who speak out will be primaried by candidates straight out of THE HANDMAID'S TALE, and those candidates will win.

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:32 pm

After the whole collusion illusion I thought y'all wouldn't still be chugging so hard at the Kool-Aid.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:39 pm

Better kool aid than the teat of an orange master who lies to you while you just smile stupidly at him and beg for more.

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:46 pm

Orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip?

Three Orange whips.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:57 pm

I can't see that I will ever vote for a Republican candidate at any political level the rest of my life because of their craven cowardness.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:22 pm

Grifman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:57 pm I can't see that I will ever vote for a Republican candidate at any political level the rest of my life because of their craven cowardness.

Since there will be future Republicans that have not yet expressed this measure of cowardice, I can't say the same thing. Hopefully I'll live long enough to see one.

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 10:58 pm

“Collusion illusion”

Bless your heart.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 7:36 am

Jeff V wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 9:22 pm
Grifman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:57 pm I can't see that I will ever vote for a Republican candidate at any political level the rest of my life because of their craven cowardness.
Since there will be future Republicans that have not yet expressed this measure of cowardice, I can't say the same thing. Hopefully I'll live long enough to see one.

IMO the point of a statement like this is to recognize that the party deserves to die. No one who would willingly join it deserves our votes.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:22 am

Just out of curiosity, is there any sign of politicians within the GOP who ARE trying to restore integrity to their party? No matter how small? I see some leaving the party entirely, but I rarely see anything about those still within the ranks who speak out.

msteelers · Post by **msteelers** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:37 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:22 am Just out of curiosity, is there any sign of politicians within the GOP who ARE trying to restore integrity to their party? No matter how small? I see some leaving the party entirely, but I rarely see anything about those still within the ranks who speak out.

They can't speak out, because those who speak out get voted out.

I was at a local candidate debate a couple of years ago. This was for our local level races, stuff like county commissioner and school board, and they still asked all of the candidates their stance on gay marriage, immigration, Muslims, etc. This is a very conservative area. They had to pass the Fox News purity test on national topics even at the local level where they will never have to actually deal with this stuff. And across the board, the candidates eagerly postured to show they were the biggest firebrand of the bunch.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:47 am

No, McConnell made sure any trace that such people ever existed has been wiped clean. He simply plugs in a more compliant old white dude and nobody ever notices.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:48 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:39 pm Better kool aid than the teat of an orange master who lies to you while you just smile stupidly at him and beg for more.

Kool Aid allusions to nothing or joining the fake news hammer chant to "send her back" to fabrications by a PotUS backed by senators proclaiming they don't have the time cite where they get their lies from.

Kool Aid it is.

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:53 am

msteelers wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:37 am They can't speak out, because those who speak out get voted out.

They also lose their funding at this point. The GOP decided to campaigning should be done with money from the Billionaire class and now they are thralls to it. See Amash vs DeVos and Meijer. McConnell laid the groundwork and Trump sealed the deal. The political funding, smears, and lies paid for by families with 9 zeroes by their name in my state are crazy high and drown out everything else. It's a amazing the voters stand out against them as often as we do.

It's (not so) funny how the will of the "people vs the government" expressed by the .00001 is to be taken over "the socialists" who try to organize by signatures and funding by $5 or $10 a donor at a time.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 9:54 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:22 am Just out of curiosity, is there any sign of politicians within the GOP who ARE trying to restore integrity to their party? No matter how small? I see some leaving the party entirely, but I rarely see anything about those still within the ranks who speak out.

That's because those who speak out are promptly pushed out of office and/or the party. Amash is the latest example, but it also includes Sanford, Flake, and Corker. And most of the latter just did mild "tsk tsk"s.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:05 am

Zarathud wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:46 pm Orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip?

Three Orange whips.

He only asks "Orange whip?" twice, since he doesn't need to ask himself if he wants one.

C'mon, man! You're even from Chicago!

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:25 am

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:05 am
Zarathud wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:46 pm Orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip?

Three Orange whips.
He only asks "Orange whip?" twice, since he doesn't need to ask himself if he wants one.

C'mon, man! You're even from Chicago!

Way OT but how it made it in the movie is totally the Chicago Way:

The drink was not in the original script. Kenny Dugan, Orange Whip's sales director at the time, had been providing refreshments for the cast and asked if his product could be mentioned in the film. Director John Landis mentioned this to Candy, who improvised the exchange.

Zarathud wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2019 8:46 pm ...orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip?

Three Orange whips.

FTFYAILB

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 10:28 am

That link tells me that the actual line was "Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips!"

I'll cut Z some slack that he was cutting off the introductory part of that first sentence. Chicago shaming retracted.

Kraken · Post by **Kraken** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:36 am

By now, we've all read about Trump's racist weekend Fox & Friends-inspired tweetstorm calling Baltimore Congressman Cummings' district "a rat and rodent infested mess." This is becoming so common that it almost passed unremarked here; "infested" only ever applies to nonwhite districts/countries. Far from backing down when challenged, Trump accused Democrats of "playing the race card."

It should be clear by now that white supremacy is central to his reelection campaign. If Trump and Fox have their way -- and they're very good at getting it -- It's going to be entirely about tribalism. Democrats (like Warren) can talk about policy until they're blue in the face; the MAGAhats simply don't care. They sense (rightly) that "their" country is slipping away from them and into the hands of the Others. Their privileged position is in danger -- no matter how poor and powerless they are, at least they're white, and that puts them a notch above...or it used to.

So, how do Democrats counter that strategy? Should they double down on identity politics and fire up their opposing tribe(s)? Or refuse to take the bait, and focus on policy and issues? Every time they call out the GOP's racism, Republicans circle their wagons, strengthening their sense of "us" and fear of "them." Is that going to win? Can Dems channel enough outrage to fight back on the same level? Should they even go there, given that their "us" is not homogeneous? Will they alienate whites if they try?

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 2:23 pm

I could be mistaken but I don't think The Leader ever referred to Appalachia as "infested". Hmmm...

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 5:30 pm

Kraken wrote: ↑Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:36 am So, how do Democrats counter that strategy? Should they double down on identity politics and fire up their opposing tribe(s)? Or refuse to take the bait, and focus on policy and issues? Every time they call out the GOP's racism, Republicans circle their wagons, strengthening their sense of "us" and fear of "them." Is that going to win? Can Dems channel enough outrage to fight back on the same level? Should they even go there, given that their "us" is not homogeneous? Will they alienate whites if they try?

"We knew he was racist but we thought it risky to mention" isn't where I want to have stood when the history is written.

tjg_marantz · Post by **tjg_marantz** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:41 pm

If Dems don't run this election as a straight up referendum on Trump, they are idiots.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:43 pm

I’m pretty sure that was the plan the day after Trump was elected.

tjg_marantz · Post by **tjg_marantz** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 9:44 pm

hepcat wrote:I’m pretty sure that was the plan the day after Trump was elected.

The debates and factions seem to suggest otherwise.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Sun Jul 28, 2019 10:11 pm

That’s just everyone struggling to survive the hunger games that are the primaries. They have to distinguish themselves from the pack. But all of them agree on one thing unanimously: Trump is awful for our country. And that will be the driving message for 2020 for the democratic candidate.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 10:24 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Sun Jul 28, 2019 10:11 pm That’s just everyone struggling to survive the hunger games that are the primaries. They have to distinguish themselves from the pack. But all of them agree on one thing unanimously: Trump is awful for our country. And that will be the driving message for 2020 for the democratic candidate.

You give them far too much credit. Depending on the nominee I expect that they'll either try to rise above the Trump morass by ignoring it and focusing on "the issues" or they will try to use Trump as a way to direct focus on "the issues."

The eventual Dem candidate needs to understand that their career and legacy are seconday to one goal: getting Trump out of the White House. If that means failing on promises and a mediocre presidency, so be it.

tjg_marantz · Post by **tjg_marantz** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:11 am

This is a referendum on Trump. This is all it can be. Fuck policies, fuck plans, fuck everything except the referendum on Trump.

Grifman · Post by **Grifman** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:07 pm

It is so sad how Trump corrupts everyone. Mark Meadows, a House Republican was accused of racism a while back and Elijah Cummings came to his defense, calling him a friend and saying that he was not a racist. Meadows was almost tearful (the video of the incident is out there) as Cummings defended him. Yet, Meadows has said nothing in the past week. I am more saddened by this than I am mad.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:49 pm

tjg_marantz wrote:This is a referendum on Trump. This is all it can be. Fuck policies, fuck plans, fuck everything except the referendum on Trump.

It's a referendum on the GOP, who thinks this is what America is. Trump is a symptom, not the disease.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:56 pm

Anyone notice how little talk or press coverage there is right now regarding the fact a certain someone said in very clear terms recently that his report did NOT exonerate another certain someone? That second someone would have been charged had he not been in a specific elected office? Wonder why the president is off on a racist rant recently?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:01 pm

Remus West wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2019 12:56 pm Anyone notice how little talk or press coverage there is right now regarding the fact a certain someone said in very clear terms recently that his report did NOT exonerate another certain someone? That second someone would have been charged had he not been in a specific elected office? Wonder why the president is off on a racist rant recently?

That is part of it but the big picture is that this is going to be his strategy.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 1:21 pm

Rand Paul: Fighting to be the most racist scumbag in the room.

The senator told Breitbart that in the city of Bowling Green, where he lives, there are many immigrants and refugees who are great citizens, but that those people are thankful to be in America.

"Then I hear Rep. Omar say, 'Oh, America is a terrible place, there is no justice here,'" Paul said. “Well, she came here and we fed her, we clothed her, she got welfare, she got school, she got healthcare, and then, lo and behold, she has the honor of actually winning a seat in Congress, and she says we’re a terrible country? I think that’s about as ungrateful as you can get."

He should have just told her she's forgetting her place. That she's getting too uppity.