Is Trump's Use Of Identity Politics Strategic?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

From suggesting on his first day as a presidential candidate back in 2015 that Mexico was intentionally sending “rapists” to America to calling last week for several liberal congresswomen of color to “go back” to their countries, President Trump has repeatedly used racial and at times racist language over the last four years. And in doing so he has tapped into what some scholars describe as white identity politics, attracting support from those wary of the growing population of Americans who are not white or Christian, as well as those who have negative views about groups of people like black people and Muslims.

These moves have created an active debate among political observers about whether Trump is acting on his sincere beliefs, employing a political strategy or pursuing some combination of the two. It’s hard to know Trump’s motives (and likely it is some combo). But assuming that Trump’s rhetoric and policy approach on issues of race, religion, nationality and other forms of identity are at least in part a political strategy, is it a smart one? Does the way Trump use white identity politics help him and the GOP electorally, even if he at times veers into racism that members of his own party can’t defend? And are the Democrats (usually more establishment, centrist figures) who worry the party is playing into Trump’s hands when it defends members of Congress like Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota generally right, at least in terms of political strategy?

These are very complicated questions. But let’s look at what we know from the 2016 and 2018 elections and try to answer them.

1. The way Trump talked about identity issues probably did help him win the 2016 Republican primary.

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https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-trumps-use-of-white-identity-politics-strategic/

Does a bear shit in the woods?

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Of course it is.

He has seen that it works, the republican party has seen that it works. There are more racists in this country than any of us thought and this has brought them out of the darkness. He knows he can keep them jazzed up with his rhetoric.