From race to plastic straws, Trump dials up culture wars in divisive play for 2020 votes

[Zorro]

George W. Bush had “freedom fries,” Sarah Palin had the “Big Gulp” and Dan Quayle had the Hollywood portrayal of an unwed single mother named Murphy Brown.

For President Trump, it’s paper straws — the latest addition to an ever-growing list of cultural flash points his campaign is seeking to highlight as part of a base-focused reelection effort.

As cities and coffee chains across the country have adopted policies aimed at limiting environmental damage, the president’s campaign has targeted what it calls “liberal paper straws.” It’s selling a Trump-branded plastic version as a fundraising tool.

Pointing to the “runaway success” of the straws — which have earned the campaign more than $670,000 in a month — communications director Tim Murtaugh said they represent Trump’s ability to make a political point using a cultural issue everyday voters can relate to.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-dials-up-culture-wars-in-divisive-play-for-2020-votes/2019/08/12/8c5c2a96-b556-11e9-8f6c-7828e68cb15f_story.html

[madaboutharry]

1. People paid $15 for a pack of 10 disposable straws.

Trump is always out to rip people off.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Whuzzat-- 45,000 or so of them? Not a bad sales number...

No doubt many were bought in bulk by local organizations, or as gifts, but there's a lesson here-- we need to sell something like that with our own message.

I have a set of metal straws, complete with a cleaning brush, bought for 10 bucks. No doubt we could get them stamped with "save a turtle today".

[The Genealogist]

3. Not sure which is more facepalm inducing

The fact that the hill on which some are willing to die is the composition of he tubes through which they drink their beverages or he fact that someone decided to exploit it for votes.

[dalton99a]

4. The compulsive shit stirrer always needs new issues to distract attention from his crimes