Trump or Us: Which Side Are You On? - by Joy-Ann Reid

[DonViejo]

In an ever more polarized country, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is forcing the question.

It’s a threshold question, one that can trigger uncomfortable conversations: Do you support Donald Trump?

As his outrages add up, and up, and up, Americans are going to be confronted with the question of where they stood when the would-be strongman vied for power, fueled by an ethno-nationalist slate. A great sorting on the Trump question is coming.

Votes for president have long been a kind of social signifier. People will proudly boast that they voted for JFK; while it’s harder to find those eager to claim having supported Richard Nixon. You don’t find many boastful Carter Democrats (or George Bush Republicans, Jr. or Sr.), but among liberal old timers, voting for FDR remains a badge of honor; so much so that Bernie Sanders, who up until last year had never been a Democrat, proudly associated his brand of “Democratic Socialism” with the 32nd president. There is little that defines a modern conservative more than an effusive and often revisionist adoration of Ronald Reagan; indeed, to be “Reaganite” is to be the conservative ideal. There are even “Reagan Democrats,” who proudly crossed the aisle to vote for him.

For modern-day Democrats, and some Republicans, voting for Barack Obama, the first black president, is an important social marker (when it’s not a reason for certain conservative Florida doctors to refuse you service.)

In many quarters, there is no shame in the game. In very conservative pockets of the U.S.—particularly across much of the deep south—just about everybody, or at least everybody white, will be a Trump voter. While Trump is unlikely to become the next president without some dramatic, material shift among voters of color, just by dint of being a Republican he is all but guaranteed the support of at least four in ten voters—and perhaps six in ten white voters—nationwide on November 8.

more
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/08/trump-or-us-which-side-are-you-on.html

[tk2kewl]

1. the election is multiple choice not true/false

[geek tragedy]

8. technically true but in reality it is a binary choice nt

[Orsino]

9. Let's make the election be about more, I say.

Any dumbass can pick out the more qualified and benevolent candidate, and it should take about two seconds.

We've got months, though, in which to try to make Clinton commit to doing the things we need her to do. After Novemeber, in any case, this had better be something more than a binary choice.

[geek tragedy]

10. what she needs to do is win the White House and help as many Democrats win downticket races

as possible.

That's my take anyways.

I'm not seeing much indication she's pivoting right, are you?

[whatthehey]

12. Not in any practical sense

Sure you can throw away a vote on Johnson or Stein or any write-in fantasy you choose. But only two names on that ballot have any more chance of being elected than I do.

[patricia92243]

2. "obtuse crank" is the best description I've heard lately of Trump. Joy is a rising star.

[Peregrine Took]

3. Very excellent. She shuts those clunk headed rethugs like nobodys business. n/t

[liberal N proud]

4. Trump is not getting this white voter.

[DemonGoddess]

5. Joy Reid is something refreshing in these times

she's an actual journalist.

[mblock]

6. Love her!

I think one of the best reporters on MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I'm a "boastful Carter Democrat," LOL. But then I'm on DU. Good article.

[sufrommich]

11. I was thinking the same,I voted for him twice and

I'm proud of it. Other than that one sentence,I love Joy Reid.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. I've always liked her, too, well spoken, smart and informed

I was kinda bummed when they took off her afternoon show (with all the others), felt she had learned the spot after always appearing as the commentator/guest on everyone else's, but just learned she now has a weekend morning show...

And I have been listening to Jimmy Carter's autobiography, "A Full Life" (read by the author himself), was given the audio book for my birthday. He sure has led a full and fascinating life, am learning so much I never knew! From his childhood on the farm near Plains, his Navy career, to his first runs for public office, think it wasn't until disc #5 that he talked about his campaign for president, LOL. I recommend it highly!

[bigwillq]

14. I could never support Trump (nt)