What our somnambulant Media misses about Trump

[ProfessorPlum]

The scene: Trump is speaking before a crowd. He says something typically evil, like

*The US should kill innocent families and children of people who perform terrorist acts*

or

*We should torture people whether or not they are innocent*

The Crowd: "Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump!"

The Media: "Gee, isn't that amazing that no matter what he says, people still support him."


think about it, Media. People don't support him despite what he says. These misguided souls support him because of what he says.

[unblock]

1. the media love to report gossip and opinion because it's easier than reporting facts.

so they'll talk about the crowd cheering him instead of focusing on the real story, which is that trump said some horrific things that violate american laws, treaties, traditions, and values.

[ProfessorPlum]

3. They seem to consider that rude

Or disrespectful to Trump and his Brownshirts' feelings.

[Hortensis]

2. Godfather to one of our grandsons is a fine man

to those he sees as his people. Really. He's very nice, and very generous.

But he supports Trump and believes that we will have to nuke unspecified nations in the Middle East, way past time probably, just because it has to be done. Typical moderate nationalistic, xenophobic social conservative. I've never heard nasty bigoted comments from him, he just wants all undocumenteds gone and, of course, untold tens or hundreds of millions of Muslims permanently gone. Probably some of that old-time religion behind that.

Yes, he supports Trump because of what he says, not that our political conversations last longer than a pleasant sentence or two. I'll be interested in hearing if he's "evolved" at all. Fwiw, he's neither stupid nor given to the trending-rabid hostility that characterizes strong social cons.

[ProfessorPlum]

4. Isn't that incredibly frightening?

I know people too who are quite fine people on the surface, who can't recognize this horror for what he is.

[Hortensis]

6. Yes! But I don't see this man as a nice gloss over

a horror. I see all of us as many-faceted.

Also, and this is not some personal imagining:

Conservatives divide the world into their own "tribe" and all the outsiders. They have very different ideas about what they owe to insiders, to whom they typically feel real altruism, and to outsiders who are potentially dangerous, from whom they must protect their community. They also have a naturally dark view of human nature, typically believing people will behave badly if not compelled not to.

This is how our friend can be salt of the earth to those who know him, a genuinely good man always there for them, and a potential mass murderer to others.

Btw, this is just one big reason why I feel we should never elect a strong traditional conservative or even a moderate social conservative to power. Imo, they are intrinsically unsuited and incompetent to run a diverse and complex anything. Just look at that nasty lineup the GOP fielded last year. Some moderate traditional or economic conservatives sure; lots of decent, competent people there who'd never support Trump.

[ProfessorPlum]

9. That's a fascinating answer

Thanks

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. The press has given up trying to be responsible

And now is all tabloid. They don't care what trump says because it always attracts viewers.


The public has lost touch with reality and doesn't consider or understand the consequences of electing this trump monster. The life of the average trump supporter is so dreary that they can only hope that Trump would improve things because they have been brainwashed to believe they couldn't possibly get any worse.

[Hortensis]

7. I think that has to be true. Distortions and whoppers

all day long. These people we see on TV like their jobs way, way too much. The vast majority sold out long ago.

[unblock]

8. indeed, many people think the election is all about entertainment value

and they find trump more entertaining than Hillary.

no one seems to realize that the president can actually cause damage.

[tavernier]

10. One of the nicest guys I had ever known

once said to me, almost in passing, "I could take a gun and shoot Obama in the face without a second's hesitation, and I wouldn't feel bad for a instant."

I didn't know how to respond. Within a split second I realized that the man in front of me who I had always liked and admired was, in reality, a monster.

Needless to say, I never had anything to do with him from that day on, but it left me badly shaken.

We all know what Trump is. He is incapable of hiding his ugliness. But you are right... He is supported by many who have fooled friends and neighbors by appearing to be kind and normal people.

[politicaljunkie41910]

11. I would have reported him to the Secret Service. Then I'd let him explain to them that he was only

kidding. President Obama has a lot of haters our there, and has done nothing to deserve someone with that much hate in his heart saying such a thing. I live in a conservative city and neighborhood and I guarantee you if one of my neighbors told me such a thing I'd report it, because they could just as well feel the same way about me and members of my family.

[tavernier]

12. At the time Obama was running for his first term.

My husband was managing a condo association and he was on the board of directors, so pretty much my husband's boss. Fortunately my husband was retiring, so I knew I wouldn't see him anymore.

Whether it would have made any difference to contact anyone at that point, I doubt it. He probably would have gotten a slap on the wrist and it would have just fired up his racism. He was from North Carolina and I think there is something seriously wrong with the drinking water in that state.