Did anyone watch Trump at the church in Detroit?

[oberliner]

That was just surreal.

He awkwardly brought up Ben Carson and shook his hand.

He awkwardly read a speech that was written for him. He clearly had never seen the words before

He awkwardly was given a tallis, which he awkwardly wore, by the bishop of the church.

The whole thing was very very bizarre.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Did the holy water boil when he walked in?

[oberliner]

2. Everything about it was so strange and awkward

Also, there were rows and rows of empty seats.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Everything about Trump himself is strange and awkward.

[oberliner]

4. Even more so when he is clearly out of his element

As was the case here.

[meow2u3]

24. I'm surprised the holy water didn't burn him

or send him to the hospital

[MFM008]

76. lol

...

[GoCubsGo]

88. No. But the portrait of Jesus on the wall wept a flood of tears. n/t

[nolabear]

5. Actually I thought he did a fine job of huckstering those people.

He read his prepared speech with a measured tone, lied about all the right things, expressed a false sense of concern very convincingly, and reinforced my own atheism by making it out of that church with nary a lightning burn.

Fortunately African Americans aren't stupid.

[oberliner]

6. I feel the opposite

He clearly knew not what he was saying.

Especially when he tried quoting a Bible passage.

He is much better at huckstering the poor white people that cheer for him at his usual rallies.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I'm surprised lightning didn't strike him.

Either God isn't paying attention or else she is just going to sit back and watch Trump dig his own hole deeper.

[meow2u3]

25. I'm surprised he's still in one piece

BTA, I'm not. Unfortunately, he has Secret Service protection.

[nolabear]

8. Oh I don't doubt that, but I thought he faked it far better than "Two Corinthians."

I'd like to see him out and talk to the hundreds of protesters outside.

And what was with the prayer shawl? Any idea why that was there to begin with?

[oberliner]

9. The bishop presented him with a prayer shawl

He said he got it from Israel and thought Donald should wear it so that he would have the protection of God when he travels or something along those lines.

[nolabear]

16. Ah. Okay. I expect to see him wearing it from now on then.

[OB44]

10. Exactly. Trump has had the last 15 months to visit black communities. Now 70 days before election...

he wants to show concern? Where is your track record? What have you done in your businesses to promote minority opportunity? Where are the people that speak personally for what you have done over many years? I for one don't trust these television Pastors especially ones that want to rub elbows with Don the Con.

[rurallib]

11. believe he said when he started that "he (Trump) wrote down a few thoughts"

implying that he had written his speech.

I call bullshit.

[oberliner]

12. There is no way he wrote a single word of that speech

Also, if you add "So true" after you read a sentence it sort of destroys the illusion that you might have written it.

[HipChick]

17. African Americans will not fall for the okie dokie..

[etherealtruth]

89. Oh, hell no

I live in Metro Detroit (not the city) ... News organizations have interviewed many people associated with the short fingered vulgarians visit ... no one seemed "moved" or inclined to vote for him.

[Iliyah]

13. AAs know T-rump is fake.

Political stunt just like Mexico. AAs know that "White" nationalist are running his campaign and they also know T-rump is the farthest thing to an actual Christian.

[oberliner]

15. Most of them do

But he seems to have managed to put together a small cadre of AA supporters that travel with him sometimes.

[Iliyah]

19. Same with Latino surrogates.

I can think of one - the Taco man - LOL

Have you seen AA surrogates that support T-rump on tv. They are an embarrassment to the race.

[liberalmuse]

14. Did he inhale sharply at any point?

If so, I hope everyone checks to make sure they still have their souls. I don't worry about this ever happening when he's speaking in front of his supporters...

[Lsantos04]

18. His "outreach" attempts are getting more and more desperate

Thankfully, minority voters aren't buying into Drumpf's lies, hence his dismal poll showings by those demographics. The whole "outreach" thing is just so fake and bizarre.

[napkinz]

20. yes, and what I want to know is when is the MSM going to confront him on his racist past!

see http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028142367

[femmocrat]

21. Yes. I thought it was awkward and patronizing.

"A lot of people don't realize that the great Abraham Lincoln was a republican" ( )

Al Sharpton is on MSNBC now critiquing the appearance and the message. Rev. Al is ripping him up good.

[procon]

22. If he had to read his message to a black church, his words weren't sincere or authentic.

He was pandering. He starts out by saying that he "means it from the heart", but then in the next sentence he tells the audience that they will "understand it better than I will".

He's right, he doesn't understand and he doesn't want to understand. He's a wealthy 70 year old man who has discriminated and cheated black people throughout his 30-40 year business career, and topped it off by the Birther bashing of Obama.

[Greywing]

23. I noticed he was reading from the paper in front of him and had to use his finger to keep his place

he did not write that speech and his voice never indicated he felt the words in his heart. Now his "immigration policy" speech in Phoenix ... every screaming, yelling word came from his heart.

[democrattotheend]

26. I thought his remarks were closed to press

Did he change his mind about that again?

[oberliner]

27. The one-on-one interview was closed to the press

His remarks to the church later in the day were broadcast live.

[duncang]

29. The interview he had before the sermon was

But after the sermon he got up and did a stump speech.

One thing needs to be brought up is the percentage of lies he has done during his campaign. I remember it was around 70% of the things he said as facts were lies around convention time.

[Tanuki]

31. You're thinking of the interview with the self-styled "Bishop." Even though he had the questions

ahead of time and his handlers had scripted his "answers", there would still be a chance of a slip up. The remarks referred to in this thread were a prepared statement that he read from a script in front of a ticketed audience. No risk of having to think on his feet or lose control of the message on camera.

[NWCorona]

28. I was half expecting him to fall out, catch the Holy Ghost and start speaking in tongues lol

[bravenak]

38. I wish!

[NWCorona]

57. It definitely would have been more entertaining

Trump was looking down at his notes more than at the congregation lol!

The one big lie that I saw was when he said/read something like "I had such an amazing day today ". Wasn't that speech written last night?

The only good thing I've seen so far from Trump's "outreach" is the fact that I'm seeing more black and brown people on TV.

[bravenak]

66. Hell yeah

His outreach looks like a blacksploitation film. I'm waiting for him to hit Crenshaw in a lowrider.

[NWCorona]

72. Lol! That's a meme waiting to happen nt

[duncang]

30. Watching him stand by during the sermon you could tell he really wasn't comfortable

The spotlight wasn't on him.

[radical noodle]

32. AA churches are some of the friendliest places in the world

and he looked like he had a gun to his head, forcing him to be there.

[oberliner]

33. That's definitely not true

If you don't buy the Jesus is Lord stuff then it's a pretty disturbing place to be.

[bravenak]

40. Not really.

Bunch of us atheists in black churches. I am always treated well.

[oberliner]

43. Yes, definitely

I watched the service prior to Trump taking the podium and did not feel anything resembling "friendliness" coming from the bishop of this particular church.

It's certainly possible that the feeling at other churches is, in fact, friendly to non-believers, but this one definitely did not feel that way.

[bravenak]

44. Any church that lets Trump speak is a shit church

My uncld run a church and would not let his ass in ever. But nonbelievers are welcome. Just no klanners.

[oberliner]

45. OK

My comment is directed at this particular church, which did not give off a friendly vibe.

[bravenak]

47. Well, I'm sure they felt like hostages. Sad.

[oberliner]

49. What's your take on Trump speaking there?

Just stepping back and looking at it from a strategy standpoint, do you think it will help his campaign at all?

[bravenak]

50. Oh no. It will not help him one bit.

We hate that phony ass pastor for selling his soul to Trump,for one. It gives us some stuff to laugh at him for, we know it is fake as hell, and he hates black folks and wants to pit us against the Mexicans, and fuck that. It is kinda hilarious watching him fake pander to us. He will get the one percent of self hating blacks to vote for him.

[bulloney]

84. It won't help Trump, especially if it's the only venue of that kind that he visits on the campaign.

If that happens, the Detroit church appearance will be increasingly regarded as a "token."

[AgadorSparticus]

60. I think that is an apt description. LOL!

[radical noodle]

62. If you just walk into a black church

believer or non-believer, they will welcome you. Unlike many white churches who may stare at you but never greet you. It may be disturbing from a distance, but MOST of them welcome you with handshakes and hugs, or at least a "Good morning!"

A good example of that is the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. They warmly welcomed their assassin and later their families forgave him.

You may find it disturbing because you don't agree with their way of worship (or worship at all) but that doesn't mean they aren't friendly.

[oberliner]

64. Fair enough

Was just responding to what I was hearing from the bishop of this particular church who spoke prior to Trump.

[renate]

70. agreed :)

While I'm not a fan of organized religion, I do really like the people who actually live by the tenets of a religion based on love (love thy neighbor, do unto others, care for the poor and hungry). I think there's a vast difference between real Christians and those who are Christian in name only, and the same can probably be said of any other religion.

[uponit7771]

73. This is false

[oberliner]

78. It's definitely true of this AA church

Watching the video of the service prior to Trump speaking was anything but friendly.

[Sunlei]

34. republicans sent out press releases- their man delivered a"warmly received message of unity"

[oberliner]

35. Written by Kelly Anne Conway

And read haltingly by the candidate.

[Bluzmann57]

36. No

[oberliner]

37. That's definitely not true

Several people clearly did watch it.

[Bluzmann57]

90. What I meant was that I didn't watch it

[oberliner]

91. I got that

I was just trying to be funny.

But I do understand not wanting to watch!

[Fred Sanders]

39. Soon some Trump surrogate will warn of soul food trucks on every corner, not just taco.

[oberliner]

41. Very much doubt they can spin the idea of deporting African-Americans

In fact, they seem more keen on pitting African-Americans against immigrants from Mexico and elsewhere.

[bravenak]

46. Warn or promise? Cause a soul food truck and a taco truck together would make my year

Fucking delicious. Heavenly almost.

[iloveObama12]

42. This man a joke

[bravenak]

48. That shot is hilarious

Trump is a fake fuck

[sarae]

54. He's such a phony...

Anyone who thinks he's sincere is delusional. The idea that he would genuinely care about the needs of black and latino communities, and then turn around and be cosy with all these white nationalists is NUTS.

I've never loathed another human being so much. I hope Clinton humiliates him in November.

[bravenak]

56. I really feel you.

Be nice if we could deport his ass

[sarae]

58. Wouldn't that be nice?

I doubt anyone would take him...maybe we could drop him off in the middle of the ocean.

[bravenak]

67. I'd like to drop him off in the amazon and have cameras recording him, that show ' naked and afraid'

[sarae]

71. He'd last about .01 seconds in the Amazon.

The little prima donna has to fly back to his Manhattan penthouse every night...

[oberliner]

52. That lady in pink in the back

Impressive outfit.

[RKP5637]

51. I saw part of it, him reading his speech like a little kid, and then standing there with

a totally unemotional bored look on his face, like get me the F outta here. The man is totally weird and unemotional, total lack of kindness and empathy or caring. In fact, he's damn scary! The guy does not play with a full deck!

[AgadorSparticus]

53. So lame and so obvious he is pandering for votes. It's offensive & I am not even AA

The question is: how are AA able to stomach this with a straight face? They have gone through enough. This is downright insulting....

[oberliner]

55. I think it is more directed at white voters

Who want to be able to believe that Trump is not racist.

[AgadorSparticus]

59. You're right. But, who can really believe this stunt? No one is THAT stupid.

I am surprised any black church would allow his ass in through the door.

[oberliner]

61. I hate to be cynical, but I think it's all about the money

This church will most likely get some financial benefit from having its profile raised in this way.

[AgadorSparticus]

63. I didn't think of that! But that sure rings true to me.

That would be the only reason why they subjected themselves to this photo op. They must have been paid quite a bit, too. Sell outs....

[Ilsa]

65. Let him do this. Encourage him to do more of it.

It's a complete waste of time. He'll go from getting 0.002% to 0.0025% of the AA vote.

[oberliner]

68. But it's not really about getting the AA vote

It's about convincing on-the-fence Republican whites that he isn't a racist and so it's OK to vote for him.

(He's already got the actual racist vote locked up).

[Ilsa]

69. Oh, okay, good point.

I guess perceptions are what he's after with this.

[Rex]

74. Why did they give him a tallit?

Not knocking their gift, but is that something commonly laying around an Evangelist church?

[sakabatou]

75. No, you'd find that in a shul/synagogue

Unless they're talking about what some ministers wear. I dunno what they're called.

[oberliner]

79. I believe that some Christian pastors connect with the Jewish roots of Christianity

And take on various Jewish rituals as a result.

I am trying to do a bit more research into this particular pastor and his church to see if that is the case there.

In any case, it is still odd to gift Trump with one.

[Rex]

87. Giving a prayer shawl to Donald Trump...surprised it did not burst into flames.

At least the Church did not fall in on him, Don playing fast and loose with faith.

[duncang]

77. This mornings surrogate

Almost trying to say it was a transformation for him. He saw the light! Even though that is probably the first time he has stepped in a church for the last 40+ years other then the ones he has rented halls.

[oberliner]

80. Good luck with that

I can't imagine anyone is stupid enough to actual believe that to be true.

[duncang]

81. But the surrogate said.

So it's got to be true.

[oberliner]

82. Ain't no surrogate like a Trump surrogate

One of my favorite moments was when the Kayleigh person on CNN who is a hard-core Trump-is-great true believer surrogate said that Donald Trump was not questioning Mitt Romney's religion immediately after a clip where Trump uttered the words: "Are you sure he's a Mormon?" The others on the panel had to laugh, but I think it speaks to a really important phenomenon among the Trump crowd, which is an inability to even look at reality as reality.

[Vinca]

83. It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen.

I'm convinced that Trump is afraid of non-wealthy black people and can't feel comfortable among them. I was glad to see the church was nowhere near filled and the majority of parishioners weren't buying the dog and pony show (or Don and pony show). What's with these black pastors though? Are they receiving large "donations?"

[SummerSnow]

85. It is obviopus he didnt want to be there.

He had the nerve to say he wanted to learn about black people. Um, we have been living here forever. We are not from some foreign country. What an ass. And he lives in NYC!! Millions of blacks there. if he doesn't know about black people he didn't want to know. He like all the other racist have their preconceived ideas about who we are and what we are. Now he thinks cause he showed up in a black church were all lovey dovey.

[SummerSnow]

86. Lol...Guiliani and Sessions traveled to Mexico with Trump...

But their racism could not allow them to show up in that black church and neighborhood with him.lol I guess they said too many "colored" people in one week Donald you're pushing it.lol