If The Left Wants Trump To Win, They Should Just Keep Overplaying Their Hand
Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images
JANUARY 18, 2017
Lewis wasn't the only person claiming that Trump had been elected
illegitimately. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, who just last
week was preaching about why it's important to "(be) a mensch," wrote
that it is "an act of patriotism" to "declare the man about to move into
the White House illegitimate." Jehmu Greene, a Democratic National
Committee chair candidate, said that Trump was "allegedly elected."
illegitimately. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, who just last
week was preaching about why it's important to "(be) a mensch," wrote
that it is "an act of patriotism" to "declare the man about to move into
the White House illegitimate." Jehmu Greene, a Democratic National
Committee chair candidate, said that Trump was "allegedly elected."
In response, another DNC chair candidate, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn.,
upped the ante. He said he wouldn't be attending the inauguration
because "(He) will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of
division and hate." Ellison spent most of his career lauding the hateful
and divisive Nation of Islam.
upped the ante. He said he wouldn't be attending the inauguration
because "(He) will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of
division and hate." Ellison spent most of his career lauding the hateful
and divisive Nation of Islam.
Meanwhile, Trump met with Martin Luther King III at Trump Tower; King
emerged in the lobby after the meeting and explained: "(Trump) said that
he is going to represent all Americans. ... I believe that's his intent, but I
think we also have to consistently engage with pressure, public pressure."
Trump also met with entertainer Steve Harvey; they discussed poverty and
incoming Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, and
Harvey then stated: "I found him in our meeting both congenial and sincere.
Trump wants to help with the situations in the inner cities. ... I walked away
feeling like I had just talked with a man who genuinely wants to make a
difference in this area."
emerged in the lobby after the meeting and explained: "(Trump) said that
he is going to represent all Americans. ... I believe that's his intent, but I
think we also have to consistently engage with pressure, public pressure."
Trump also met with entertainer Steve Harvey; they discussed poverty and
incoming Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, and
Harvey then stated: "I found him in our meeting both congenial and sincere.
Trump wants to help with the situations in the inner cities. ... I walked away
feeling like I had just talked with a man who genuinely wants to make a
difference in this area."
So, do most Americans believe that Trump is a vicious racist, an illegitimate
president who must be treated with scorn and disdain? Of course not.
While Trump is highly unpopular for an incoming president -- he has the
lowest approval rating in modern history, at 40 percent -- nearly all
Americans think Trump was elected legitimately. A majority of them
don't think Trump is racist.
president who must be treated with scorn and disdain? Of course not.
While Trump is highly unpopular for an incoming president -- he has the
lowest approval rating in modern history, at 40 percent -- nearly all
Americans think Trump was elected legitimately. A majority of them
don't think Trump is racist.
Yet the left continues to double down on fiction instead of banking on fact.
In the past, the media and the Democrats were able to peddle extreme
fictions because they had more powerful bullhorns than their targets.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney could safely be labeled a tax cheat by Sen. Harry
Reid, D-Nev., without fear of being blasted with a public relations tsunami;
Vice President Joe Biden could state that Romney wanted to put black
people back in chains; President Barack Obama could lie about the state
of U.S.-Russia relations; the media could trot out old, unsubstantiated
stories about Romney's supposed gay-bashing. And Romney couldn't do a thing.
fictions because they had more powerful bullhorns than their targets.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney could safely be labeled a tax cheat by Sen. Harry
Reid, D-Nev., without fear of being blasted with a public relations tsunami;
Vice President Joe Biden could state that Romney wanted to put black
people back in chains; President Barack Obama could lie about the state
of U.S.-Russia relations; the media could trot out old, unsubstantiated
stories about Romney's supposed gay-bashing. And Romney couldn't do a thing.
That's not the case with Trump. Love him or hate him, Trump knows how
to get attention, and his 20 million followers on Twitter give him quicker
access to a wider audience than virtually any single media outlet or
personality. That means the media and the Democrats need to
button up their criticism rather than throw the kitchen sink.
to get attention, and his 20 million followers on Twitter give him quicker
access to a wider audience than virtually any single media outlet or
personality. That means the media and the Democrats need to
button up their criticism rather than throw the kitchen sink.
But they're used to throwing the kitchen sink.
One problem: Trump has a public relations trebuchet, and he'll simply
launch every kitchen appliance available in response.
launch every kitchen appliance available in response.
If the left wants to keep marginalizing itself, it ought to continue leveling
every radical allegation it can find against Trump. If the left wants to
defeat Trump, it should stick to the facts.
every radical allegation it can find against Trump. If the left wants to
defeat Trump, it should stick to the facts.
Given recent history, that seems highly unlikely.
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