Is Trump racist?

[Anonymous]

Yes, he's racist. To say otherwise is like suggesting that the emperor was wearing clothes.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:This question is covered pretty well in this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/545545.page

Trump frames his statements to appeal to white identity politics. It is a classic case of blaming all of America's ills on "them", the "them" being blacks, Mexicans, Muslims, women, the disabled, etc., depending on the issue at hand. If a black person can't find a job, according to Trump that person lacks spirit. If a white Christian male can't find a job, it is because the job was either sent to Mexico or taken by an illegal immigrant. Whether this is racism or cynical politics is a question that we can't answer.

I'd love to know when Trump said any of the above.

[Anonymous]

I'm a minority female and don't get the racist vibe. He definitely speaks in broad sweeping stereotypical race comments as his sound bytes. He's a character and a clown and that's been his way for long now, it would be weird and fake if he spoke in more politically correct ways.

Growing up as a second gen kid in the South, I heard all kinds of ignorant speak and stereotyping. Most of these people were not actually racist, just spoke in less cultured ways.

What I've heard from Trump, weeding through the extra which I've also learned to do growing up in South, is that he isn't opposed to immigrants, just illegal immigration. That he isn't opposed to Muslims, but to Islamism that is causing trouble in many parts of the world right now (Europe, Middle East, South Asian, Africa, Australia- it's not make believe) and doesn't want American soil to be the next country dealing with this fanaticism.

No not everyone who thinks these things are racist or bigoted. It's okay to have concerns about these issues. It's not okay to be called a racist, bigot, Islamophobe, Mexican hater or whatever simply for voicing these concerns.

Now do I think he could actually address any of these issues if he made it to the WH? That's debatable. I doubt it. I definitely rolled my eyes when he threw his hat into the ring and made fun of him too.

I've been up close and personal with racists, have been subject to harassment and violence. I'm all too familiar with true racism. I don't think Trump is racist. A doof, maybe. Racist, no.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:This question is covered pretty well in this thread:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/545545.page

Trump frames his statements to appeal to white identity politics. It is a classic case of blaming all of America's ills on "them", the "them" being blacks, Mexicans, Muslims, women, the disabled, etc., depending on the issue at hand. If a black person can't find a job, according to Trump that person lacks spirit. If a white Christian male can't find a job, it is because the job was either sent to Mexico or taken by an illegal immigrant. Whether this is racism or cynical politics is a question that we can't answer.

I'd love to know when Trump said any of the above.

You must be one of the least informed posters to ever set foot in this forum:

"Donald Trump says African-American youths 'have no spirit'"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/donald-trump-says-african-american-youths-have-no-spirit-10342030.html

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/donald-trump-storms-phoenix-119989
"I love the Mexican people … I respect Mexico … but the problem we have is that their leaders are much sharper, smarter and more cunning than our leaders, and they’re killing us at the border," said Trump, in front of a giant American flag at the Saturday afternoon rally at the Phoenix convention center. He added, "They’re taking our jobs. They’re taking our manufacturing jobs. They’re taking our money. They’re killing us."


What other statement that I made do you need documented? I really can't believe everything I wrote is not common knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think he's racist. He's anti illegal immigration. He's fearful of letting terrorists into America by allowing Muslims to immigrate without screening. If you think those policies are racist, then yes, you'll think he's racist.
.

I don't think either of those are racist.

Every speech he has given this campaign is on YouTube so I would be interested in hearing one quotation as bad as those in Clinton's history.

Not a call for who he is appealing to or who he didn't disavow quickly enough but a specific statement.

Your Clinton Derangement Syndrome is palpable. You are inadvertently reinforcing narratives about a particular strain of Sanders supporters, too. I will point this out, because the majority of Democrats who support Bernie are not like this.

Then please let me watch some trump quoted on YouTube that compare to Superpredators or the racist comments against President Obama. I will click on any YouTube link you can provide or racist statements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a Trump supporter.

I'm a Sanders supporter who called a racist and misogynist for daring not to vote for HRC, so I've seen how this game is played.

I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings to remember the racist shit her team pulled in 2008.

The violence at Trump rallies is going to hand the election to him as it truly terrifies most voters not wrapped up in the internet bubble.

I bet you were called a racist and misogynist for reasons other than just not voting for HRC. I bet you said some stuff that was susceptible to a racist or misogynist interpretation. Dishonesty bothers me.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a minority female and don't get the racist vibe. He definitely speaks in broad sweeping stereotypical race comments as his sound bytes. He's a character and a clown and that's been his way for long now, it would be weird and fake if he spoke in more politically correct ways.

Growing up as a second gen kid in the South, I heard all kinds of ignorant speak and stereotyping. Most of these people were not actually racist, just spoke in less cultured ways.

What I've heard from Trump, weeding through the extra which I've also learned to do growing up in South, is that he isn't opposed to immigrants, just illegal immigration. That he isn't opposed to Muslims, but to Islamism that is causing trouble in many parts of the world right now (Europe, Middle East, South Asian, Africa, Australia- it's not make believe) and doesn't want American soil to be the next country dealing with this fanaticism.

No not everyone who thinks these things are racist or bigoted. It's okay to have concerns about these issues. It's not okay to be called a racist, bigot, Islamophobe, Mexican hater or whatever simply for voicing these concerns.

Now do I think he could actually address any of these issues if he made it to the WH? That's debatable. I doubt it. I definitely rolled my eyes when he threw his hat into the ring and made fun of him too.

I've been up close and personal with racists, have been subject to harassment and violence. I'm all too familiar with true racism. I don't think Trump is racist. A doof, maybe. Racist, no.

None of us know what is truly in Trump's heart. That's why I said in my first post that we don't know whether Trump is a racist or simply cynically using racism as a political tactic. However, you are really glossing over the role racism and bigotry plays in Trump's campaign. Dangerously so, in my opinion. Trump doesn't simply demonstrate "concern" about violence committed by some Muslims. He actually proposes halting entry to the US by all Muslims. He has even toyed with the idea of requiring Muslims in the US to register in a manner similar to how Jews were required to register in NAZI Germany. He is not only opposed to illegal immigrants, but stereotypes illegal immigrants of all being of Hispanic (primarily Mexican) origin and being associated with entirely negative -- often horrific -- acts. Over and over again, Trump holds entire communities responsible for the acts of a minority.

I see a lot of folks ignoring obvious patterns to Trump's rhetoric and, instead, looking at his words with rose-colored glasses. You are hearing what you want to hear instead of what is actually being said. There is not a day that goes by in which Trump is not attacking some group or other for a host of perceived transgressions. I'm not sure how you can simply ignore that or suggest that it is meaningless.

[Anonymous]

I am a minority, female. I don't think Trumo is necessarily racist. I think that Trump's campaign is based on all the politically incorrect (yet pretty much true) things that no one wants to hear anymore (but hiding from these truths or acting outraged does little to fix the problems).

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a minority female and don't get the racist vibe. He definitely speaks in broad sweeping stereotypical race comments as his sound bytes. He's a character and a clown and that's been his way for long now, it would be weird and fake if he spoke in more politically correct ways.

Growing up as a second gen kid in the South, I heard all kinds of ignorant speak and stereotyping. Most of these people were not actually racist, just spoke in less cultured ways.

What I've heard from Trump, weeding through the extra which I've also learned to do growing up in South, is that he isn't opposed to immigrants, just illegal immigration. That he isn't opposed to Muslims, but to Islamism that is causing trouble in many parts of the world right now (Europe, Middle East, South Asian, Africa, Australia- it's not make believe) and doesn't want American soil to be the next country dealing with this fanaticism.

No not everyone who thinks these things are racist or bigoted. It's okay to have concerns about these issues. It's not okay to be called a racist, bigot, Islamophobe, Mexican hater or whatever simply for voicing these concerns.

Now do I think he could actually address any of these issues if he made it to the WH? That's debatable. I doubt it. I definitely rolled my eyes when he threw his hat into the ring and made fun of him too.

I've been up close and personal with racists, have been subject to harassment and violence. I'm all too familiar with true racism. I don't think Trump is racist. A doof, maybe. Racist, no.

None of us know what is truly in Trump's heart. That's why I said in my first post that we don't know whether Trump is a racist or simply cynically using racism as a political tactic. However, you are really glossing over the role racism and bigotry plays in Trump's campaign. Dangerously so, in my opinion. Trump doesn't simply demonstrate "concern" about violence committed by some Muslims. He actually proposes halting entry to the US by all Muslims. He has even toyed with the idea of requiring Muslims in the US to register in a manner similar to how Jews were required to register in NAZI Germany. He is not only opposed to illegal immigrants, but stereotypes illegal immigrants of all being of Hispanic (primarily Mexican) origin and being associated with entirely negative -- often horrific -- acts. Over and over again, Trump holds entire communities responsible for the acts of a minority.

I see a lot of folks ignoring obvious patterns to Trump's rhetoric and, instead, looking at his words with rose-colored glasses. You are hearing what you want to hear instead of what is actually being said. There is not a day that goes by in which Trump is not attacking some group or other for a host of perceived transgressions. I'm not sure how you can simply ignore that or suggest that it is meaningless.

I guess the only way I can explain this and it's also how some of my minority friends feel- some of us growing up as minorities in this country have felt and experienced real racism. Real, raw hate. The kind that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. The kind that can cause you and your family to move or switch schools or change jobs, the kind that can land you in the hospital or lead to the death of a family member.

We've been subject to stereotypes and honestly it's something we've come to let roll off our backs and expect from people and not just certain types of people, even the least suspecting people will let their stereotypes slip.

I don't agree with Trump's stereotypes, but I also know he's being singled out because he's vocal about them when there are PLENTY of what most would consider normal, average, intelligent people that have those same stereotypes about groups of people. They could be your neighbor, your mailman, your coworker, your boss, your child's teacher. I don't go around thinking they are racist because of their ignorance though.

I'm not a ra ra Trump supporter at all. But I do think that throwing the word racist around diminishes it's value to a certain degree. It becomes just another word then and the potency of the definition is diluted.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the only way I can explain this and it's also how some of my minority friends feel- some of us growing up as minorities in this country have felt and experienced real racism. Real, raw hate. The kind that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. The kind that can cause you and your family to move or switch schools or change jobs, the kind that can land you in the hospital or lead to the death of a family member.

We've been subject to stereotypes and honestly it's something we've come to let roll off our backs and expect from people and not just certain types of people, even the least suspecting people will let their stereotypes slip.

I don't agree with Trump's stereotypes, but I also know he's being singled out because he's vocal about them when there are PLENTY of what most would consider normal, average, intelligent people that have those same stereotypes about groups of people. They could be your neighbor, your mailman, your coworker, your boss, your child's teacher. I don't go around thinking they are racist because of their ignorance though.

I'm not a ra ra Trump supporter at all. But I do think that throwing the word racist around diminishes it's value to a certain degree. It becomes just another word then and the potency of the definition is diluted.

I have a hard time understanding, given your very negative experiences with racism, how you would so cavalierly minimize a candidate's statements that actually encourage the type of thinking and behavior you have encountered. Let's assume for the sake of argument that two candidates are equally racist. One of them is honest about it and refuses to engage in "political correctness". Folks who are even more extreme in their racism will naturally be encouraged and feel justified in their feelings. The second candidate hides his racism, denounces racism, and supports policies that help those against whom he secretly is prejudiced. While I grant you that the first candidate is the more honest, I am more interested in political and social outcomes and in this instance would place racial tolerance above honesty as an important characteristic of a candidate. I don't understand why you would do differently.

[Anonymous]

To follow up on Jeff's statements, let me stipulate that as I have posted here, I don't know what is in Trump's heart or mind. His statements and behaviors are calculated to appeal to the politics of resentment, largely among whites but also other native-born Americans. He's using strawman caricatures to focus rage on an external enemy. And he is succeeding at this.

There are obvious historical precedents for what he's doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To follow up on Jeff's statements, let me stipulate that as I have posted here, I don't know what is in Trump's heart or mind. His statements and behaviors are calculated to appeal to the politics of resentment, largely among whites but also other native-born Americans. He's using strawman caricatures to focus rage on an external enemy. And he is succeeding at this.

There are obvious historical precedents for what he's doing.

Historical precedent of a straw man caricature to focus rage in an external enemy such as a superpredator?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the only way I can explain this and it's also how some of my minority friends feel- some of us growing up as minorities in this country have felt and experienced real racism. Real, raw hate. The kind that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. The kind that can cause you and your family to move or switch schools or change jobs, the kind that can land you in the hospital or lead to the death of a family member.

We've been subject to stereotypes and honestly it's something we've come to let roll off our backs and expect from people and not just certain types of people, even the least suspecting people will let their stereotypes slip.

I don't agree with Trump's stereotypes, but I also know he's being singled out because he's vocal about them when there are PLENTY of what most would consider normal, average, intelligent people that have those same stereotypes about groups of people. They could be your neighbor, your mailman, your coworker, your boss, your child's teacher. I don't go around thinking they are racist because of their ignorance though.

I'm not a ra ra Trump supporter at all. But I do think that throwing the word racist around diminishes it's value to a certain degree. It becomes just another word then and the potency of the definition is diluted.

I have a hard time understanding, given your very negative experiences with racism, how you would so cavalierly minimize a candidate's statements that actually encourage the type of thinking and behavior you have encountered. Let's assume for the sake of argument that two candidates are equally racist. One of them is honest about it and refuses to engage in "political correctness". Folks who are even more extreme in their racism will naturally be encouraged and feel justified in their feelings. The second candidate hides his racism, denounces racism, and supports policies that help those against whom he secretly is prejudiced. While I grant you that the first candidate is the more honest, I am more interested in political and social outcomes and in this instance would place racial tolerance above honesty as an important characteristic of a candidate. I don't understand why you would do differently.

Because we're all different, Jeff.

IME, the loud obnoxious characters are far less dangerous than the "bless your heart" types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To follow up on Jeff's statements, let me stipulate that as I have posted here, I don't know what is in Trump's heart or mind. His statements and behaviors are calculated to appeal to the politics of resentment, largely among whites but also other native-born Americans. He's using strawman caricatures to focus rage on an external enemy. And he is succeeding at this.

There are obvious historical precedents for what he's doing.

Historical precedent of a straw man caricature to focus rage in an external enemy such as a superpredator?

When you respond in this way, I have a hard time believing your intentions are benign. If you'd like to focus on a single statement by a person who did not hold elected office at the time she made it, I will see your "superpredators" and raise you "deeply sick and sociopathic," the phrase used by Sanders, who did hold office at the time.

If you are a reasonably well-educated adult, you can probably think of the historical precedents I was thinking of.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you don't want to go Godwin so you hint at it.