Posted on 08/14/2015 2:53:12 AM PDT by Kaslin
I learned a little bit about the Donald Trump phenomenon after my appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox News Channel show this week, as my comments led to galactic feedback on Twitter -- some positive, some negative.
Hannity showed segments of his interview with Trump and asked me and the other guests to respond to various aspects of it. Some of the Twitter critics were upset with Fox News, alleging that it failed to provide a balanced picture, seeing as all three of us appeared anti-Trump.
In this case, Fox News deserves to be defended because I believe it tried to achieve balance, as the producers indicated to me they were interested in bringing me on for the segment partially because I had written a column favorable to Trump.
Indeed, I have written several columns praising Trump for unapologetically taking on establishment Republicans, political correctness and liberal Democrats. I attributed much of Trump's support to horror over President Obama's destruction and the impotence or unwillingness of Republicans to fight back.
Trump fights back, and when challenged, instead of cowering, he bites back harder, and that is a refreshing change from feckless politicians.
I remember defending then-Sen. Trent Lott years ago for an innocuously flattering introduction to Strom Thurmond, which the liberal thought police had twisted into the false narrative that Lott was thereby embracing Thurmond's allegedly racist past.
Even after many defended Lott, he caved and apologized for the insensitivity of his remarks, giving credence to the underlying allegations and vindicating the bullies. This type of surrendering from conservatives happens every other day, whereas liberals almost never apologize for their outrageous statements.
Along comes Trump, who speaks bluntly, especially about immigration, and the thought police swarm. Trump not only doesn't backpedal but also doubles down. How can conservatives not rejoice over that?
On "Hannity," I said I believe that some of Trump's supporters are in his camp because he is giving voice to their frustration. That is, some of Trump's support is attributable as much to his delicious counterattack on the media, liberals and the GOP establishment as to his positions on issues.
To some extent, I misspoke, because what I really meant is that not all of Trump's defenders are necessarily his supporters. I am in that camp. I love that Trump is attacking the establishment and status quo, and I agree with him on a number of issues, but he is not my first choice in the GOP presidential race.
My Twitter feed went wild after the show. Many agreed with my comments, but some Trump supporters were furious, thinking I'd thrown him under the bus as part of an anti-Trump conspiracy, which is unfortunate. Some were insulted that I had presumed to know their thoughts. That might be a fair criticism, but again, that is mainly because I didn't make the point as clearly as I should have.
But that's not the only reason they were annoyed. On the show, I indicated that I disagreed with Trump's position on Planned Parenthood -- and I still do. He said he would end federal funding of the organization's abortions but continue funding of other services that help women. I don't believe that you can construct a firewall inside that thoroughly corrupt organization, and I am not sure how I could have answered the question otherwise without betraying my principles.
Some went ballistic, seeing it as further proof I'd sold out to an anti-Trump cabal. That's ironic, because I admire a number of things about Trump and appreciate his firing back at the bully stewards of political correctness and setting an example on that score. I actually like the guy.
But in the various Twitter exchanges, I noticed the passion among his supporters. At the risk of presuming to read their minds again, it seems they believe that only someone with the no-nonsense fearlessness of Trump can turn this country around.
I don't believe this is just emotional. People are quite rational to think that the existing ruling class simply hasn't the will or the ability to reverse the statist nightmare that threatens the nation. They are reasonable to believe that only an outsider with spectacular business success can restore America's greatness.
My concern, as I've said in my previous columns, is I'm not convinced Trump is reliably conservative on several issues. His supporters indignantly protest that Ronald Reagan used to be a Democrat. "Why can't Trump have a change of heart?" they ask.
Well, in the first place, I don't remember Trump claiming to have had a conversion. When he changes his positions, it seems he usually claims that circumstances have changed, such as with Obamacare -- not that he was wrong or had a change of heart. Personally, I believe the evils of socialism are timeless.
There are other issues on which I'm not convinced yet of his present conservatism. But I'm open to the possibility.
It is still early in the campaign, and we have many great candidates running whose conservative credentials are far stronger, in my view. I don't want to trash Trump or his millions of supporters, but I hope they can also respect those who prefer others at this point and not try to read our minds or motives, either.
I believe that the majority of Americans are fed up to the eyeballs with the path this nation is on, and I am exceedingly grateful that Trump's supporters have reached their limit with the abuses of Washington. I love that so many wonderful candidates have stepped forward to try to answer the call of duty.
Great article, thanks for posting. I feel the same way.
When you sit down quietly and discuss the situation with people who say they’ve voted Republican in most general elections....around fifty percent will say they are frustrated and negative with the national party structure, strategy, and people who run the ‘machine’.
It goes beyond just the tea-party crowd. The negativity is obvious.
Then you go and sit down with Democrats or people who say they’ve voted general Democrat over the past decade or two, and ask the same questions. Roughly twenty percent of this crowd is frustrated with the Democratic Party and it’s characters in DC.
It’s the perfect storm which has arrived....Trump in the middle of this and he appeals to the frustrations of the crowd. Democrats have something to worry about because Trump could take 20-percent of the national vote. Republican insiders have something to worry about because Trump isn’t connected to them or the lobbyists who pay them.
I won’t say Trump is the answer, but the past twenty years have resulted in a large segment of society who mostly laughs over the news media (to include Fox News now), and they’d like for something unique to happen and change the whole game around. Maybe Trump is that guy....maybe not. But so far, he’s the only non-political guy in the middle of this mess.
I don't think anyone has made this comparison before, but remember when there was a brief movement in the late 1970s to have Lee Iacocca run for President? History repeating?
-PJ
Never give the enemy a window on your inner thoughts.
Nothing on the internet is private.
I like him better than his brother..
Rush will eventually tell the truth about Trump just like his brother.
Like the author, I enjoy Trump taking on the GOP and immigration issues.
Trump is a populist. He speaks in Michigan and talks about stopping Ford from building a new assembly plant in Mexico.
Trump talks higher taxes for the wealthy when in from of blue collar workers.
Trump talks strong military and conservatism when on Levin’s show.
This is a man who will say anything to win. After that, he will do what he wants and blast those who disagree....which will be conservatives.
But he needs us right now and will not stab us in the back yet.....or not obviously.
I watched that segment with Limbaugh and, I too, thought he was anti-Trump. He sure came off that way. I’d like to say something about Trunp’s conservatism. How many so-called conservatives have we sent to Washington, only to be betrayed by them and watch them become Democrats? So, why can’t someone who has previously held some Democrat beliefs become conservative? That door swings both ways, IMO.
This is exactly the problem. It can't be done. An organization is its people and its leadership. Look at what they've created.
You are making a good point. I can think of our senator who was an outstanding conservative governor that went left on us once he got to Washington.
Hopefully, yes, the door swings both ways.
We need to let it play out.
Great essay! Thanks for posting!
I LOVE IT that The Donald has scared the bejeebers out of the Republicrat establishment.
An old military aviation axiom is “You know you are over the target when you are taking flak.” He is taking a lot of flak FRom both sides, which means he is on the right track.
The fact that The Donald has awakened a sleeping monster the establishment REALLY FEARS — the 100,000,000 million otherwise eligible voters who DID NOT VOTE in 2012 — is telling, and will probably determine the outcome of the election.
“This is a man who will say anything to win. After that, he will do what he wants............”
And I keep hearing, “Trump is not a politician”. The practice is the first rule of BEING a politician.
Trump is a movement—a Trumpnado—He has started something even he can not imagine. Trump may well be many things but he isn’t a fool or a clown. There is a genius behind him that Obama never had. Obama isn’t a leader—Trump relishes it. He knows that deep inside—many would love to be Trump and live in his golden tower in New York. One thing you can point to is his kids—he has raised them well—no drug fueled spoiled brats—they work (and so does he). This tells that he is deeper than the image that exists of him.
A fellow who got involved in WWE when he could have not even gotten a finger dirty while in his ivory tower — there has to be SOME down to earth side to him. Just sayin’.
Trump isn’t Mittens—He says what he thinks—he isn’t a politician who will say anything and lie. Ford stopped the Mexican plant from being built by the way. I believe you can trust him (I may be wrong) but I think what you see is what you get.
Obama is the quintessential post turtle. Not there for reasons of his own pursuit, others are running the show and all he can do is agree.
A hypothetical is floated and you’re treating that as a proof?
We can see by observation that when Trump says he would make any effort to win, he did not mean things like calling the Mafia on his opponents. He does play fair according to the prevailing rules affirmed by his opponents, even when they don’t like it. They chatter about him — he chatters about them. They snub him — he snubs them.
Well done, captures the thoughts of a lot of people here, definitely speaks for me.
If only David’s brother would be this reasonable on air......
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