Courant Presidential Endorsement: You probably think you can vote for Donald Trump but not support racism; here’s why you’re wrong

The Hartford Courant ^ | OCTOBER 18, 2020 | Editorial

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Chances are you’ve already made up your mind about whom to vote for as we decide who’s going to be the next president of the United States. You probably are also aware there’s no way The Hartford Courant or most any other newspaper is going to endorse Republican Donald Trump for reelection.

There are many reasons for that, and we’re not going to go into them in great detail here. If you are voting for Democrat Joe Biden, you know what they are. If you’re voting for Trump, you probably don’t care.

But there is one issue that demands a closer look as we approach Election Day, one that even those of you who are pretty sure you’re voting Republican might want to think about before voting for Trump: race. Or, more specifically, racism and the damaging effects it has on the fabric and future of our nation.

President Trump’s views on race and his willingness to exploit deep-rooted divisions are well documented. He jump-started his 2016 campaign by equating Mexicans with rapists and drug dealers. When racist violence erupted at a Charlottesville, Va., white-supremacist rally, Trump said there were “very fine people on both sides.” And most recently, when asked during a debate with Biden to denounce white nationalism, Trump said it was time for the militaristic hate group the Proud Boys to step back — but also to “stand by.”

That alone should frighten you, but right about now is when some of you are probably saying that you don’t subscribe to the kind of racist invective Trump uses to fire up his base. You believe in the free market and low taxes, or you’re against abortion, or you just don’t trust the Democrats.

[Wiser now]

When are these people going to realize the guilt trip doesn’t work anymore, but only infuriates good people more? The race card has expired.
Keep calling me a racist and I will never vote Democrat again.

[catnipman]

weekday print subscriptions down to 49,000 ...

[kiryandil]

     

[nicollo]

To analyze:

his 2016 campaign by equating Mexicans with rapists and drug dealers.

Bullshit.

When racist violence erupted at a Charlottesville, Va., white-supremacist rally, Trump said there were “very fine people on both sides.”

Bullshit.

when asked during a debate with Biden to denounce white nationalism, Trump said it was time for the militaristic hate group the Proud Boys to step back — but also to “stand by.”

Bullshit.