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Cognitive Dissonance and the Followers of Donald Trump
Townhall.com ^ | February 15, 2016 | Michael Brown

Posted on 02/15/2016 10:09:20 AM PST by Kaslin

When the legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum was challenged about the veracity of one of his past statements, he famously replied, "Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth."

This leads to the obvious question, "But Mr. Arum, what will you tell us tomorrow?"

There is something about Arum's line that reminds me of Donald Trump, except that: 1) Arum was not running for the office of the President of the United States; and 2) Trump could say the same thing that Arum did but it appears that many of his followers would say, "You see! He's not a politician. He tells the truth."

Have you ever seen the like with a political candidate? And who but Trump could boast that he could shoot someone in broad daylight in New York City and his followers would still follow him? Who but Trump would want to boast of such a thing?

By all fair accounts, Trump did not perform well in the South Carolina debate on Saturday night, but this didn't matter much to his followers, as evidenced by the Drudge Report poll which, as always, declared him the overwhelming winner.

So, when the crowd boos him for his vile behavior, that's just proof that the crowd has been stacked against him.

When competing candidates rightly confront his vacillating positions, they're branded liars, corrupt politicians, and worse, all to the delight of his followers.

"We need an Alpha male," they exclaim. "Trump will get things done."

As to how, exactly, he will do it, no one seems to know.

But be assured that, despite four Trump bankruptcies (which surely affected many people, even if Trump was not personally affected) and the failures of Trump Airlines, Trump Vodka, Trump Mortgage, Trump: The Game, The China Connection, Trump Casinos, Trump Steaks, Trump Magazine, and GoTrump.com, Donald Trump will get the job done.

He always does.

He only wins - as in wins, wins, wins.

And when he doesn't win (as in Iowa)? Actually, second was really first, since, we're told, the winner cheated. And his followers cheer him on.

But this is nothing to laugh about. The future of our country is at stake, especially with the sudden death of Antonin Scalia, which makes the question of the appointing of new Supreme Court justices all the more urgent.

Last August 26th - so, barely six months ago - Trump stated that his sister would make a "phenomenal" Supreme Court justice, despite her strong support for partial-birth abortion.

Now, after being challenged about what kind of justices he would appoint if president, Trump says that he was only joking about his past comments about his sister: "Just so you understand, I said it jokingly. My sister is a brilliant person, known as a brilliant person, but it's obviously a conflict."

Shades of Bob Arum.

"I was joking yesterday, but today I'm being serious."

Dear followers of Donald Trump, are you sure this is your man?

But it gets worse.

During the Saturday night debate in patriotic, pro-G. W. Bush South Carolina, Trump said that Bush lied about Iraq and claimed that he, Trump, was the only one to oppose the war in Iraq. In fact, at a debate last September he said, "You can check it out, check out — I'll give you 25 different stories."

When asked for proof of this on Sunday, he responded, "I wasn't a politician so people didn't write everything I said."

Really? No proof of 25 different stories you told us to check out? No documentation of your very outspoken opposition to the war? You spoke loudly and clearly back then but no one noticed it because you weren't a politician?

Unfortunately for Trump loyalists, Andrew Kaczynski has documented that "in his 2000 book, The America We Deserve Trump noted Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction and targeted Iraq strikes had little impact on their overall capabilities. The Donald said the best course might be against Iraq to 'carry the mission to its conclusion.'" (Kaczynski provides the exact quote.)

It wasn't until August of 2004 that Trump expressed clear opposition to the war, long after it had started and long after the problems with our engagement there had emerged.

This revelation led to the clever tweet from New York Post columnist Robert A. George, "Trump knew Iraq had WMDs before Bush lied abt Iraq having WMDs and followed Trump's advice to finish job in Iraq!"

In response to all this, I posted on Facebook and Twitter, "Trump could say tomorrow 'I've been lying about everything!' And his followers would say 'That's our man! He tells it like it is.'"

And how did some of his followers respond to my comment?

"So explain to me who is better than Trump?"

And, "No he wouldn't. Nobody is ideal, but you have it in for Trump. He is better than all of the socialists and other deceptive liars running."

And, "[people would] much rather give Trump the benefit of the doubt because he does not answer to any special interest groups and because he proves that you can fight the leftwing media and their strongest weapon 'political correctness'."

What makes this all the more disturbing, not to mention downright scary, is that a substantial percentage of his supporters profess to be evangelical Christians, and it still appears that there is almost nothing he could say or do that would dampen their support for him.

"After all," they lamely repeat, "we're not electing a pastor, we're electing a president."

And, if I might borrow a quote, "Yesterday he was lying, today he's telling the truth."

Let the voter beware.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 1stcanadiansenator; 2016election; 2016issues; donaldtrump; integrity; propagandadujour; tds; tedspacificpartners; usualsuspect; willthemudstick
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To: centurion316

he sure fooled the Trumpets though


101 posted on 02/15/2016 11:52:41 AM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
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To: dsc
My prediction is that he will make a couple of good faith deals with the demonrats, they will stab him in the back, as is their wont, and he will Freddy Kruger them.

If that happens I hope it is live TV. :)

102 posted on 02/15/2016 11:52:56 AM PST by VRWCarea51 (The original 1998 version)
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To: dsc

It could very well happen but doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with Trump


103 posted on 02/15/2016 11:56:12 AM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
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To: Kaslin

Great post.


104 posted on 02/15/2016 11:56:36 AM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
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To: VRWCarea51

Yes he did....whined about Cruz....which was really whining that he could not defend the issues Cruz pointed out at the debate and instead looked like the blow horn fool that he is..
So he sets up the media to play to expect something earth shattering...( I was hoping he’d announce going 3rd party)...but nothing more than cry baby Trump unable to handle the heat.


105 posted on 02/15/2016 11:59:06 AM PST by caww
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To: Kaslin
Trump hasn't changed....his tune at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UO3nn7awUk

106 posted on 02/15/2016 11:59:21 AM PST by Osage Orange (Nowadays we are just Central America with snow.)
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To: VanDeKoik

Post 11 has been used a few times by you. Apparently, you’re running out of anything meaningful to add.


107 posted on 02/15/2016 12:00:13 PM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
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To: dsc

A lifelong DUmocrat isn't going to "destroy" them...he's just taking kookville mainstream! When you're appealing to the BERNIE SANDERS voter, you're off the reservation!

108 posted on 02/15/2016 12:00:47 PM PST by RasterMaster ("Towering genius disdains a beaten path." - Abraham Lincoln)
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To: freedomjusticeruleoflaw

Are you in the guillotine wing of FReeRepublic? “Heads will roll?” LOL.


109 posted on 02/15/2016 12:01:08 PM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
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To: elhombrelibre

Twice. 2 whole times.

OMG The material I am out of! How shall I live down this indignity?!


110 posted on 02/15/2016 12:02:37 PM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: agrarianlady

....”He’s probably going to lose SC, so he’s going to cry foul. What a baby”....

Ha! he’s going to Sue Cruz on the birth issue, as a favor, if he doesn’t get an apology from Cruz.

He’s not doing as well as he’s touting and he knows it....or he wouldn’t go to this trouble....

He’s a work of art for sure.....can’t handle the heat.


111 posted on 02/15/2016 12:02:55 PM PST by caww
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Oh no. Trump is winning new friends, like Code Pink.


112 posted on 02/15/2016 12:03:04 PM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
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To: AuntB

“People are sure slow to give up on their idols no matter HOW they screwed up this country.”

...and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. (DOI)

“They got away with it because of the cover given their CRIMES by many of the same people still calling names and demanding more RINOs.”

It’s true. If the demonrats were convicted of their crimes, there would be no more Evil Party.


113 posted on 02/15/2016 12:03:30 PM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: Kaslin

90% of the country believes that Bush lied. Bush NEVER defended himself (’new tone’ and all that crap)...ergo, like it or not, the line that BUSH LIED stands.

Trump’s using it to connect people he needs to support him because it is available to him. If people don’t like it, they should be pestering Bush to man-up a bit and defend himself, not telling Trump to shut up.


114 posted on 02/15/2016 12:04:19 PM PST by BobL (Who cares? He's going to build a wall and stop this invasion.)
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To: Logical me
Trump for President. All the rest of the candidates are worthless in protecting our Country from a dictatorship. Proof???? What in hell have have the Republicans done to stop King Obama, the communists black Muslim terrorists.

What has Trump done to "stop King Obama, the communists black Muslim terrorists"? Not what he says he's going to do (that's the "art of the deal"). What has he done? List the things! Otherwise, he's no better than they are...

115 posted on 02/15/2016 12:05:15 PM PST by Charles H. (The_r0nin) (Hwaet! Lar bith maest hord, sothlice!)
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To: dsc

So when liberals demand money, Trump is a pussy and hands it over. When he has a wedding, the demands they come to his wedding. Was that so he could give them money? He is, according to his followers, so brave that he takes on the PC, the Rinos, GOPe. Then, he’s a uniquely God like man inspiring his true believers. But let a big bad liberal ask him for money, he gets scared and coughs it up. Wow. Now it makes sense.


116 posted on 02/15/2016 12:06:18 PM PST by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution. Go Cruz.)
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To: BobL
Trump's using it to connect people he needs to support him because it is available to him.

So Trump is using information he knows is not true (based on his OWN assertions in 2003 that Saddam had WMDs), but that ordinary people do believe, in order to "connect" with them. So he is lying, but doing so in order to win. Got it...

117 posted on 02/15/2016 12:09:04 PM PST by Charles H. (The_r0nin) (Hwaet! Lar bith maest hord, sothlice!)
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To: CaptainK
We'll find out next Saturday evening or the latest Sunday morning

When he doesn't you'll be eating


118 posted on 02/15/2016 12:10:38 PM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him. He got them and now we have to pay the consequences)
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To: caww

“A Trump win would mean we’re getting what we deserve...not what we need.”

If we don’t take care of border crashers and our perverted immigration policies, America is over. Dead. Fuit America.

None of the other candidates is even threatening to address this crisis in any meaningful way.

Trump might. If anyone else is elected, we’ve lost our country. And that goes double for that little-girl-in-pigtails “I’m a Hispanic before I’m an American” wussy Cruz.

There’s a feature on Netflix called “The Original Latin Kings of Comedy.” Watch it. Pay particular attention to the shots of the streets of El Paso, Texas. If Cruz is elected, that will be your neighborhood. It will be all of our neighborhoods, except that many of us will have been murdered by Spanish-speaking career criminals, who will have gotten away with our murders, scot free.

If you are able to watch it through until that disgusting brown supremacist George Lopez comes on, you will see the real reason that Carlos Mencia is no longer on television.


119 posted on 02/15/2016 12:17:23 PM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: VRWCarea51

He’s going to keep saying “I won’t do that”...and then do whatever he wants as the wind blows.....he’s unreliable at best....but his fans will never see this until he turns on them...and even then they clap as we’ve seen.

HE threatened to go third party again.....I wish that he would.


120 posted on 02/15/2016 12:17:47 PM PST by caww
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