Trump supporters: Was this a F you to minorities or something else?

[Sbane]

I don't want to start any fights (at least on this thread) but I am genuinely curious. I can understand Michigan and Wisconsin, but I don't understand those trends in Florida. Why? Are they really that anxious about the economy there? Or the trends in multitudes of other places that really aren't hurting that bad economically. Or was this about race? About making sure everyone was clear that this is a country for whites?

[Cali123]

To be honest with you the Democrats backed themselves in a corner expecting to win easily while Trump hustled to gain as much support he needed to become president. Another reason Trump won is because his voting base believed in him 100% while Clinton had her own difficulties in attracting voters and so forth.

[Ljube]

No. This was a revolt against the corrupt Establishment. Sticking it to the "Elites".

[Sbane]

To be honest with you the Democrats backed themselves in a corner expecting to win easily while Trump hustled to gain as much support he needed to become president. Another reason Trump won is because his voting base believed in him 100% while Clinton had her own difficulties in attracting voters and so forth.

I am trying to understand the motivations of the core Trump support, not just understand why she lost. I think a more charismatic figure would have won, but as the results show, it still would have been close. So where does all this support for Trump come from? Why?

[Erich Maria Remarque]

No. This was a revolt against the corrupt Establishment. Sticking it to the "Elites".

[pbrower2a]

It could be. Many white 'Christians' resent the success of any identifiable minority who, by succeeding, shows that he does not know his place.

The only way for Donald Trump to give such white Christians the economic boom that they want is to impose some sort of Apartheid order. Is he amoral enough to do that? Maybe.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Actually, more of an F you to demented upper middle class white liberals who want to wipe out entire regions because of their elitist hatreds, hypochondriac-like white guilt, and lack of general ambition, morality, motivation, goals, or talent. They build only to destroy while lining their own pockets.

Basically, it was a reaction to the Ellsworth Tooheys of America.

To be honest with you the Democrats backed themselves in a corner expecting to win easily while Trump hustled to gain as much support he needed to become president. Another reason Trump won is because his voting base believed in him 100% while Clinton had her own difficulties in attracting voters and so forth.

Well yes, the overconfidence of Atlas Dems was more embarrassing than the Romney brass.

[Ljube]

To be honest with you the Democrats backed themselves in a corner expecting to win easily while Trump hustled to gain as much support he needed to become president. Another reason Trump won is because his voting base believed in him 100% while Clinton had her own difficulties in attracting voters and so forth.

I am trying to understand the motivations of the core Trump support, not just understand why she lost. I think a more charismatic figure would have won, but as the results show, it still would have been close. So where does all this support for Trump come from? Why?

Crossover Dem voters and voters who never voted or vote rarely.

[Ljube]

It could be. Many white 'Christians' resent the success of any identifiable minority who, by succeeding, shows that he does not know his place.

The only way for Donald Trump to give such white Christians the economic boom that they want is to impose some sort of Apartheid order. Is he amoral enough to do that? Maybe.

You promised Michigan would hold. What happened?

[Xing]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

[Shadows]

On what basis are these stupid statements being made.


You elect Clinton, a dishonest corrupt hated & unelectable candidate with a crashing Obamacare, an incredibly weak economy & you abandon your base trying to court Republicans & you blame Trump supporters?

Trump was elected by Clinton supporters IMO. And honestly what is Obama's legacy - Little minimum wage increase, TPP, Horrible economy. I understand 2012 given what a mess 2008 was but now 8 years has gone & it is still a mess & you have Hillary Clinton at the top of the ticket!

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

*mixed race*

[Ljube]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

Nothing to do with race.

[Boston Bread]

In my ideal world, a Dem vote would mean an F U to the elites and the wall street GOP class. Reversing the dynamic made really uncomfortable; I think this is the main reason I was unenthusiastic for Hillary and why I would have been more upset at a Romney win in 2012 than I am now.

[Erich Maria Remarque]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

Lol, some of them voted for Obama. For changes. He brang none.

[Sbane]

No. This was a revolt against the corrupt Establishment. Sticking it to the "Elites".

I can understand that for the industrial midwest. When Erie County, PA, a mostly white county that voted for Obama in 2012 by 16 points votes for Trump, I can't just blame that on racism. But what the hell happened in Florida or other places in the country that are doing fine economically? Why did they swing to Trump?

[Xing]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

Nothing to do withMostly about race.

[SirMuxALot]

Or was this about race? About making sure everyone was clear that this is a country for whites?

If one persists in calling half of the country racist, one will surely miss learning the lesson here.

It's time to put the non-stop ad hominem attacks away and start making a cogent argument for your political philosophy.  Yes, it's easier to just win the argument by default by calling someone you disagree with a racist and issuing ridicule, but you do not sharpen your rhetorical skill and intellectual curiosity that way.  And one occasionally loses elections they probably should not have.

Trump also takes the Republican party further away from this ideal, much to the dislike of many of us Rs.  But I'll do my best to keep the spirit of William F. Buckley style rational exchanges of honest disagreements alive best I can.  This probably will include being a strong supporter of a primary challenge to Trump in 2020.

Bottom line is, you have honest fundamental disagreements with Rs.  Don't call them racist and other names.  Instead, grant them an assumption of sincerity, and make your case why they are merely mistaken, rather than irredeemably evil.  That will have a better chance of persuading others.

[Xing]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

*mixed race*

Oh, thanks for catching that. How silly of me.

[Storebought]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

Nothing to do with race.

Donald Trump prepared his presidential campaign with the Birther conspiracy theory.

[RI]

The whole premise of this thread misses the point entirely.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Who cares.

[Sbane]

On what basis are these stupid statements being made.


You elect Clinton, a dishonest corrupt hated & unelectable candidate with a crashing Obamacare, an incredibly weak economy & you abandon your base trying to court Republicans & you blame Trump supporters?

Trump was elected by Clinton supporters IMO. And honestly what is Obama's legacy - Little minimum wage increase, TPP, Horrible economy. I understand 2012 given what a mess 2008 was but now 8 years has gone & it is still a mess & you have Hillary Clinton at the top of the ticket!

Honestly, I would love for this to be just about the economy. I don't really care that much if Democrats or Republicans win. I benefit from Republican fiscal policy for the most part and social issues that I care about like Marijuana are being settled at the ballot box by the people. I do hope the Republicans don't just screw over all the people who got healthcare through Obamacare, but I doubt they do that because it would also mean screwing over a lot of white people who probably voted for Trump.

I just don't think it is about the economy though. I hope I am wrong but I think attacks against minorities will increase. If there is an economic downturn, which now seems likely due to a Trump presidency, will there be a backlash against minorities?

[Ljube]

Sure, an F you to the establishment, i.e. the first black president.

Nothing to do withMostly about race.

Why are you so negative?

[Sbane]

Or was this about race? About making sure everyone was clear that this is a country for whites?

If one persists in calling half of the country racist, one will surely miss learning the lesson here.

It's time to put the non-stop ad hominem attacks away and start making a cogent argument for your political philosophy.  Yes, it's easier to just win the argument by default by calling someone you disagree with a racist and issuing ridicule, but you do not sharpen your rhetorical skill and intellectual curiosity that way.  And one occasionally loses elections they probably should not have.

Trump also takes the Republican party further away from this ideal, much to the dislike of many of us Rs.  But I'll do my best to keep the spirit of William F. Buckley style rational exchanges of honest disagreements alive best I can.  This probably will include being a strong supporter of a primary challenge to Trump in 2020.

Bottom line is, you have honest fundamental disagreements with Rs.  Don't call them racist and other names.  Instead, grant them an assumption of sincerity, and make your case why they are merely mistaken, rather than irredeemably evil.  That will have a better chance of persuading others.

My political philosophy, mostly related to fiscal policy, is very similar to the Republican party (Paul Ryan's Republican party that is). Unfortunately, I am also a minority. I am just trying to understand whether my life is about to get much worse or not. If anything, some of the issues I really care about socially, like Marijuana legalization, did pretty well at the ballot box. Minimum wage increased in multiple states. I am not scared about what Trump will do with taxes or social security or medicare. Hell, I am not that concerned about Obamacare either, because he will have to replace it with something or he will screw over his own voting base. I just want to know whether I am safe. Am I?