Let’s have a supply-and-demand talk about Donald Trump.
Since he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president this past July, he has constantly supplied the nation with anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-black, anti-disabled, anti-woman statements, speeches, soundbites, stereotypes, tweets and policies.
For five-straight months he has offended, isolated and frightened millions of people. His drivel, both online and off, has been constant. Not only does he have a bigger online audience than every other Republican candidate combined, his presence on television and radio have been ubiquitous.
Consequently, those of us who are disturbed by Trump have focused a great deal of our own frustration squarely at him. He deserves every bit of that, but it’s time we have an honest conversation about the American demand for what Trump is offering.
Trump is leading in the polls because he is supplying what millions of conservative Americans want — a brash new brand of unapologetic white supremacy. In years past, it has been deeply evangelical Christians who have electrified the Republican base. In previous presidential campaigns, Republicans who have espoused and modeled what they called “traditional family values” were quick to catch early fire.
Previous insurgents were often from the Deep South, but Trump is a billionaire New Yorker through and through.
It seems this time it's Donald Trump vs. the United States Constitution! At a Pearl Harbor Day Rally in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Trump took the podium to make a series of statements including the most controversial one yet -- that there should be a complete shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S. Trump even went as far as saying that any American Muslims traveling and looking to re-enter the country after holiday shouldn't be allowed. This view clearly goes against the United States Constitution and the First Amendment that calls for "no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
Trump can’t quote a single Bible verse and said he’s never once asked God for forgiveness. After multiple divorces he’s now on his third marriage. In supporting Trump, American conservatives have tossed faith and family out the window and have instead chosen, lock, stock and barrel, the most offensive, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic candidate for president in at least 45 years.
Trump is making policy proposals that former KKK leader David Duke avoided in his failed presidential campaign bids. The major difference between Trump and George Wallace or David Duke is that Trump has resonated so deeply with the modern conservative base that he has lead most polls for virtually the entire race.
Trump is where he is today, because millions of Americans mirror the racism, sexism, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim stances that Trump has put front and center of his campaign. They aren’t supporting him in spite of these stances, but because of them. Without them, Trump doesn’t have a single traditional conservative value or quality that has resonated before this campaign. He hasn’t even been registered as a Republican for most of his life.
He has twice the support of any other Republican nationwide solely because of his bold bigotry.
Before Trump, it was my educated guess that millions of conservative white Americans were deeply hateful of anyone who isn’t like them. Now, it’s no longer a guess. Trump supporters have made it abundantly clear how they feel about the rest of the world.
