By Thomas Hudson
Donald Trump’s election depended on bigotry, aided by a reinforcing cycle of ignorance. As a candidate, Trump race-baited constantly and lied ceaselessly, yet with such repetition that those with only a marginal attachment to politics and the facts of a nation came to believe in his confidence and opted to forego even the slightest independent analysis or fact-checking that might prevent them from falling prey to a demagogue. Trump’s ignorance begat an ignorance that spread unchecked to others through the course of normal human interaction and a frank unwillingness to put forth any effort in casting an informed and rational ballot.
These voters often deluded themselves into assumed respectability by claiming, or at least intimating, that if Trump failed to enact his various outlandish promises, they would cease to support him.
But because man — and especially Trump voters — is an irrational creature who logic usually bypasses, these presumed intentions haven’t materialized. And they won’t. Bigotry won’t let them.
Trump Voters, Uncensored
Politico reporter Michael Kruse ventured into Trump Country, Pennsylvania to interview some of the president’s original supporters to learn of their thinking a year from Election Day. His findings should sober us all.
A year ago, Johnstown, PA residents gave Trump a timeline to fulfill his promises. “Six months to a year,” catering company owner Joey Del Signore told Kruse. “A couple months,” said another. “He’s just got to follow through with what he said he was going to do.” All had the same undertone: “or else.”
How things change in a year. Whereas one resident insisted she wouldn’t vote for Trump again if he broke promises, when asked a year into a so-far failed agenda, she remarked, “Support Trump? Sure,” she said. “I like him.”
Others recognize no change with the Trump presidency. We “didn’t see any change because we got a new president.” They remain infatuated. “He’s our answer.”
Could anything cost Trump their support?
“Nope.”
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