Here’s some advice for the left: You’re not going to win over Trumpistas with your usual “gotchas.”
I’m prompted by an Aug. 2 front-page headline in Pravda (oops, I mean the Concord Monitor), taken from what was probably an “analysis” piece from a Washington Post columnist, and titled: “Trump may have gone too far, experts say.”
My first thought was: What a ridiculous headline. My second thought was: An opinion piece as a headline?
But I understand; the left hopes The Donald has touched a third rail and will be electrocuted. After all, it’s right there in their playbook.
I’m a conservative Republican who will not vote for Trump. It is clear to me that he believes the ends justify the means – he will say or do whatever he thinks necessary for him to win the “Running for President” reality TV show he’s signed up for this year.
Everything about him, his unethical business practices in particular, sends a clear message he thinks honesty and decency are for chumps and losers.
I’ll probably vote for Hillary, because as Peggy Noonan put it, Hillary’s campaign slogan could be “I’m less abnormal than he is.” I might vote for the Libertarians, too; kind of a whacky platform but Bill Weld is solid, prototypical northern Republican (moderate on social policy and conservative on fiscal matters), but I won’t vote for Trump, and I don’t want to see him win.
My point in writing is to offer the left my advice, because I don’t want to see The Donald as our next president.
That advice is in two parts. First, the Kabuki act of name-calling, finger-pointing and “gotchas” is counterproductive. Hearing racist, misogynist, bigot, homophobe, etc. only sets nerves jangling for many Americans. Folks are sick to death of the overuse and abuse of those and other leftist key words in today’s political world, and the direct result is most of us are very skeptical when we hear those words and see that tactic.
I’d posit the backbone of Trump’s support is from people who don’t believe you because you have cried wolf too many times, and just like that boy in the fable, now that a real wolf has shown up your words are falling on deaf ears.
The second part of my advice will be difficult for the left. You should focus on Trump’s behavior as a businessman and his complete lack of ability to handle the job.
The bankruptcies and “Trump Discount” are real and important issues because it was small businesses and individuals that were hurt – folks that have been a key constituency of his. I really think that will be enough as he continues to self-destruct and expose his lack of judgment.
Of course, the reason it will be difficult for the left to pursue this strategy is they’ve long been demonizing American business and in that paradigm Donald’s lack of business ethics is viewed as par for the course.
The truth is the vast majority of American businesses are highly ethical and honest, so Trump’s history makes him stick out like a sore thumb.
If you want to prevent his presidency, use his lack of business ethics and experience, forget your Kabuki act and let him self-destruct. Good luck!
(Steve Mongan lives in Concord.)