Could Trump's outreach to African-Americans be anymore disgusting?

[Fast Walker 52]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/fear-and-loathing-of-black-people
(snip)

I've heard some people describe this as a problem of tone or hyperbole. There are obviously numerous ways to fact-check this garbage. The overwhelming majority of African-Americans do not "live in poverty" - despite that fact that the poverty rate among African-Americans is almost triple that of whites. But all of this misses the point. Trump portrays African-American life as drenched in violence, devoid of any vitality or promise, quite simply, as he puts it, a "disaster." Along the way is thundering subtext that black voters are incapable of rational political action. The vocabulary, affect and tone signal nothing so much as contempt. "What the hell do you have to lose?" In other words, why do you insist on destroying yourselves?

For Trump, every black American is living in a bombed out housing project circa 1973. And despite the country's historically low crimes rates, urban crime isn't at 1980s levels in the Trump world. It's the Watts, Newark and Detroit riots all at once and everyday in every central city in the country.

It's not too much to say that you could lift Trump's version of African-American life as disaster porn from maybe half alt-right or white supremacist screeds. He just tacks on a "but I'll save you" at the end.

I know I'm not breaking any new ground by predicting that Trump's screeds are unlikely to bring many African-American voters into his camp. But it's much more than that. It's aggressive dehumanization, reduction a real people to ghastly stick figures, not a bungled departure from but actually at the heart of his increasingly white nationalist message.

--------

Seriously hearing Donald lately is giving me PTSD, he's so fucking deranged and shrill.

[Motley13]

1. NOPE

[Shankapotomus]

2. Give him a chance?

Last edited Tue Aug 23, 2016, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

A chance to put more African Americans behind bars?

Why doesn't he give the African American community a chance and listen to them instead of fighting them?

[Fast Walker 52]

6. seriously!

but clearly he has no patience for listening to anyone except old white right-wing conspiracy nuts.

[Kber]

3. The answer to "Could Trump be more disgusting?" Is "Yes"

He has shown repeatedly that he can always find a way to be more disgusting. It's his super power.

[Fast Walker 52]

5. I suppose so... that's a scary thought

[catbyte]

4. In a word, no.

[annabanana]

7. My jaw dropped . . .

It was dehumanizing and spectacularly condescending.

[Fast Walker 52]

11. I literally felt traumatized by his speech

I can't even imagine how an African-American would feel about it.

[mythology]

8. Never underestimate his stupidity

This is a guy who thought that saying the Trump Tower Grill makes the best taco bowls for Cinco de Mayo as an attempt to outreach to Hispanic voters, you know the ones he called rapists, criminals and drug mules.

He mocked a person with a physical disability.

He talks about women bleeding out of their wherever, asked an audience if anybody would vote for Carly Fiorino's face.

Never underestimate Trump's ability to insult people. Of course all those people he's insulting will have the last laugh in a few months.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. It's sick

[zenabby]

10. The thing that bothered me..

apart from what you mention is the use of "you people", "your community" etc. He is aspiring to be the president of all people. He is part of everyone, if he is the president. It has to be a "we" - "we will work together and bring all people up and make sure that the black community is not disproportionately in poverty" etc instead of "what do you people have to lose"

[Fast Walker 52]

12. he has no clue at all what he's dealing with and what America is supposed to be about

[Skidmore]

13. Trump has never been about "we."

He lectures and browbeats and rants. He thinks he has all the answers even when he has none. Whip that up with a healthy helping of racism and mysogyny and you have the recipe for a national disaster.