Perception of President Trump - Racist? (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

This might be a mistake. But it was an interesting question to me that came up in conversation.

I think "racist" is a very strong word. And I know this term has been used in describing President Trump and we've asked people to not do that for Trump, or pretty much anyone that is not actively proclaiming to be a supremacist. Which is rare.

But I would like to get a pulse on what the forum thinks hough with a poll. And yes, the election is over and this is less of an issue going forward than it was. But I think it's a part of how we heal going forward and understand the divisions.

There is a lot of nuance and defining the word and more. But that rarely gets talked about it. It's a binary, yes or no usually. But I"d offer a few more shades in between. 

Please keep this civil. Thanks. 

 

[DaVinci]

Not just racist. An all-around horrible person.

 

[Mister CIA]

Unless someone proclaims they are a racist, all we can do is surmise, correctly or incorrectly - and beat our collective head against a brick wall.

What are the odds that the son of a KKK member is a racist?  What was Trump going to protect the suburbs from? Should we revisit the Central Park Five discussion?

 

[beef]

I'd rather argue for water not being wet.  

 

[Sea Duck]

I selected "Neutral" because I don't think it's possible to determine if Trump's motives are based entirely on race. I also think that it can be kind of lazy to toss out the word "Racist!" to describe acts which would be more accurately described as some combination of nationalist/elitist/narcissistic/ignorant.

Trump has said things that a racist would say, IMO. (For example: telling a natural-born black citizen to "go back" to another country -- a country that they didn't actually come from.) But I don't know if Trump said that because he was racist, or if he merely said it because he's nationalist, or if he merely said it because he's ignorant, or if he merely said it because he felt like trolling liberals and energizing his base.

Also, I think that the word "racist" has itself become a trigger word which has allowed people to assume a victim role. I think it's more productive to address the full context of what a person actually said, rather than just toss a blanket word at it.

 

[Sinn Fein]

I'd rather argue for water not being wet.  

Dry Ice, baby!

 

[dawgtrails]

What are the odds that the son of a KKK member is a racist?  What was Trump going to protect the suburbs from? Should we revisit the Central Park Five discussion?

He was also sued for racial discrimination in the 70's and called white supremicists "fine people".When there is this much smoke...

 

[Sinn Fein]

I would just say, if Trump is not a racist, then he does a very good job of covering that up.

 

[bigbottom]

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-comments-didnt-want-towers-built-by-black-people-2020-12

 

[Mister CIA]

Oh to be a fly on all Trump's NDAs.