opinion

Trump's lies aren't funny or benign

Donald Trump, famously said, “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” That pretty well sums up his supporters’ attitude.

Oh, they may say they don’t like his manner of speech, the insults, juvenile bullying and name-calling, but that’s OK because what counts are his policies, his accomplishments — he really is “Making America Great Again.”

But is he? His supporters love him because he talks like them, tells it like it is (even though what “it” is may change from day to day), not understanding that they’re taking his racism, misogyny, bullying, tantrums, and juvenile behavior as their own, and not realizing that they’ve bought into perhaps the greatest political fraud in the history of our country (to coin a phrase).

In May 2019, The “New York Times” ran a list of 598 of Trump’s recent gratuitous and false insults. If you think these were taken out of context, check out the original article. Every quote has a link to its source. It included:

• Politicians, both Parties: “crime-loving,” “lightweight,” “SleepyCreepy,” “low-IQ,” “loser,” “hypocrite,” “dumb as a rock,” “sick & demented,” “sleazebag,” “Do Nothing.” “TREASONOUS,” “VICIOUS AND DESPICABLE,” “Liddle’ Bob [Corker],” “LYIN’ Ted [Cruz],” Sneaky Dianne Feinstein,” “Wacky Omarosa,” “Crazy Bernie Sanders,” “Cryin’ Chuck [Schumer],” “Nervous Nancy [Pelosi], “Shifty Adam Schiff.”

• Main-stream news media: “FAKE NEWS,” “failing,” low ratings, “sick and biased,” “discredited,” “the enemy of the American People!”

• Judges, courts: “slow and political,” “totally biased,” “out of control.”

• Former aides, advisers officials: “sloppy,” “fraudster, “totally discredited,” “a ‘Rat’,” “loser,” “dumb as a rock,” “lazy as hell,” “traitor,” “human scum.”

• Entertainers: “mediocre”; “wacko” “sad,” “nut jobs,” “weak and untalented,” “overrated.”

• Journalists, pundits: “crazy,” “dummy,” “low-life,” “sloppy,” “degenerate fool,” “clown,” “neurotic,” “wild with hate,” “no talent,” “grubby,” “third-rate,” “flunky,” “should be fired,” “underachieving,” “low-class slob,” “dopey,” “hater & racist.”

• FBI: “phony,” “self serving and FAKE!”, “Dirty Cop,” “corrupt,” “TREASON!”

• Immigrants: “pour into and infest our Country (sic),” “some of the worst criminals on earth.”

• Allies: Britain — a “massive Muslim problem,” London’s mayor — “pathetic,” Canada — “[took] advantage of our Country (sic) for many years!” Prime Minister Trudeau — “Very dishonest & weak,” European leaders — “weak,” Germany — “a total mess — big crime” and “ruined” by Angela Merkel,” Mexico — “totally corrupt gov’t” “doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for us” and “not our friend,” NATO countries — “rip us off,” Turkey — “a total disgrace.”

• Private businesses: General Motors — “let our Country (sic) down,” Harley-Davidson — “will be taxed like never before,” Macy’s — “very disloyal to me,” Nordstroms — “terrible,” Red Hen Restaurant — “dirty,” T-Mobile — “service is terrible.”

• Protesters: “thugs,” “paid professionals.”

• Authors: “third-rate conman,” “broken down hack,” “quotes were made up,” “Fake book,” “really boring,” “dummy dope.”

• Social media: “suppressing voices of Conservatives and hiding information and news that is good,” “RIGGED.”

• Pollsters: “inaccurate,” “disgrace,” “very dishonest.”

• Elections: “rigged,” “totally unfair” “corrupt.”

These aren’t just parts of substance-based arguments; these ARE the arguments; Trump rarely defends his opinions; he only discredits his opponents. The problem? This reinforces the belief that to be anti-Trump is to be anti-American, dumb, crooked, unhinged, which of course colors and demeans opposing arguments, regardless of the thought or analysis that goes into them. That’s one problem.

Another is that these lies aren’t harmless, nor are they jokes.

Keeping track of how often they’re repeated, even after being disproven, illustrates how pervasive they are and how endless repetition sways public opinion.

This may seem paradoxical, but it’s supported by scientific evidence (Vox, 01/18/20). The lies and exaggerations give the false impression that Trump has achieved goals he has not met (built the wall, brought back manufacturing), accomplished things set in motion under his predecessors (employment, economy), and has expertise in fields he knows nothing about (economics, diplomacy, even meteorology).

His supporters’ confidence in him is unearned, yet he’s instilled such a sense of his opponents’ incompetence, stupidity, and downright depravity that his base is cemented into solidarity and squeezed them into a confined, fear-filled space, impervious to outside voices.

Leigh Washburn is a member of the Iron County Democrats.