En tu idioma/In your own language

Eduardo del Buey
Foto: Ap
La Jornada Maya

Mérida, Yucatán
Sábado 23 de Julio, 2016

On September 30, 1999, The Wall Street Journal quoted Donald Trump as saying he would run for President because “I am convinced the major parties have lost their way. The Republicans are captives of their right wing”.

Despite attempts to cast himself as a right-wing Christian candidate now, Trump still does not have universal support in the Republican Party. At the convention, some senior Republicans refused to speak. Others did not mention Trump’s name. Ted Cruz spoke but refused to endorse Trump, much to the ire of the audience.

Many still accuse him of being a narcissistic entertainer rather than a serious and committed Republican. His celebrity is grounded in his habit of saying and doing politically incorrect things. Many have mistaken his speeches for real policy alternatives, his rhetoric for facts, and his antics for conservative values.

To date, Trump has played the media brilliantly. He sets the daily media agenda by tweeting at all hours of the night, leaving opponents to respond throughout the day to him rather than set their own agenda. He pivots at will, changing the subject to suit his purposes, and drives the conversation.

By engaging in reactive rather than proactive strategies, opponents have thus far been left behind in the dust.

Followers are responding to a call to their baser instincts. He appeals to darker angels by targeting those who are different and blaming them for the real or imaginary problems faced by his followers.

Trump´s xenophobia has struck a chord with millions of Americans, frustrated with job-losses, security concerns, and other socio-economic ills. Trump has channeled this concern into political support. He has used social media to amplify his reach, and mainstream media to dominate the airwaves and print media daily with untrue and completely off the wall statements.

Trump has realized a basic fact of life.

People will refrain from espousing hateful ideas that go against society’s moral compass when alone, but will vent their frustrations when encouraged by the herd.
Trump plays on this idea by blaming the Mexicans, the Chinese, and the Muslims for his followers’ problems. Trump's racism and hatred are attracting millions precisely because there is freedom and safety in the herd when it comes to releasing inner demons.

In addition, if one repeats a lie often enough it becomes the truth. How better to explain why senior Republicans stand opposed to many of the things he says but nevertheless continue to endorse him. Followers as well seem to refuse to question the veracity of his views, condoning and often applauding them on the basis that he is only saying what he thinks. Few of them actually question what he thinks, and therein lies the danger.

Now that he is the Republican candidate the game has changed. He no longer has to appeal to a narrow group of people in primaries. They are in his pocket. But how does he reach the broader spectrum of voters from the center – independents and moderate Republicans – without losing the fervent support of his core voters.

That is his challenge.

If he remains true to form, he will continue stoking the fires of discomfort with his candidacy among moderates and independents. His outrageous statements to date have led many Republicans to rebuke what he says while supporting him as the Republican candidate. He is a loose cannon ho doesn’t seem to want to let anyone control his excesses.

If he changes his tone and tenor and becomes more moderate, he stands to lose that edge that has appealed to the baser instincts of his current supporters and has galvanized them. He will be criticized as an opportunist who doesn’t really stand for anything other than his own aggrandizement.

In the short term, Americans have to deal with a candidate who encourages racist hatred.

In the longer term, Americans have to understand why so many agree with Trump’s positions.

Whatever happens, his candidacy is a sad commentary on contemporary US society.

Viernes 22 de julio, 2016