In the wake of Donald Trump’s election, the news is flooded with reports of abuse, assault, and harassment, largely of minorities, by jubilant Trump supporters celebrating the ascent of their candidate, a candidate who campaigned by appealing to white heterosexual Christian supremacy.
Over the past 48 hours, women have been assaulted for wearing the hijab, property has been defaced with swastikas, LGBT Americans have been threatened, and African Americans have experienced election result-specific harassment by fellow Americans touting the election of Donald Trump as the dawn of a new America, apparently one where they consider that the ugliest of racial and social animus to have the seal of presidential approval.
While Americans continue to take to the streets in waves to protest what the election of Donald Trump represents, in terms of, among other things, the suppression of the free press due to his well-documented antipathy towards the press, the oppression of racial minorities, mass deportations, the rollback of LGBT rights, the end of America as a climate change player at a time when America’s input is absolutely crucial, President Elect Donald Trump is…tweeting.
Last night, apparently once again in charge of his own Twitter account, President Elect Trump chose to address the pain and terror of the people whose president he will soon be, by tweeting
Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now, professional protestors, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!
This is a sharp departure from his reaction in 2012, when on November 6th at 8:29 p.m. he tweeted
We can’t let this happen. We should march on Washington and stop this travesty. Our nation is totally divided!
What is truly chilling isn’t Trump’s childish reaction to the protest marches, but rather the fact that his awesome responsibilities have either not yet dawned on him, or else he doesn’t actually care about them. There is no statesmanship, no responsibility for the climate of terror and violence he created and for which he is responsible. He squandered an opportunity to reassure Americans at a time they need it most, an opportunity to call for peace, and an opportunity to denounce, in no uncertain terms, the racist, sexist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic violence currently being perpetrated in his name.
Instead, he used the opportunity to slyly goad the violence with a wink and a nod, indicating that he doesn’t see it, and signaling to his followers that he doesn’t acknowledge the protesters as anything but “paid” agitators whipped up by his sworn enemy, America’s free press.
There is, however, cultural precedent for this type of reaction, or rather non-reaction, on the part of President Elect Trump. And it comes, as so much American wisdom does, from the mind of Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone.
Episode 73 of The Twilight Zone, “It’s A Good Life,” which first aired on November 3rd 1961, showcases a terrifying dystopian vision of an all-American nowhere town called Peaksville, where the adults live in terror of a six-year old boy named Anthony, who looks like a little boy, but who has the powers of a god. Anthony can read their minds and emotions like a book, and his abilities are literally limitless. It’s a view of a world where adults live subject to the whims of a psychopathic six-year old mutant’s view of justice, a six-year old with the power to do literally anything. The only way they can stay alive is by agreeing with him, kowtowing to him, and adjusting their lives to accommodate the logic of an insane child.
While the overarching concern remains that America has unleashed a dangerous, destructive, neo-fascist demagogue, not only on each other, but on the world, the immediate concern is that the office of the president elect is currently held by a vindictive, petulant child with a Twitter account, one who still values what he thinks of as a good Twitter burn far more than he does the responsibilities of leadership attendant to being President of the United States.
Indeed, a President Elect who has already failed his first test of leadership less than three days after his election.
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Wow! Have almost all the comments on this page been taken over by Bannon trolls? Sure looks like it.
I agree with what you are saying, Michael. Sorry you are getting such a reaction from so many people who are getting their news from fake news sources.
So we’re “trolls?” Whereas I don’t recall seeing you post here at GMP, the any who you refer to as “Trolls” respond here at GMP on a regular basis. If it were not for these responses from what you call “trolls” there would be no “conversations.” any of these articles cater to to people who are like minded leaving little to no room for those who do not follow lockstep.
…so y’all are just going to ignore the incidents like the Trump supporter being gang beaten and carjacked (while others videotaped it) the “kill white people” graffiti covering New Orleans, and the “protestors” calling for Melania Trump to be raped? (Such respect for women, there!)
Apparently you are. Alrighty then.
Incidentally, Trump actually has denounced any hate crimes being done by his supporters.
Still no word on Clinton denouncing the attacks on Trump supporters though…
Well, we have this.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/amid-reports-of-some-supporters-violence-trump-says-stop-it/ar-AAkfNCA?li=BBnb7Kz
Still waiting on Obama and Clinton. You know those individuals who people were telling us were such superior leaders.
You would think that after Clinton supporters demanded Sanders say address the “Bernie Bros” that they would be just as quick to address those committing violence in Clinton’s name.
No, this is when, “they aren’t all like that” is valid.
It is not Trumps responsibility YET…it is the responsibility of the present OBAMA administration to stop this…it is not Trump followers doing this…it is George SOROS paying these thugs.There are many who are not even voting age. It makes me so angry that the extreme left media cannot report and write the truth.YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
If the news was FLOODED with reports one would think that would be all over the outlets. But it’s not. Gee willikers, Andy! Because the majority of the press is really a fascist cover? You’re always going to see a few here and there but flooded? hardly. But since I don’t watch it has MSNBC NOT posted the protesters stunts? . That would be like them but hey one can only hope they decided a bit of truth every once in a while can’t hurt. Can it?
What in the world are you talking about. This spike in hate crimes committed by trump supporters. I’ve seen plenty of your so called peaceful protesters spike hate crimes, but not one on the conservative side against gays or Muslims or whatever. Actually I read of one at a school that had graffiti sprayed. One. But lots of your so called peaceful protesters doing it. Juvenile stuff. Michael, you’re really out there man. Do you just see crap on the net and it must be true so you share it?
For as long as people keep looking for answers & solutions outside of themselves, no expansion of consciousness can be made. Blaming someone else or judging for that matter, even if it is a president, is just pointing aways from the real cause. If people get triggered by something or someone, it is not the origins. Just a pointer where each of us can make the choice to start their inner journey. I feel, This president is just what what we all need, even if he might not be what we wanted. For the cause of consciousness expanding, it is… Read more »
Yes. We certainly needed a racist, sexist president. Thank you, America.
where are you seeing a spike in hate crimes? The same people that are abiding the law and voting in a change aren’t going to go out and “trample” over minorities or homosexuals. Everything that I have seen on the news is people protesting trumps presidency. #lovetrumpshate involves a lot more arson and assault than what the title states. Furthermore, trumps presidency was never about white supremacy or heterosexual supremacy. As far as I can tell the only ones who are promoting racial divide or even suggesting that is the far left. Maybe what is needed is for people to… Read more »
The whole country is judging you on the merit of your actions right now. And so far, you’ve pretty much lost all credibility, with the riots, the protests, the fearmongering, the assaults, the cop out of feminism, racism, xenophobia, and inability to sit down and have a discussion about the issues without drawing attention away from the facts by slandering someone else or labeling them as a racist, a homophobic deplorable, and until you can your argument is null and void. Perfect summation! Americans ARE looking at them and they are now seeing what they truly represent. Americans are shaking… Read more »
A big problem, especially in such a vast country is establishing some objective base line for agressions, and some basic agreement on definitions. The different British police forces do have some basic tools for this kind of evaluation, and post-Brexit, they DID report a spike in hate crimes. But surely the more important question is how can we all try to lower the temperature and reduce any violence?
“…..the news is flooded with reports of abuse, assault, and harassment, largely of minorities, by jubilant Trump supporters celebrating the ascent of their candidate, a candidate who campaigned by appealing to white heterosexual Christian supremacy.” Of course the news is flooded with this sort of garbage…What else do you think the liberal media is going to report? This is how the liberal Pro Clinton media has elected to deal with its stunning defeat. It makes its living off of victimization and negativity. The “progressive” left has nothing left! “Indeed, a President Elect who has already failed his first test of… Read more »
Now they really have nothing left .. FINAL election results are in and Trump got 306 Electoral College vote while Hillary Clinton got 232. For #PopularVote: #Trump: 62,972,226 #Clinton: 62,277,750
I guess they really will go over the edge with the popular vote numbers…
But, but, but that doesn’t fit the liberal agenda!! LOL
Now the last hope is that almost never used provision in the Electoral College where those that case the Electoral votes have the right to go against the results of the election.
Um, the hate crimes are being televised every day in the form of rioting in the streets, that the media calls, “peaceful protests”. Goebbels did that too as Berlin fell. So too did Saddam. And where is the proof to back up your claim, sir? Is it like the “superbowl Sunday violence against women”, where people such as yourself were writing that “men were leaping off of their couches at their wives and daughters like linebackers after a quarterback”. Are we talking that, that which caused such “feeling of dread” among women only to be found to be a complete… Read more »
Seems it ought to be up to the sitting President to say something to quell the riots, since it’s the unhappy whiners who are “protesting” (ie., rioting) because they can’t handle the fact that Clinton lost. Oh, and Trump won the popular vote, it turns out, as well. The Clinton supporters need their pacifiers, coloring books, and blankies. Obama needs to be the one to speak out, not Trump. And it’s the media who continues to feed the false narrative that it’s somehow Trump’s fault for all these “hate crimes”.
Lisa, your comment is exactly the kind of antagonism that is part of the problem. telling us that Clinton supporters need pacifiers and coloring books is obviously made with the intention to cut others down who didn’t agree with your political perspective. I certainly don’t agree with the violent protests by Clinton supporters, paid or not. But don’t act like trump supporters are innocent in all this. Numerous hate crimes have been occurring as well. That is not a “false narrative” from the media. That’s really what is happening in our world right now. trump should speak out. Half the… Read more »
No. Distinction. Numerous REPORTS have been reported. Not really actual incidents, nor worse, a pattern of escalation. Given the state of media, and especially social media, I have NO trust in anything I hear anymore. Thanks so much Zuckerberg for all you’ve done. Great contributions to be sure. A$$Hat. Trump right now has no influence. He’s the president elect. Nada. Nothing. It’s Obama and he’s said nada! I said politics are filthy. I think I have no idea how much filthier it is.
When Obama won, both times, I never saw any conservatives rioting in the streets. And who was calling more than half the population of the US “deplorables”? Who called young black men “Super Predators”? It wasn’t Donald J. Trump. There were a LOT of black and Hispanics who voted for him.. and millions and millions of women.. We were much more offended by what HRC has done, than by anything Trump has said. He’s not yet the President, and i have yet to see any hate crime in the news, or any rioting, by any of his supporters. As far… Read more »
Why haven’t people like you denounced the violence and destruction your side is causing?
Probably because he more or less subscribes to such prejudices!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3930834/Trump-supporters-attack-Wilson-Eschevarria-Anthony-Hobdy-arrested-Connecticut-New-York-police-hunt-suspect-choked-subway-passenger.html
Two arrested in Connecticut for ‘beating up a man holding a Trump sign’
New York police meanwhile are looking for a suspect accused of choking a man wearing a red ‘Make America great again’ hat on the subway Friday.
So much about spike of hate-crimes…
Interesting, I read nothing in the news about pro-Trump supporters and their hate-crimes. They are the winners and act more as the silent majority.
People causing wild riots are pro-Clinton activists who are unwilling to accept the result of this election and are now out in the streets beating up other citizens, setting fires, smashing cars and destroy property which does not belong to them. Such behavior is totally unacceptable. Police should arrest them and charge them with assault, arson and vandalism. What is your opinion about these pro-Clinton riots?
Women SHOULD BE scared!
http://conservativetribune.com/portland-lady-trump-supporter/
Unbelievable Tom. There was one guy wielding a baseball bat, another wearing an Isis like mask. Who the fuck brings a baseball bat to a peaceful protest?
Imagine if that was one of our wives, or our daughters that the leftist say they are “helping”. Eye opener right there.
As the media elite fall, these truths will start pouring out. I truly feel for so many people that feel sadness today, having put their faith in this fascist like regime of bullying and hate.
Guys like you and I have always seen it, perhaps now the rest of America will.
They will and I think they have but this time around they spoke up. I honestly feel the deciding factor in all of this was when the media was called out on their BS. They’ve been the movers and shakers but the truth about THEM has come out. What I find amazing is that through all this, the ego’s are so inflated they don’t see it. They honestly thought they had it in the bag and are grabbing on to whatever they can to try to maintain their control of their sheeple.
Seems he’s waiting for the sitting president to do his job. I’m sure if Obama wanted to abrogate all his responsibilities to Trump, Trump wouldn’t have an issue with it.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/11/trump-adviser-urges-obama-clinton-to-speak-out-on-protests.html
It’s a lose lose for Trump. Leave it for the President and/or Democrats to do or saying something, he’s wrong. If he did say something, he would be inciting the riots (riots, not marches). This is how the left thinks. He’s not in office and he’s being criticized.
Mr Rowe, no responses to what’s been presented?
Guys, did we expect anything less then more fear mongering, lies, the airways filled with misinformation as they panic and see judgement day coming?
It’s going to get loud and obnoxious, reach a hysterical pitch to levels that can only be heard by dogs.
Melville.
“Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee.”
Remember that every time you read bullshit such as this.
I thought you were quoting Khan.
You never would have voted for a female president who has said and done the things trump has said and done to females, to males. And you darn well know it DJ.
@ Erin
That depends, what’s my alternative? Is it a person who is the opposite of Clinton and makes it clear that he is only concerned about the welfare of men as Clinton has made it clear she’s only interested in the welfare of women?
I think a lot of the lefts would welcome anything that showed some amount of actual humility, respect and peace making. Considering the daily assault of trumpisms we’ve had to listen to. Please don’t forget that this is the man who said he loved war. Yes. He said that!