Whistle
Now we’re onto the “poisoning the blood” phase.
Donald Trump is facing a backlash for repeating a remark at a political rally on Saturday where he said undocumented immigrants to the United States are “poisoning the blood of our country”.
Of course he said that. It’s how he thinks. He says it because His People love it, but also because he loves it himself. He loves talking filth of that kind. If Hitler were still around Trump would be his best friend.
In November he was widely condemned for calling his opponents “vermin”, language that echoed that used historically by dictators and authoritarians.
Well duh. He is an authoritarian, and he would be a dictator if he could. It’s all too possible that he’ll make himself one if he wins the election.
“He’s disgusting,” former New Jersey governor and Republican presidential contender Chris Christie told CNN Sunday. “He’s dog-whistling to Americans who feel under stress and strain from the economy and conflicts around the world,” Christie said. “He’s dog-whistling to blame it on people from areas that don’t look like us.”
Here’s that dog-whistling issue again. I wouldn’t call it dog-whistling, because I think he’s just plain saying it. I mean granted he leaves off the “so kill them all” part, but I think “poisoning the blood of our country” is pretty clear.
Disgust response noted. Hitler’s language and methods pointed to a strong disgust response as the root of his hatred. This observation itself has been called a dog whistle, of course.
Free speech?
First up, this isn’t a dog whistle. It’s not an allusion, a hint, or something you have to be attuned to to understand. It’s a bald statement of contempt, disgust and othering. And yes, Tim, It’s free speech. It’s disgusting and horrible free speech, and it deserves consequences. I’m pleased to see Christie calling him disgusting (which is also free speech).
After WWII, Republicans campaigned on fear–mostly fear of Commies. It was one of their most reliable vote-getters. But the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, and after that the Red Scare wasn’t so scary any more. Republicans shifted to crime/drugs/minorities, plus the occasional Satanic Panic and OMG China!, but it wasn’t the same. People just weren’t *frightened* enough.
Donald Trump adroitly pivoted from fear to disgust. Disgust is adjacent to fear psychologically. Trump’s recent “vermin” remark has gotten a lot of attention, but the play for disgust was there from day one.
Humans have a natural disgust for bodily functions and fluids; probably a defense mechanism to keep us away from potential infection. Trump wants that disgust front-and-center in his supporter’s minds. He wants Republicans to be *disgusted* with Democrats and immigrants, the way they used to be *afraid* of Commies.
It worked for him once. It might work again.
Good point. I hadn’t made the connection.
The US population is overwhelmingly made up of immigrants and their descendants, including Drumpft. Are we all poisonous then? Maybe we can point to some individual examples instead — like stupid, corrupt real estate heirs.
I meant to spell descendents with an e (while trying to remember pedant has an a).
Oh those ent/ant words. I can NEVER keep them straight.