I generally like, respect, and agree with Charles Blow. This Opinion, however, reveals the uglier truth that it's not just "white people" who are racists and bigots. What is "whiteness", who are "white people"? Imagine if George Will wrote an Opinion writing "blackness" and "black people" are responsible for, at the center of, (fill in the blank with something bad).
"White people" bled red, just like black people. There are "white people" who are less affluent than black people; there are black people who are less educated than white people. There are "white people" who are gay, and transgender, and are part of millennia of suffering that makes the 350 years of slavery and Jim Crow look like a walk in the park. There are "white people" who survived the Holocaust, lived in ghettos, and were denied employment, housing, transportation because their last names end in a vowel.
Charles Blow has revealed himself to be a racist today. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "racist" thusly: "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race". By lumping all "white people" into a monolith and assigning sole responsibility to one group of people based solely on skin color, Blow does exactly what he (and others) complain loudest about being done to them.
Good job, Charles.
37
Even before the latest tweets, I had no doubt that Trump is a racist. I've been waiting for him to forget his daughter is Jewish and say something public about Jews as well as people of color. He's reportedly already done that privately on many occasions.
The question is not whether he is a racist but what we are going to do about his ramped-up, even for him, rhetoric. My hope is that the House and preferably the Senate as well will censure him at the very least.
19
If the current POTUS had a 'D' after his name and said precisely the same words, the phony outrage and high dudgeon from the other faction would be observable FROM SPACE. BUT... since it's the 'right' faction, what's the worry?
15
Trump is lashing out because his position is becoming weaker. He has very little to say in terms of his accomplishments. All of the great things he has promised have not come to fruition.
Many of us are not in the white right echo chamber where people are mad that he had to drop the citizenship question from the census.
Trump has to prove he is strong to the racists so he picks on these four congresswomen with very little downside to him and captures the media attention.
The Democrats should use this opportunity to challenge R senators from swing states on how they feel about Trump's behavior and use it against them in the general election.
Stop being shocked and use his vileness against him and his complicit party. Personally I don't care if Trump tells me to go back--I am a citizen and the Constitution trumps Trump.
17
The sad, but but not unexpected, Republican reaction has been to support Trump and further insult the four women the fake president slandered. Lindsey Graham and Roy Blunt, instead of a straightforward condemnation of Trumps vicious remarks were to further insult the Congresswomen. It is never asking too much to draw the line on Trump's divisive tweets but they are in Trump's pocket. Perhaps one day they will regret their support of this odious person.
7
Yes. trump is a white supremacist and crazy racist. But then so are many of his followers and the constant attention the NYTimes gives him only boosts his glory.
8
what this whole fiasco proves is that Mr Trump with his little tweetie fingers can play both his base and his opposition like a violin. Every one of these escapades simply solidifies his support among the 20 percent or so that love him and drives the 30% or so that can't abide him into enough of a lather that he can make the point to the other 25% that tolerate him that his opposition is deranged. Personally I think Mr trump needs to slither back to the sewer he came out of but he certainly can play both his rabid supporters and opposition like a violin
10
If I go to a restaurant I don't like : I leave and never go back.
Why shouldn't they do the same ?
And unlike the cheap "talking points" about calling Trump racist about everything he does or says, so common in the press and NYT, that has nothing to do with race.
He is just denouncing the constant hatred of America that these people are exhibiting day in and day out !!
10
Trump was raised by a member of the KKK and his father demonstrated with the KKK in NYC so it is amazing to me that folks have not figured out that this man who was taught to hate is a bigot and a racist. Most Americans did not vote for Trump, it is only the electoral college system that gave him the presidency. This is no surprise either as the electoral college system was devised by ancient, white racist slave owners that had no concept of a system based on one man, one vote; and this is the same group that valued black men as only 3/5ths of a human being. It is time to rid ourselves of this outdated form of elections: the electoral college.
22
In describing what he claims is the world "they" supposedly came from, he is describing his own approach to government: corrupt, tyrannical, anti-democratic and defying the rule of law.
In fact these women are exercising the very
rights our citizens ( should) aspire to: full participation in our government, following the law, and ensuring that this government is responsive to the needs of the country.
608
@cheryl Great comment Cheryl. They are much more truly American than he is.
51
@cheryl: Exactly right - because that's what narcissists like Trump do: they take every negative part of themselves and try to project it onto someone ELSE. This guy cannot take the heat, ever.
IMO, everything Trump gripes about in other people (or countries or situations) is a clear "tell" about who HE is. Nothing is ever his fault; it's always the fault of the "boogey man" of the moment in his Tweet-addled brain.
Trump has an extremely fragile sense of self, which is why he avoids press conferences or anything that might crack his inner image. It's also why he needs to see TANKS on the streets to feel that he is powerful.
In reality, Trump is one of the most pathetic people who has ever been in the public eye. Any sane person would cringe at the obviousness of what he's doing.
91
President Abraham Lincoln, when he was angry with someone would write the angry letter, place it in his desk drawer to see if he still felt the same way in a few days. I think Mr. Blow should have followed the same practice, waiting to see if his righteous anger at Trump merited mixing it with an indictment of the U.S.
Read selectively, this column amounts to a claim that America is an illegitimate nation with an equally illegitimate culture. In attempting the defend "the squad" against Trump's tweets, Mr. Blow has overlooked the glaring deficiencies and and immaturities in some of the criticisms of America that have been gushing forth from that group.
One thing attributed to congresswoman Omar is that she said that in this country you can't be identified as just an American unless you are white. This is wrong. African-American, as one example, was added to our popular lexicon out of respect for black Americans, a way of recognizing the continent of their ancestors. Since she wasn't here when that usage was adopted, she might not understand that it was done from respect.
As for our grand national story, which Mr. Blow wishes to bring down, we should all understand that there are many levels to the narrative, just as there are in one person's life. There is wrong, evil, there is injustice, but there is the redeeming search, backed by forceful action, for a better future. Again and again we seek it, often at high personal cost to "white people", including lives lost.
78
@Doug Terry personal "cost" the white people? Funny: what about the personal cost of slavery to black folks and genocide to the native peoples? How does that fit into the grand White Narrative?
38
Everyone knows Trump is a racist. But was that his purpose? I would say it was to divide the so called progressives and centrists. I say so called because those are slippery words that have almost no agreed meaning. And he is successful at it. Mr Blow is a wonderful writer but people are just numb. That doesn’t mean that you don’t call out racism but it does mean that as usual Trump plays offense and everyone responds to him
15
. . . and that's why he will get a second term.
11
Basically the liberals print newspapers and other liberals read them. Then the liberals are surprised that Trump is talking to people the liberals do not know existed, or not in such large numbers. The liberals are just talking amongst themselves, so how can the liberal press highlight these other points of views so the rest of the liberals know how every segment of the country think? And how to communicate with those non- liberal segments? How to correct the “ fake news”, how to challenge the biases. Knowledge is power.
How to encourage Americans to think big, like the Marshall Plan? How to see that by sharing wealth and helping poor countries rise up to a higher standard of living, the tide of refugees could be stemmed. Prosperity for all is the only way we can all live peacefully together. Unfortunately, most Western countries are trending right like America. We are becoming fearful, oh I’m just gonna close the door and you can rot. I’ll shoot if you come close. Just go away!
5
Please, let's stop letting Trump drive the country's narratives. He does this kind of stuff on a daily basis, sometimes more floridly than others. His twits receive far more attention than they should. Can we just say "Mr. Trump has done it again. Just resign already." and move along?
8
Well put Mr. Blow and so true.
We should only expect more of this from POTUS.
Robert Mueller is coming next week, POTUS is scared, and he should be.
17
Mr. Blow, is depressingly accurate in his assessment.
The President of the United States is an open racist. He is supported fully by his party and a third of the electorate.
We need the other 2/3 of the electorate to participate in the next election. Complaining on Twitter doesn't cut it.
35
There is arguably a lot wrong with Trump's tweets but I think it's a real stretch to call them racist. Mr. Blow undermines his credibility by pulling out the race card. Trump's comments were certainly xenophobic and from the "my country, right or wrong, school of thought" but he did not single out any of the congresswomen for their race. This is the problem with the radical left. They take a legitimate grievance and distort it and in the process undermine their own effectiveness.
18
If I criticize the content of this article, does that make me a racist,too? If one says anything other than lavish praise when discussing someone not of "privilege", is it by default an assault on them? I say outlandish things frequently; I can accept someone telling me they disagree without casting aspersions on their character and "wokeness." But I've got my "racecard" to use the next time someone tells me how much they love "my" culture.
16
It's astonishing--as well as depressing--that British Prime Minister Theresa May, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Belgium politician Guy Verhofstadt, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as editorials and articles in several European newspapers have made forceful, unequivocal denunciations of Trump's remarks, while the majority of the GOP has been silent or has tepidly said Trump was wrong. It is not necessary to agree with the ideas proposed by Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib, and Pressley, but it is DEFINITELY necessary to speak out against the racism, hate-mongering, disgusting spew of vile emanating from Trump and his enablers.
33
When I posted the following comment,
"Can someone please point out to me, EXACTLY which part(s) of these tweets is RACIST. I see a reference to a country, but not a race."
several people said that the fact that I AM FROM MONTANA was probably the reason that I could harbor such an attitude.
They all did the same thing they claimed to abhor.
They made several assumptions about me, because of where I live.
I was born in the Philippines, to American parents, and have been exposed to foreign cultures, literally, from birth.
As a teacher in Montana for 32 years, I had many Native American students, and black, as well (yes, they live in Montana).
In the Navy, I was exposed to many cultures and witnessed the displacement of the Philippine stewards, to make way for Vietnamese refugees...a totally illogical decision.
When I was an elementary student in Massachusetts, my engineer father brought to our house his black colleague, not just because he was a friend, but to make us kids understand something, which I'm sure you can figure out.
So much for my "lifetime of limited social interaction and/or parental bias and racism." NSTAN3500 NEW JERSEY
21
Trump supporters are feeling extra victimized today: one of their fellow travelers, James Fields, was just handed a second life sentence for his capital crime in Charlottesville, and that’s got them upset. Hence their panicked defense of Donald Trump’s latest racist outburst.
18
Trump proved he was a raging racist when he took over the Queens apartment building empire from his father in the 1970s. Like his father before him, Trump refused to rent apartments to black couples. The Nixon administration ran the same sting on him that had caught his father. They sent in a number of couples with similar histories, income, assets, & credit ratings. When black couples said they wanted to rent an apartment, they were all told that there were no vacancies at the time, but to leave their applications & they would be notified if one opened up. Their applications were filed with a "C" for Colored marked in the upper corner. When white couples came in, they were told there were plenty of vacancies & would they like to see several. Trump had to pay a substantial fine to the government. Of course, Donald Trump, like most, was a product of his upbringing. Long before Donald was even born, his father was marching in full KKK robes & hood on Memorial Day, 1927 in a joint march of the Klan & American Fascist Mussolini supporters in their blackshirt uniforms. There was a scuffle with the police & 7 Klansmen were arrested. When the police removed their hoods, there stood Fred Trump. Both the original police arrest records & the original press reports still exist. So, what kind of values did Donald learn at his father's knee?
43
In no way do I support the blatant racism of our President. He is a disgrace. History will not be kind to him
31
It would be interesting to hear the perspective of the Native American members of Congress on the effects of unontrolled immigration by the white hords that brought diseases, criminal gangs, and exploited America's natural resources. .
22
Interesting. So, people whose origins are from other nations, telling the united states that the united states is wrong, is acceptable, but the president who was hired by legitimate means calling them out..... is racist?
So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly ...
where's the racist wording here?
... and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how. ...
where's the racist wording here?
... it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!
where's the racist wording here?
Seems to me that you need to get an education on racism. And not one that fits your biases. Although, if you've decided that the US is a racist regime, I'd expect that Venezuela would be a better country for you.
19
This president is so skilled at dissembling and lying that, for a man of such average intelligence, it must have taken him decades to hone to the malignant levels he has achieved.
15
So let me get this straight:
Ayanna Pressley says: "No more black faces that don't want to be a black voice, no more brown faces that don't want to be a brown voice" & - logically - "no more Jewish faces that don't want to be a Jewish voice, no more Asian faces that don't want to be an Asian voice."
This is supposed to NOT be racist.
How does this sound, "No more white faces that don't want to be a white voice"?
That's totally not racist, I'm sure.
And there's an 'or else' implied too, which isn't threatening at all, oh no.
But Trump calling out the past year's incendiary young congresswomen who spew forth constant self-righteous vile hatred against white people & Jewish people (aka "It's all about the Benjamin's baby" or "Louis Farrakhan aka Mr. "Jews are termites" is a terrific guy) -- *that's* racist.
23
Sounds like you're deflecting.
Answer the question.
Why are so many craphole countries out there sending their people to America? Why don't the big mouths on the left make Kenya great again? Oh yeah, it was never great. Why should we listen to ANY Muslim? Their world has been nothing but garbage for thousands of years. As for socialism...look at all the failed states. No thanks.
17
Misogynists and rapists Trump and Epstein must be dealt with soon.
12
Enough! This whole Trump mania on the part of the NY Times is just silly. Sure Trump is a jerk, but this incessant raging on the part of the Times accomplishes nothing and drowns out real news. Why doesn't the paper go back to reporting factual news stories that need to be reported and stop being baited by Trump into this never ending loop of Trump hate.
By the way has Mr. Blow ever seen a white person he likes? His writing wouldn't indicate he has.
19
The big questions we must ask: will Trump bring us into war? Will he fiddle and bumble in blind arrogance into bending the fire of death upon both real or imagined adversaries? There seems to be a witch’s brew of ignorant help around him who want a broad brush of history to highlight them and their blundering as the gamble that “drained the swamp.” We are seeing the redux of a Reich we absolutely never wish to see arise again. The disaster that befell Germany in its self-justified descent into hell must be recognized for what it was, an urge toward nationalism that, in the end, killed millions. Waken all you true of heart, all of those now wiling, those now on fire, to the task before us. This aberration must go, you must rally, you must vote in our traditional way to end this comic fraud.
3
The NT Times has an article about the evils of racism just about every day, yet they hired Sarah Jeong.
15
Trump is a sociopath. He is just signaling to his tribe that he will employ whatever means necessary to keep them (the deplorables as Hilary correctly called them) in his fold.
Racist, misogynist, rapist, sociopath, psychopathic liar, bankrupt businessman, tax cheat, highly insecure narcissist. All of these describe the behavioral characteristics of the current President of the United States. Outrageous! How did we ever come to such a place that someone who is so clearly unstable, and whose character flaws are so blatantly obvious, holds the most powerful and influential position in the world?
Wake-up America. DUMP TRUMP!
20
"There can be no more rhetorical juggling about not knowing what’s in his heart. We see what flows out of it." Trumpanov doesn't have a heart. He has a cesspool, and what flows from it is pure filth.
8
Charles..you BLOW!
America LOVES Trump!
MAGA! KAG!
5
We've pretty much known it all along, now we know it beyond a shadow of a doubt...... Mr Trump can be basically summed up in two words, "White Supremacist"
9
The 1930's all over again. I guess history is cyclical. I feel very sorry for all the young people. No I feel sad for all life on earth.
We need to find a different, unselfish, compassionate way for all of us to live on this shrinking planet. Every kind act matters.
Ignore our narcissist electoral-elected president. Unless you are super rich he does not care about you. Especially if you are a woman of color.
8
For a columnist supposedly knowing all about Trump's mind, Charles goes on to say - "he wasn’t really standing by Pelosi but hiding behind her.".
So much for his understanding of him. It may well be true that Trump might want to say Nancy is a closet racist and nothing wrong about that; but irrespective of Trump's claims about Nancy, there can be no doubt that Trump is not shy of being a racist. So how can the columnist say that 'was his way of saying that people who are not racist can be falsely assumed to be, like him.'
When clearly Trump is 'a president [ who ] returns naked criticism to the WH'.
The columnist himself is strictly a 'logically thinking' person but probably an anti-racist because of the discrimination against his.
3
If Trump's tweets prove that he a raging racist, then what does Rep. Omar's tweet "Jews are all about the Benjamins" prove?
13
If people weren't sick of identity politics before this, rest assured they will be after it. It's almost as though Trump knows the democrats' greatest weaknesses -- ex., those 4 officials and identity politics -- and managed to combine and place them center stage for all the country to see.
Once again progressives are demonstrating how out of touch they are with the rest of the country, especially those who read his entire quote.
12
@AACNY
Progressives aren't the only people upset with the President's comments.
3
Come on people, his actions and his appearance belie but a fragile ego.
Trump utilizes distraction. Plain and simple.
While we're here having semantic arguments over his utterances being racist, we ought to be peppering him with inquires and opining as to why he has orange skin, eye orbs, and what's up with that silly looking hair.
Now THAT would crack his ego, and send him spiraling out of control. Fight his distraction with pettiness he cannot ignore. That will preoccupy his own pettiness and then the door is off the hinge for all to clearly see.
14
If Birtherism failed to register as an undeniable, shockingly public display of in-your-face racism and undermine your support for Candidate and later President Trump, you are, I am sorry to say, a racist. There's really no way around that. Only a racist could have dismissed that red flag in his personality, that shocking demonstration of how ruthless and mean a character he was willing to be. How low he could go.
If you continue to support Trump to this day, your racism has acquired the ugly posture of someone who is no longer coy about it, but like the president himself, openly, brazenly in our faces -- proudly racist!
Maybe you're a diehard Republican and it's a tribal thing. Or perhaps it's economics or a cultic libertarian thing. Or you believe abortion rights equals Holocaust. Or you thought he'd pivot.
Frankly, I don't give a darn what 'rationale' you may have cooked up for your conscience, the fact remains, that if you've ever supported Trump, given what he's put on public display from the very start, then you are, among other things, a racist. You have joined, not the tribe of Republicanism, but that darkest of tribes -- the Cult of Hate and Fear and A Good Conspiracy or Two.
As FDR said, the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself. Which is why, though we may fear the dark fantasies you and Trump's bigotry inspire, we are not afraid of you, nor of confronting your descent into the nether reaches of paranoid politics. And we will, in the end, prevail.
20
@Jimbo Exactly. These comments from people who defend this horrible clown are frightening, sad, and despicable.
2
Trump want them to leave the country.
Pelosi wants them to shut up.
They must be doing something right.
8
@gene
This is over-simplification at its best.
Too bad you miss the point entirely.
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel had said “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
The President’s rhetoric regarding the four freshmen Congresswomen of color is divisive and racist and must be condemned by all Americans of good conscience. This country was a founded as a nation of immigrants; if you’re not Native American heritage then your ancestors came from someplace else. The first amendment of our Constitution is first for a reason; dissent is patriotic. America was founded with a revolution about defending liberties and this goal has been an important part of our political culture ever since. To suggest that one group of Americans “ should go back” to the countries they came from because they are critical of the current administration or current public policy is “un-American” to its core. Our elected representatives must condemn this dangerous rhetoric and remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We are always stronger together.
16
@Carolyn Faggioni . You're not oppressed. Your attacking white people. They have a right to defend themselves against your baseless attacks.
The left is just salty because someone finally called their bluff. You think your politics aren't divisive? People hate liberals and their policies...especially because they are divisive and pick victims.
7
I finally heard Speaker Pelosi say out loud what I have been posting here for a while ...
MAGA is really MAWA - Make America White Again
Does Trump hate Latinos, Muslims, and African Americans? Most likely. But what Trump hates most are those that are not rich.
Trump is all about money & power and here it doesn't matter to him what religion you practice, what the color of your skin is, or where you hail from.
His empire is built on exclusivity and the limited access of only those who are connected and/or wealthy. Let's face it, the only place most of Trump's most ardent supporters could possibly see him live, is at a Trump rally. Only a few would ever be allowed entrance to any of his properties.
And that should be trumpeted loudly.
Let's face it, when Trump says and tweets racist messages, it is not just what his supporters want to hear. It is what his supporters wish they could say out loud!
And there lies the difference between the message and messenger. Trump speaks FOR them and not just TO them.
There are far too many Americans who hope and pray for MAWA. The KKK and other white supremacists have used it as a battle cry long before Trump. But with Trump, the virus has spread because the bulk of his supporters who could not bear the optics of being associated with the KKK or Neo-Nazis, now feel emboldened because Trump has normalized such rhetoric.
The question to Trump supporters isn't whether he supports the messages of Duke or Hitler. It is whether they do?
10
@It Is Time!
That is an egregious accusation. It's a shame all the experts on "racism" cannot see their own.
1
As much as I detest Trump and his bigotry, I would coin a phrase taken from what he said about Charlotte, VA. There are bad people on both sides. Different degrees though, but there are progressive Democrats who are the mirror image of Trump in their anti-Semitic remarks and leanings.
AOC and the "quad squad” or should I "firing squad" latest comments about Nancy Pelosi comes to mind. If you don't agree with them, you're a racist and/or against women of color. How stupid and racist is that statement in itself? We would do a lot better without the Trumps and the AOC's of the world. Nancy Pelosi should "suffer fools gladly" and stop sparring with AOC because it only serves to elevate her and detracts from the focus of Trumps bigotry. They have much to learn and should speak less and listen more.
9
Trump is NOT a racist. The radical left wants to take our country to a dangerous place. The four congresswomen regularly spew vitriol and hate of white people. If they don't like America, then they need a 1 way ticket to another country.
7
Before he was president, Trump talked like a racist. He is most definitely a racist.
10
@Jason Wow. Let me guess--you are a white male, and you sound furious that your unearned privilege is being taken away. Too bad.
5
But, I mean, we're pretty legitimately a nation whose government is a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world. So there's that.
10
Most people already know Trump is a racist. He's proven it again with his Twitter attacks on four Democratic Congress women. Is that surprising? Is it even news? Aren't attacks like these predictable and transparent? What if the media shrugged and refused to give in to the predictable outrage and anger over Trump's latest nonsense? What if the media began to treat Trump him as the loudmouth simpleton that he is? I think when you give Trump the attention he craves the country gets sucked into a vortex of anger and recrimination that distracts from the important business of ensuring that our democratic institutions remain strong.
1
Orange is the new white.
11
We've never had anyone who has gained the White House in my lifetime who uses such incendiary tactics to sow confusion, division, and hostility amongst its people. Democrats and Republicans are bewildered about how to respond. Republicans choose silence, lest they be scorched by the breath of the dragon. Democrats react in a scattershot fashion, shooting without aim. Meanwhile, the Republic sinks under the weight of unaddressed problems of climate change, inequality, and ignorance.
I don't know how we get out of this in one piece. Trump is ringing bells once rung which can't be undone. If there are enough voters that think we are on the right track as a country, enough voters to re-elect him, there isn't much hope for the survival of our Republic. It tells me there are citizens in this country who believe the problems of our country shall be solved by increasing the suffering of selected others. I'm not sure where that has worked out well.
12
To say the least, this is messed up on many levels. Even the insult lacks logic. With regards to AOC and Pressley, the former is Puerto Rican. That's not even another country -- it's an American territory. As for Pressley, I can't find any evidence to suggest she is from an immigrant family, which probably means she is the descendant of slaves in the US. Given Trump's own family came to the country in the 1900s, AOC and Pressley's families have been "American" even longer than Trump's.
More disappointing than this is the fact that very few Republicans have spoken out. Some like Meghan McCain, Jeff Flake, and Bill Weld have, but they're not elected officials (at least not current ones, for Flake and Weld). When Steve King made his comments about white supremacy in January, many Republicans eventually criticized him, and Tim Scott (R-SC) even wrote an opinion piece about the Republican Party's struggles with racism.
These women were elected because they recognize the problems in our country. There is nothing un-American about wanting to solve them.
Finally, in his response, Trump said the congresswomen should apologize to the people of Israel. Why? As American congresswomen, they have the right to criticize other nations' governments, and not be held accountable by those nations' people. Didn't Trump himself criticize Omar (ironically) for suggesting dual-loyalty earlier in the year? Is he not suggesting that now?
8
@AVV Ethnically Puerto Rican, that is.
When Obama became president, I was proud of my county. When Trump was elected, I was filled with shame. That so many people could be so aghast at the reality of a black president, and to lash back by throwing their support to execrable Trump, was a wake-up call; naive as I was, I thought our country had progressed more than it has. But reading some of the comments that appear even in this, a left-leaning opinion column, makes me realize the degree to which racial bias exists in the US.
27
After some thought, here is how I sum up the Trump supporter: they are fearing loss of privilege and the ill gotten goods they got from a history of white supremacy.
If this is essentially the point, then the question is how do we get them to release that fear and move toward some openness and growth? It has to be to get them to understand that sharing all they have will only generate more for them and everyone else. The pie will get bigger, just be willing to trust. Their lives will become richer by accepting their fellow man, regardless of his or her color. The best of America shows this: better music, better food, richer experiences, more creative technology...the list goes on. The greatness of America is not in its whiteness, but in its acceptance of creative openness. Which Democrat is saying this?
13
Of course he is. He was an original birther. Why is this "there he goes again, can it really be true?" analysis consuming the best productive years of our best journalist's lives? Here's why -at least according to Steve Bannon, ala Michael Wolff: keeping the press exclusively focused on immigration and racial issues all the time guarantees right wing elections. That political strategy should be the topic of the discussion, not manipulated outrage.
6
Let's cut to the chase. Dems better come up with someone for moderate Dems to vote for in 2020 because right now Trump wins a second term. None of the nonsense being spewed at Trump in the Times or the rest of the media is truthful. Like "Trump's a racist." This stuff works with antifa but not the American voters. Don't believe me? Watch what happens in 2020. Trump wins again and rather easily. Thanks a lot Dems. Keep up the great protesting work.
11
Trump is not a racist....he just dislikes people who appear to have no love for this country.....and he is not afraid to call them out for their lack of respect. He may be overly crude and rude at times, but people appreciate his straight forward talk , lack of political correctness and love and respect for country. anything wrong with that?.
11
@Justin Wilson And how has Trump demonstrated his love for this country? By supporting free speech and freedom of the press? By attacking veterans and war heroes? By serving in the military? By selfless service in any area of American life? By committing fraud and bilking taxpayers as a developer? By attacking the judiciary, law enforcement, and Congress when it suits his purposes? Anything right with that?
20
@rdb1957 Totally delirious !
Harvard study showed that 93 % of media articles on Trump are completely biased.
Just look at the run down of NYT on ANY day !!
Any word , for instance, on the ongoing records set in W.S. ?
And if you don't realize what good that does to the country you are totally ignorant of economic reality !
3
@Justin Wilson
Seriously? The only "love" Trump has is for himself. And as for his being overly crude and rude... Yeah, as president there is PLENTY wrong with that! His job is to represent the ENTIRE country, not just those who suck up to him.
8
"When people show you who they are,
believe them the first time."
-Maya Angelou
20
Thank you for being the sanity we need in these crazy times, Mr. Blow. Someone needs to continually express the rage and fear and bewilderment we are all experiencing. And the scariest thing of all:
"...we are watching as fellow citizens — possibly a third of them — reveal to us their open animus for us through their continued support of him."
8
How can any person who has pledged to uphold the constitution, and who considers him or herself enough of a patriot to run for public office, not cringe with shame and embarrassment about this man? Congress can do something about this. There are no excuses—not the economy, or job security, or complacency, or fear—for inaction. That he is a racist is not news; that he is soulless will hurt us all.
15
That's not fake news.
Actually it's not news at all.
How about covering the Epstein story and not letting Trump distract from it?
Or the numerous rape charges against Trump.
Everybody has known he's a racist for years now.
10
It’s an opinion column not a news story.
1
"Congenital illness" is one of the best ways of putting it. Well done, Mr. Blow. This nation, the great "American Experiment" of ours, was built on a bedrock of slavery and racism, and Trump is a direct reaction to the Obama years and the expansion of social justice.
The problem of racism is systemic and rooted in our very being as a nation. As long as this man is President, there will be no way forward.
11
Three of them were born in the USA there THIS IS THE COUNTRY FROM WHICH THEY COME. And all 4 are American citizens. Does that mean the President is saying that the country that three of the four came from—the US—is a "complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world." He doesn’t get to refuse to recognize them as American citizens with all the rights to which he is entitled and enjoys as citizens.
Mr. President, do you know the job of a congressional representative? It is LITERALLY to represent their constituents and to say “how the government is run.” Are you saying that a congressperson shouldn't fulfill their oath of office?
Mr. President do you understand that one of the things that helps us to be the "greatest and most powerful nation on earth" is our system of representative governance? And that these four women are dedicating their time and talents to leading in the country in which you all share citizenship? As representatives it is their sworn obligation to represent the best interests of the communities from which they come.
Ilhan Omar is my representative from the 5th Congressional District of Minnesota. We sent her to be the loyal opposition standing up against this lack of understanding and support of our system of governance as demanded by the US Constitution.
This lack of respect for our constitution is something about which every conservative and liberal SHOULD resoundingly decry.
12
"Racist" is a category of humans that has meaning and is useful in describing Donald Trump. Nevertheless there exist other categories of humans that I believe might be even more useful in understanding what Donald Trump represents. For example, I think it would be better to categorize Trump as a hater/aggressor. Why? Because even if every single individual in the US -- or even in the world -- happened to have pale, European-tone skin and European ancestry, Donald Trump would still be hating some groups, targeting some groups for real or symbolic aggression, and gaining political support by voicing that hatred and aggression.
7
@Ralph Dratman You said it. Plus he has a very low IQ--how did we get here??? The dumbing of America is almost complete.
Blow's description of American History is melodramatic but really not that different from how most countries throughout world history were created and expanded. Slavery, conquest, domination, none of that is even remotely unique to the United States or the West. What he calls America's sin is universal throughout the world and throughout time.
6
It’s not the least bit melodramatic. It’s all true.
4
This is an excellent argument for the truth about our disgraced and disgraceful president. It should be used to marginalize all Republicans who come to his defense--those who could get elected in 2020 and help perpetuate the regime of "The Great Divider".
Let me among the first to say it, because it will certainly be heard from the mouths of late-night comedians that the "countries" Trump condemns include his own, as (in his words) a "total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept"--because he is its titular head, and he's not yet been impeached as he should be, if the US knew consensually what corruptness and ineptitude look like.
One of the things racism is good at is projection, and virtually everything in Trump's reprehensible tweet refers to his own attitudes and policies. "Viciously telling the people . . . how our government is to be run"? Only "The Identitarian-in-Chief" does that to perfection. Projecting himself onto Pelosi? He's not only attempting to exploit an internal Democratic squabble, but making something out of that feud that it isn't--about the racism he represents.
3
Mr Blow:
"White people and whiteness are the center of the Trump presidency."
The irony in your statement is that it, in turn, is racist.
Some white people and whiteness are the center of the Trump presidency.
I am white and I don't support Trump or his platform (whatever it is).
And, there are plenty of people who are not white who support Trump.
Had you singled out rich Americans who don't give a hoot about anyone but themselves and their interersts / money, and people who would sacrifice their integrity for some special interest cause, and/or people who just want to see the world burn, I surmise you would have been closer to the mark.
Trump succeeds when he divides us into camps like black vs white; immigrant vs citizens
We are all human beings - and I believe the vast silent majority (to steal a Nixon phrase") want him out of office and investigated thoroughly by law enforcement.
Please don't his re-election campaign in your future columns.
8
There’s no need for “the squad” to travel to other countries to fix a government that is a “complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world”. They have that right here in the United States!
8
So where does Mr.Blow stand on Trump?
Whine culture is what we have and I believe that people are attracted to Trump because he whines and gets a reaction and say's things that many think but in the hyper sensitive every offended by everything won't sat because it sounds racist or sexist. Isn't there something better to writ4e about. This is so boring and meanwhile the amount of money this government is spending worries me more than what Donald say's . If I wanted to hear this I would be on Fakebook or youtube. How about spending the resources of the Times to ferret out waste and programs that can be cut or elimanated and do something tangible. We already know where the sentiment lies before we even read a Times columnist about Trump. Predictable and tired let's do something useful and get some real problems solved versus point to everyone who already know who the bully is.
2
@Robert
Actually, this post is a good example of why we need to spend much more on education - But I digress.
4
This kind of racist attacks are despicable, absolutely no excuses for this! There is also another perhaps even bigger reason why Donald Trump is targeting AOC and co, using his racism and misogyny as tools for achieving another end.
He wants the media to give them maximum exposure to paint AOC and co as the face of the Democratic party as tough they were running for president and make the party defend them. Why, because Trump knows what AOC may not realize or care about in her fervor that she simply does not represent the majority of the Democrats never mind the independents the biggest voting block. Don't forget Trump is polling very poorly against the real candidates!
If there is something Trump is actually good at it is playing the media and utilizing discord for his ends. I am worried he is still ruling the game.
2
and he is winning! It's called the blue wave and we will get Trump again in 2020. Sleepy Joe simply won't work out.
2
The demand that immigrants (and their descendants born here) should go back to where they came from not only has a long history, but also encompasses all forms of nativism against all races. America has a history of slogans like Irish go home, Polish go home, Italians go home, etc., etc.
President Trump is very much in the tradition of the Know Nothings of the 1850s, the American Protective Association of the 1890s and the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s.
5
And? He's also a criminal and we've got him on camera admitting that. Why aren't we focused on *what he's doing* instead of what he's saying, because his actions are destroying the country, and potentially, the world. His words? They're designed to distract us. Successfully, apparently. Go ahead-- repeat his racist rants. You're helping him, you know.
8
Trump is a raging lunatic. Unfortunately we cannot ignore him
10
Trump is certainly trying hard to look "strong" for his White Supremacist leaning base. If he really is strong is another matter.
But strong or not, he is certainly wrong.
He is both a chauvinist and a racist, and he has proven it over and over again.
If you are not the same, don't vote for him.
If you don't share Trump's values and interests, his "winning" is your loss and the country's loss. All men are created equal and have a right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. You cannot say that you love America when you violate its most sacred principles.
3
He’s a racist and a valedictorian.
1
For the 2,333rd time Mr. Blow pronounced Trump a racist.
6
A simple question to Republican legislators and to the people who voted for the president: "Do you sincerely believe that Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley, and Tlaib were not born in the United States?" And accept only "yes" or "no" as a reply. If the reply is "yes," then the person truly believes anything that President Trump says. If the answer is "no," then follow up by asking why the person enables a president who lies.
4
Amen, Brother Charles! Thank you for always remembering "the ladies." Your passion is inspiring. Now -- go on and help Get Out The Vote!!!
https://www.turnoutpac.org/
2
Yes, he's a racist.
But what he is more than anything is a baiter. Please everyone, stop rising to his bait.
10
This is how it works this days:
Criticize somebody who is “of color” and you’re automatically a racist. For good mesure, a chauvinist as well. After all, it is inconceivable that somebody who has far left ideas could be wrong, is stirring up trouble in their own party and plays the race card, even against their own Speaker of the House.
By the way, what does “of color” mean in the case of Ocasio-Cortez ? She’s not African-American, and clearly not all Hispanics are black. So it’s all about her Mediterranean complexion ? Where exactly does this “of color” boundary fall ? Isn’t this obsession with the finest difference in skin color a typical expression of racism ?
13
Right now, one of the least Democratic countries on Earth is Israel, bolstered by authoritarians Bibi, Trump, Kushner, and Mr. Bone Saw, and our policy towards it dictated by a decrepit gnome of a casino magnate, Sheldon Adelson. When Ms. Ilhan dared bring this glaring truth up, she was pilloried by almost everyone on both sides of the aisle, each for their own selfish reasons.
10
Can't be an accident that the photo accompanying this article showed only a red neck!
5
Yes. We know. We've known for quite a while now. And yet, you sit there. And with every passing racist, misogynist, cruel, vicious word and action of his, you keep writing about it as though you're surprised. He flouts the law and the Constitution, and yet you sit there.
Stop writing. Stop talking. Get to the streets.
But you won't. You won't because your government and politicians have been acting horribly for years and you found reasons to excuse them all. "Well, he's got the economy going." "Well, the US dollar is doing well." "Well, the Dow is up." "Well, he lied about the pretext for invading a country and killed its leader...but at least we're safer (somehow?)"
You've lost your moral compass and are utterly lost as to how to act. So you write...
4
Seems that most people here think Trump is being first To comment on this. Probably due to the fact that majority of NYT readers live in a bubble.
This subject has been addressed and commented on thousands of times and those same words used long before Trump even said it. In fact I think he is sending a message to his followers saying “I hear you, I know exactly what you all are thinking so I will tweet it so you know I know”. Same as when liberals destroyed conservatives over the Smollett and Covington kids cases...conservatives asked “so where are the apologies to us?”. It was only days after that trump tweeted this question, but we have already expressed it.
I’m one who was disgusted by the Somali woman attacking our military presence in Somalia. Like if we “wanted so bad” to go there. The idiot should’ve known that the so called UN Blue helmets (aka only American soldiers) went there to prevent the thugs from stealing the food/humanitarian help being sent to the starving somalis. And what US got in return? A helicopter shut down and the US soldiers dead bodies dragged in the street of Mogadishu to the delight of the crowd.
And what Mrs I hate America Somali rep does, smear America some more.
In short, yes, Trump is right. Thanks for telling it like it is. I hope she is sent back to her “exotic” (aka PC term for we know what) country.
7
Does this mean he's sending Melania home?
11
@veblen’s dog,
As soon as the mail order bride catalogue lands in his mailbox.
2
Everything Trump is racist. Listening to him denigrate everyone who isn't like him is appalling. All of my ancestors came from other countries and I have no desire to go to them and remake them. My country is the United States as are the four Congresswoman that Trump has decided aren't American.
Shame on you Trump. You and your wannabes are deplorable and un-American. Perhaps you should invest in a new land and name it Trump with a flag that is only white, far far away from our hallowed shores!
1
More important than Trump being a Racist is the reality he is an Evil person. He will continue being evil as long as he is in office. Trump and his Republican minions in Congress are despicable people. Corrupt Plutocrats, Racists and Bigots. Their are no excuses for the people who elect them to office.
3
He is racist. He is a misogynist. We knew this when he ran and when he was elected. After championing the bogus birther movement...After the Access Hollywood tape....
The republican base does not care. Perhaps this is who they are.
8
There can be no doubt now that DT is a racist and by their silence, so is the GOP.
5
I wonder if a black person would rightfully call out another black fellow for being ungrateful would he considered a racist ??
If a White person would rightfully call out another White fellow for being ungrateful would that be considered racism ??
Why is it when White person rightfully calls out a black fellow for being ungrateful that is considered a racism !!!
5
it seems that a ruthless and Machiavellian God would have chosen them so that all Trump shots to the sensible Democrats hit the target. Here is not racismi faith but a group of espureo have very encuenta that his stupid and fanatical mission was to give our party the push to the abyss that the president becesita, throwing into the fire to one of the insignes nas and lucid fighters that has seen our democracy: The fighter of a thousand battles, Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, who has mapped the dirty Trumpuan floor with the He
*poof*
And suddenly Alexander Acosta is no longer in the news.
6
Inside Donald Trump is a three-headed feral cat struggling to get out.
Actually, Trump's tweets prove he just doesn't think anyone that does not support him is an idiot and enemy. He really doesn't care about race. The raging racists are the people that judge people by race, such as Mr. Blow. Trump judged people by who they support.
2
He sickens me, us and any human with decency. Anyone still supporting him is a disgrace to our country.
2
Of course he's a raging racist. He's a New York City Queens Developer, as uncouth as they come. We need to get rid of him. Legally. But stay sharp, Charles. Stay as sharp as you've ever been. Trump is also a complete and total clown. Kind of like a certain unmentioned great dictator (again) in that respect. Clown power can summon the darkest forces this world has ever known. Most dictators are clowns. I call Trump a clown for the simple reason that he is being fully manipulated and propped up by the far right billionaires and their military industrial nightmare. Trump is allowed to be Trump as a shield and distraction to the hegemony of the ultra rich, who would truly destroy the world for a few more dollars. Call Trump on his disgusting racism. Sure. But always go deeper. Trump is a distraction. We have a whole lotta work to do.
5
My girlfriend was sitting at an outdoor bar yesterday when a man with brown skin ordered and paid for a drink and a bottled water from the bartender despite not being able to speak English. An older white woman next to her said that they should call Immigration. My girlfriend pointed out that was racist to which the woman replied, well our President is a racist.
2
Well written, Charles.
The compromise with the devil is layed bare here. Any Republican that does not criticize this tweet is also a racist and a traitor to his or her country. Traitor: as in evil at his core and an enemy of this democracy.
If you had told me of this scenario three years ago I would have called it laughably impossible. And that most of the nation and almost all of it's politicians would stand united in censuring this monster if such absurdity occured. The silence is deafening.
And where are our religious leaders? Are they not complicit in this treason by virtue of their silence?
Instead we read about infighting within the Democratic party. What kind of strategy for removing a dangerous demagogue and his old white bigoted Senate is that?
All decent humans must rally in opposition to this last tweet or we might as well rename the US the Fourth Reich.
Sorry, Mr. Blow, but I don't agree. Trump didn't have to even mention their names for you and your Trump hating reader constituency, not to mention everyone else, to know who he was talking about.
You're unhinged, and the Times, should it desire a better reputation for not being off the rails goofy, will reconsider your contract. You can't but appeal to a fringe segment. Maybe that's why the Times keeps you on, but they are losing credibility sponsoring your emotional, specious rants.
7
Mr Trump -- Please stop taking jabs at people who are half your age. At least they are trying to do something. What were you doing when you were their age? Oh, I know, filing for bankruptcy and trolling for dates with Jeffrey Epstein. Please Please go back to where you came from.
5
America has always been this vicious. Trump just voices it more openly and honestly. With the exception of the Nazis, the multitude of wars of acquisition we have fought have been against "colored" people. The only hope we have is that these racist people are not in the majority come November 2020.
1
Another low for Trump. And a very sad day for our country. It's important to call out racism when we see it. Trump is a racist and has no business being president.
4
That is so over the top, he can't really believe it.
To me, it means he is willing to say it anyway, just for the response.
Further, he can't think his whole base is that stupid. What he did is like calling out a response at his rallies. It is emotion, and a statement of us vs them. They too know it isn't true, and they too just don't care.
It is said just to be an insult, for the sake of displaying and calling on hatred.
2
Baloney.
He doesn't oppose diversity.
He opposes left wing statist-socialist progressives and their constant struggle to undermine the Constitution.
4
But, we knew this already.
GOP used to be discrete racist. Now it's in plain view, and they love every minute of it.
5
There are no words to describe who or what trump is. One word that comes to mind and that sums him up is failure. Yup, trump is a failure from every angle.
His idea of winning is being a jerk. As he predicted, we are tired of winning. We are really tired of having a jerk in high office.
3
I finally heard Speaker Pelosi say out loud what I have been posting here for a while ...
MAGA is really MAWA - Make America White Again
Does Trump hate Latinos, Muslims, and African Americans? Most likely. But what Trump hates most are those that are not rich.
Trump is all about money & power and here it doesn't matter to him what religion you practice, what the color of your skin is, or where you hail from.
His empire is built on exclusivity and the limited access of only those who are connected and/or wealthy. Let's face it, the only place most of Trump's most ardent supporters could possibly see him live, is at a Trump rally. Only a few would ever be allowed entrance to any of his properties.
And that should be trumpeted loudly.
Let's face it, when Trump says and tweets racist messages, it is not just what his supporters want to hear. It is what his supporters wish they could say out loud!
And there lies the difference between the message and messenger. Trump speaks FOR them and not just TO them.
There are far too many Americans who hope and pray for MAWA. The KKK and other white supremacists have used it as a battle cry long before Trump. But with Trump, the virus has spread because the bulk of his supporters who could not bear the optics of being associated with the KKK or Neo-Nazis, now feel emboldened because Trump has normalized such rhetoric.
The question to Trump supporters isn't whether he supports the messages of Duke or Hitler. It is whether they do?
1
These tweets are not just racist they are ignorant. Will the Main Stream Press make him explain which representatives and which countries he is talking about? Not holding my breath.
2
Instead of Pelosi calling Trump "xenophobic...trying to divide the country" which people either dont understand or tune out, just label him "racist, racist racist." We need strong direct language.
2
Charles, why waste your talent and breath with the obvious... if it waddles, quacks (i.e., tweets) and looks like, well then it must be a racist, bigoted, ignorant, xenophobic POTUS. So sad and enraging to see his hate so blatantly displayed for the world to see. This is not us, this is not who we are. He and his followers do no represent the majority of the decent, compassionate, intelligent and informed people who make up the majority in this country. America will be great again when he is gone, and not a moment too soon.
1
All Trump cares about the articles that appear in what he calls "the liberal media" is that his name is spelled right, and his photo appears. Of course he is a racist. He makes only the slightest effort to dispel that notion - wink, wink, nod, nod. It is the main basis of his appeal to his base. It is part of a world-wide trend, said to be brought on, or made possible, by over-population and climate change migration. All the fascist dictators, and would be fascist dictators, love it.
Which of these 2 categories Trump fits into we will see in 2020.
While Trump may have racist tendencies, the reason he tweets is to focus the attention back to himself. He could not bear "the squad" getting more attention than himself. What a massive misplaced ego and it is sad that the Country has to listen. It is also sad that Charles Blow has to attribute Trump's stupidity to something diabolical, us vs them, white supremacy, white patriarchy and open animus for those of color. Charles don't rise to the bait, this isn't a race war, just an stupid old white man with a bull horn.
You criticize America perpetually and rewrite history with your tropes that only see the bad never the good that your made up white patriarchy has done with this Country. Have some humility, it is not always about you.
1
Trump does not have a racist bone in his body. He has an exoskeleton, just like other insects.
3
Trump is not only a racist. He is a coward. He tweets out his worst standards. TWEETS! Why would anyone be afraid ( dear R's) of someone that stands in the closet and spews hate. Poor comparison, but like the wizard in Oz, he is behind the curtain raising his voice to see how far it will go. We are guilty for giving his hateful tweets power. I would have felt much better if the victims of this particular instance would have picked up the phone to give him honest feedback. To tweet back a response to such serious matters discounts the rebuttal. So many layers of chaos. Bring back integrity, morals, leadership and compassion.
2
He is a racist, misogynist, bully, transactional, and accidental president. He would like to win at all cost, including damaging the country and its people. But more than anything else, he likes to make some people, some nations, some countries lose with the hope that it will make him look better. Alas, there is nothing, NOTHING he can do that will make him look better in the eyes of most of the people in this country and most likely in the other countries as well.
3
The next election will be between the racists of America and everyone else. If people still support Trump after all he's said and done then their racism trumps their patriotism and they're OK with America turning into 1950's Alabama with iPhones. Real patriots next year have to vote in record numbers and send these people back under their rocks. They'll never go away but maybe we can take their power away.
2
Trump is a psychopath defined by his persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, uninhibited and egotistical traits.
The fact that he is attacking four women with his racist screed is not lost on many women who recognize his vicious abuse as that of a practiced abuser who always blames his victims for his crimes in an effort to avoid being held responsible. Prisons are full of sociopaths just like Trump.
As long as Democrats allow Pelosi to remain in power, Trump will never be held accountable for his crimes in office. Remove Pelosi and install a real leader who will being impeachment proceedings immediately.
Charles M. Blow conflates racists with the silent majority, people who don’t vote, who as long as they still can hope for a better future for their children, couldn’t care less if Republicans can deliver this hope. But if there's no hope they will turn to the Democrats. They turn a blind eye to racism.
Well, the fact is that is inferior in every way. He is a loser at business and is barely hanging on to his dad’s money. He is a failure in relationships and a failure in brains (hiding his grades). He has to convince himself that he is perceived as superior in some way.
1
You are so wrong, and so are you 'followers'. Trump is NOT racist, nor are most of his followers. The racism, quite frankly, lies on the LEFT, with LIBERALS. There are no more classical liberals, only progressives. And no one wants that anywhere near America. If you come to this country and are not grateful to be here, knowing you left a FAR WORSE situation, then you should GO BACK. This is a pretty simple concept and has nothing whatsoever to do with skin color. It's a just a convenient excuse and weapon to try to use for the Left to exert control and power over the conversation. It doesn't work with right-minded people, IOW, those who have a brain and use it. Good luck with your fantasy views, you'll need it.
3
@Fran
Should the President go back to Scotland, then? Should he join Melania in Slovenia? All members of Congress are American citizens. It is a requirement of the office they hold. Most of them were also born HERE -- there is no "far worse" situation to go back to.
1
Mr. Blow is preaching to the choir. Any New Yorker who read the news in the '80s knows that Trump is an unrepentant, irredeemable, disgusting racist. At least since the days of the Central Park Five. The question is, how can 40% of the country not see this -- or, how come 40% of the country know and do not care. America revealed in all its white glory...
4
@Jonathan Unfortunately he is not preaching to the choir. Read some of the other comments on this very
op ed piece that vehemently support Trump and/or express confusion as to how his tweets could possibly be racist. I am stunned that NY Times readers could be so obtuse. Very disheartening.
2
Not sure I get a racial tone, childish logic maybe, but hardly racist.
What he appears to have done is typical though, which is thrown a hand grenade to see what happens.
2
Trump is something worse than a racist. He's someone with absolutely no core beliefs or morality to circumscribe his words and actions. He makes hateful statements only because he then gets the approval of a hateful segment of the population whom he wants to appeal to. His approach to everything is based entirely on being a demagogue. He used to be a Democrat because the 'elites' he wanted to fit in with at the time were mainly Democrats. He became a Republican because he saw a better opportunity with them. He obviously never believed in any of the traditional core Republican values. The takeaway is that this guy is a shape shifting liar and nothing he says should be taken at face value.
2
Trump has always been what he is in plan sight. Whatever tumbles out of his mouth has never surprised me.
What truly surprises me is how many people, in this day and age, are totally high fiving good jobbing him.
I have seen and heard so many people agree with "America, love it or leave it!", to anyone not in lock step with President Trump. Bonus round are people who are not white, not agreeing with current policies, having "Go back to your country." thrown in their face.
Trump is no better than my racist relative who blames black people for 1967 Detroit riot and "making him move from the city." He's a sad, old pathetic man. What bothers me more, are people who spout off the same garbage who are in their 60s and younger. What makes these fools tick?
Trump is the racist, who lifted the racist stone that all the other racists live under, for all to see. I'll thank him for that. At least we know who we truly dealing with now.
2
George Orwell predicted Trump and the current republican party when he penned 1984 in 1948!
"He was a fattish but active man of paralyzing stupidity, a mass of imbecile enthusiasm—one of those completely unquestioning, devoted drudges on whom, more even than on the Thought Police, the stability of the Party depended."
2
Yes, Trump8 is undeniably a racist. Racism is the core of a things Trump’s distaste. He disdains everyone and everything outside his bubble of one,himself, as do narcissists and megalomaniacs. He rages at everything and everyone. That’s what makes him so dangerous. A narcissist has no core, no values, no sense of self, no set of values. He is ashamed and nuts squelch the shame any way he can. This is why Trump bullies, blusters, and threatens, then in the face of public or any random opinion backs down. He is a desperate man.
1
Please stop showing close ups of Trump’s leering face, or his mouth, in his many less than savory moments.
We all get it: he’s an obscenity. However, especially in articles about his vile, ignorant hate speech, and behavior that so heinously soils the office he was entrusted with, it’s a visceral reminder almost at the level of assault, that Trump is quite literally vomiting poison all over the nation.
It’s just too much.
3
Nearly 63 million Americans voted for this exceptionally bad man. And they did with their eyes open, knowing that he was a crook, a racist, an ignoramus, a lecher and an assaulter of women. Perhaps Americans are not exceptionally good people. Perhaps they are just like the rest of the human race. Perhaps they will repent of putting Trump in the White House, but only after he involves the country in some irretrievable disaster.
1
Where or where is the Republican outrage at these racist rants?
5
What's more important and terrifying than Trump being a raging racist is that he will do anything, including tearing apart this country, for his own narcissistic ambitions.
3
As a Dutch boy in the 1960s, I grew up in awe of the United States of America. A promised land, a promising country, where freedoms, hard labor, self-realization, and human decency were at the heart of the American Dream.
That positive image of the US has at times been tainted by reality: a United States that can also be aggressive, corrupt, violent, and unforgiving to its most fragile inhabitants. Well, I learned to accept the bad with the good.
But the biggest let-down by far is the American People's wish for Donald Trump to become their president. In 2016, they elected a guy whom they knew to be a bully and a loudmouth. In 2020, Americans will be fully aware of the 'qualities' of the man they reconsider as their president: a lying racist, who always put his own interest first, is deaf to rational criticism, and is not afraid to abuse his power.
Dangerous idiots can be found all over the world. There are only a few countries that elect them as their President.
1
Trump is empowering white supremacists to stand proud. As their barbaric delusions clash violently with reality, there will be teachable moments, and violence.
1
The Trump presidency is unique. It would be hard to find a modern analog. I believe Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson were proud racists but they were in the oval office in the very distant 19th century. It is hard to think of overtly racist chief executives or parliamentary leaders of Western democracies in modern times. Clearly, Mussolini and Hitler were racists but they were not democrats. I suppose some of the new leaders of Eastern Europe are quite racist but whether these societies are actually democracies is subject to debate.
Donald Trump clearly is the antithesis of Martin Luther King. He his a "beast" or "monster" as the MSNBC host Donny Deutsch remarked the other day on national cable television. He is a truly exceptional and dangerous figure in American society.
I don't think he can or will be reelected. That doesn't mean anyone can be sanguine about an imminent post Trump era. Far from it. We need to fight tooth and nail to make sure this cruel fiend is removed from public office.
1
Finally! Thank you Charles Blow for telling the unvarnished truth. The president of this great country is a filthy human being, a despicable racist fanning the flames of bigotry to further his insatiable greed for power and attention. Call him what he is in the biggest font Wapo uses for its headline above the fold. RACIST. say it over and over again. Every day. Hammer him and his supporters. He follows the dictum, "Say it often enough and people will eventually believe it." So keep calling him out on his lies and keep calling him what he is, a RACIST abomination bent on destroying the country.
Give me a break. Everyone you disagree with is not necessarily a racist.
2
So I live in Israel . Immigrated in 1993. I field these kinds of remarks :” Why are you here ???” “Why don’t you go back “( tone of voice : pointed , irritated, shrill sometimes) as often as even every day , three times a day
Universal problem
Euch
I remember reading about German girls, whose Jewish friends suddenly disappeared. When they got curious and wondered out loud, their parents told them to hush, hush. The Jewish house now was a vacancy. Suddenly, some hard-core Nazis moved in next door, really obnoxious. Their little Nazi daughter sneered at her new neighbors, for having tolerated a Jewish family in their midst, but had never objected to the authorities about it. The Nazis were forced to invite themselves to come in, and take a hard hard, and "get done what must be done". This happened back in the 1930s.
1
Hold on, this was the proof you required to prove he’s a rascist? The article should have been titled “There goes DJT again”
Wrong . He wants the illegals out bame cause they are overwhelming the country, and the only way to fix anything is to the throw money at it, which you and I have to pay for. I'm not willing to do that.
3
Mr. Blow has made a nice living preaching anti Americanism and racial divisiveness and has been given "carte blanche,"a sinecure at the Times newspaper for doing so. Yet he has never actually met the president nor interviewed him for the newspaper. 1 time he informed his readers that he intended to investigate the rising crime rate in NO's Ninth Ward, but had a change of heart and ended up sitting safely in Mitch Landrieu's air conditioned offices mulling over crime statistics. When ABH raised the question of his relationship with DERAY MCkesson,former head of BLM, and his alleged friendship with Micah Johnson,who killed those 5 police officers in Dallas,author never answered the inquiry.So where is the honest journalism in all this?Imagine what US would be like if Dems. whom he approves of like AOC and Ilhan OMAR were really given positions of ministerial responsibility?It's Trump or chaos!
2
Michelle Obama was right. The presidency reveals who you are. And who Trump is, is despicable. He is a selfish, lying, misogynistic bully. There is no right or wrong, simply his insatiable neediness. God, I hope his “base” comes to some kind of insight into his evil character.
2
The irony in all of this is that Trump's grandparent was a first generation immigrant, like these women, and was an adult in his thirties when his ancestral home, Germany, was governed by the Nazis, talking about "countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe"...
You are right, Charles Blow.
Who knows if Trump really wrote the words himself (it’s a shade above his average literacy level), but this shameful tweet makes me as sick as the coverage of Trump being so nasty to the beauty queen who gained a few pounds. And this time it sickens me on a patriotic level as well as a human one.
What is the white experience. What makes him better? What exactly is he getting done, the undoing of the rule of law, creating the very place he accuses 3 smart women of? What defines his character. Is it his desire to use his color, the sound of his ignorant abrasive whining voice to demand ownership and destroy the lives of others. This country has many faces. It is its talent, its hard working masses, its tenacity, its values. This man has none. He runs to the side of gangsters, pedophiles, white supremacists, dictators. He flies over the country as a balloon. It is sad.
1
Is the alleged rapist in chief trying to take the conversation about his failures in the past week and possible linkage with Jeffrey Epstein case? They were friends once upon a time,
Watch out for the sleight of hand--while he draws everyone's attention in this latest tweet-fueled drama, what really, truly disturbing bit of news is going on just outside our field of view?
3
Trump needs to understand that we Americans do not respect or like him. His bigotry is alien to so many of us. We love and respect those people in out country, no matter their race or origins, who are true Americans and love this country. He doesn't have a clue what our country is about and is doing everything he can to undermine the principles on which it is founded. We need to get rid of HIM not THEM!
6
"So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all)..."
Since three of the four women are indeed from the United States, Mr Trump is delivering a searingly accurate description of his of his own administration.
6
Trump was addressing their behavior, hate and obvious racism. They have revealed themselves as both anti-semitic and anti-American. He pointed out that the countries of their origin are so much worse than our great country. He doesn't think they deserve to be here. While we are free to speak openly citizens as members of Congress their behavior is a disgrace. They don't deserve their jobs to begin with. He was angry and addressed their hate. This does not make him a racist, it makes him intolerant. I get it, right or wrong.
3
I'm afraid that Trump 2.0 (once he gets re-elected) will be the one that incites violence against minorities. This is just the pre-amble. Caveat emptor.
7
Trump is a long shot to get re-elected. Unless he cheats of course which is in his playbook.
The key words in this essay is 'possibly a third of them'. This underscores one very important new situation, differing from that in the past, in the nativist's racist movement in this country. Today, two thirds of the populace will have none of Trump's racism and two fifths of the population are the subject of Trump's attacks.. Imagine Germany in 1933 in which two fifths of the population were Jews. And, by the way,nearly half of the military is either non-white, Hispanic or non-Christian. Trump can not count on the legions to march with him.
1
Trump is a political pyromaniac. He goes around saying incendiary things in order to provoke the media and play to the power impulses of his powerless subjects. He's their hero not because they themselves are a bunch of rabid racists (though some of them are), but because they like seeing him say things that blow up Washington and their fantasy projection of the "liberal establishment," a nonexistent social group that exists only as "the enemy" in their minds because they need an enemy or they'll cease to exist psychically. That's why they elected him -- he promised to blow things up and he is keeping his promise.
The media is loving this and won't intercede. The most radical thing they could do is simply not report it, but that's not going to happen. Everyone loves a food fight. But by next week it won't be worth anything.
The only thing that really matters in National politics in America these days is: 1) tax rates for the rich, which Trump rolled back for his Republican handlers 2) Medical Care for All, which Trump refuses to endorse, in deference to his Republican handlers and 3) The last 50 years of aggressive wars and gigantic military budgets which have bankrupted the country.
Race matters, but if all the racists in the country were to suddenly have conversion experiences and come to see the light, the problems of inequity would still exist. Economic class unites both left and right, which is why the elites are terrified of a Sanders presidency.
3
"White people and whiteness are the center of the Trump presidency. His primary concern is to defend, protect and promote it. All that threatens it must be attacked and assaulted. Trump is bringing the force of the American presidency to the rescue of white supremacy. And, self-identified Republicans absolutely love him for it."- Charles Blow
I agree completely. Well said, Mr Blow.
2
There’s enough evidence to make a non opinion piece about Trump being a racist. That’s not an opinion it’s a fact.
3
Oh lord, Please, please, please -- let's not let this producer of chaff whose distractions have provided cover for Mitch McConnell. Folks, this guy is President Autopen.
Watch what's really happening: the Senate has blocked almost everything substantive since McConnell assumed its leadership.
The most destructive act, perhaps ever, was his Garland trick.
And he's been packing the judiciary every since.
Trump is just a weak man, the pathetic Darth Donald to McConnell's Palpatine.
Thus, Goal One for "The Squad": WIN THE ELECTION FOR SENATE. Righteousness might feel good in the short run, but winning now will make us all feel better isn the long run.
There's NO GREEN NEW DEAL without taking the Senate.
I doubt Trump has any core beliefs at all. He is more likely a nihilist who believes in nothing, except perhaps himself.
2
I read trump's three Tweets. Although not the finest prose, they are too well-composed to have been written by the Simpleton In Chief. In my opinion, it was written by one of his minions, maybe Miller, to continue to tweak the Dems.
4
It is scarcely news at this point that the cowardly draft dodging son of draft dodging forebears shirking their national duty in Germany is a racist. What is news, and should be immediately dealt with is that the chief of staff of the young woman who seems to have appointed herself the godlet of the young progressives is a disrespectful racist himself, insulting others of color especially Representative Sharice Davis of Kansas while touting the superiority of Ms Ocasio-Cortez and her right to "lead" the people of color. Nuts. "AOC" as she seems to call herself is NOT A-Okay when she acts as she and her staff do; she needs to wakeup and grow up. Failing to be other than noisy, insulting and immature is not leadership. She needs to get rid of her behind the curtain kingmaker and learn how to be a real servant of the people.
3
Make sure you have your passports up to date. I’m serious. See “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder.
It is quite a disappointment that this great news operation has to cover this middle school level nonesense.
However, he is the president.
Yet, this game is intended to whip people up and you are fanning the flames of his brushfire.
So,he's a true american
1
Why not censure him? Why not force Republicans to take a stand one way or the other. Vote for censure and you are saying you are repudiating this sort of racism. If you, you are absolutely fine with it.
2
Trump now reveals his true self, which many of us recognized during the 2016 campaign. That such a mad, narcissistic racist should be elected President is horrible but, given the Electoral College, no surprise. That nearly half of our fellow Americans still support him, however, is the real tragedy and a clear danger to our future as a nation and to the world.
The rate at which these comments to Mr. Blow’s well-written op-ed piece are coming in is astounding.
I am a Vietnam-era veteran who attended the largest political demonstration in our nation’s history. Moritorium Day - November 15th, 1969.
We have written enough comments.
It is time for hundreds of thousands of citizens to fill the streets of Washington D.C.
It is time to show the world what true patriots think of our racist, unbalanced president and his corrupt administration.
Enough complaining. It is time to take a stand!
9
I have always thought that Trump had a hate-filled, twisted mind, and he has succeeded in encouraging others with the same disability to rise to the surface. They fill his cabinet, support his misguided ideas and think he is wonderful. He represents them and they are so happy to have found a messiah. They are unhealthy people who will accomplish no good and do much harm.
2
Charles M. Blow is a patriot and an inspiring voice for democracy, reason, justice. To tell the truth of our collective history is not to denigrate.
5
Amen. Amen. You said it.
1
Maureen Dowd. Help out here, to communicate your sense of her activity, of lighting this conflagration, of standing next to power, of being wrong in senses (moral, technical, waging political war).
Interesting that Trump wants Representative Tlaib to go back to the country she came from as he denies any rights to Palestinians by supporting 4 billion per year to Israel. What country should she go back to?
3
"And we are watching as fellow citizens — possibly a third of them — reveal to us.. their open animus for us through their continued support of him."
"reveal to us "?!
"Their open animus for us .."
"Us"?!!
1
I guess I am more “American” than 99% of the residents of this country. My ancestors were driven from Salem for defending the women accused of witchcraft . My ancestors found their way to the “west” by following major rivers, clearing land of trees and rocks then selling it and working their fingers to the bone. They were old time Christians, Catholics and non believers, who had really hard lives. I look white, but possess verified Native American dna. I believe Donald Trump and his followers are evil and may bring about the end of us. They are not true Americans at all.
4
Unfortunately, you are a Democrat and you don't like the fact that Donald Trump won the presidency. Calling someone a racist comes easy for you, but it is a vile accusation when it's not true and it is not true that Mr. Trump is a racist. Usually the racists of the world are those who are accusing others of this very same thing.
3
Mr. Blow,
Your article includes the caveat "At least, that’s how I imagine his motives. " However, the headline doesn't make that distinction.
You should work for a newspaper that doesn't distort your views in order to sensationalize the news and sell more newspapers.
3
THERE IS NOT A SINGLE REFERENCE TO RACE IN THESE THREE TWEETS. The President has made a reference to a dysfunctional country, Somalia, with incompetent and corrupt leadership. It is not racist to express facts.
Mr. Blow WANTS the President to be a racist, so that is what he sees, but it is delusion.
5
Mr Blow, Trump is one of tens of millions of raging racists in America which is why he won. Maybe we are headed to another civil war, a scary thought but more and more likely.
2
The Republicans supporters of DJT need to refresher course in Christianity...perhaps a few weeks at Vacation Bible School.
1
Some might say harsh stuff. I see more reality in your well-chosen words than any counter narrative that’s been proposed. It’s not MAGA it’s MAWA
1
Thank you Mr Blow, absolutely on the point. trump is a racist and 99% of its appeal to its voters is racism. It does not take millions jews and two million soviet soldiers and hundred of thousands of homosexual and gipsies and handicapped people (many of these often forgotten...) to be tortured and massacred in camps of concentration, to see a racist move. Often racism and politics go together because a scapegoat or a superiority believe is by itself a racist ideology.
It is not a case that trump alway brags about his Q or intelligence, and conversely accused others of being low IQ or lacking intelligence: He does this because he wants his supporters to believe that they are also more intelligence than their "enemies" simply because they support him and therefore their "enemies" are not.
I suspect NY Times readers, for the most part, do not need convincing that Trump is a disgusting racist, albeit Mr. Blow's usual eloquence. Whenever I leave San Francisco, all I hear on my car radio is: sports, religious programs and right-wing "news." How do we reach those listeners, who don't read the Times and are bombarded and brainwashed?
Not that this should matter to anyone, but this latest outburst has taken the wind out of me despite knowing Trump's motivations. This looks like a comment from a drunk sitting on a barstool mumbling to himself! It's breathtaking.
4
Only a “raging racist” Charles? To this person, Trump’s despicable and purposefully divisive public racism is but one feature of his noxious totality, being someone who possesses not a single shred of humanity. Let’s be honest, this guy is truly subhuman and should not be in charge of a sidewalk lemonade stand. He is the face of evil.
1
No one knew this after 40 years in the public eye????????
2
“Trump’s Tweets Prove That He Is a Raging Racist” — Duh. So, the obvious (and long overdue) solution is to kick him to the curb in the general election.
Bernie 2020
2
Racism is actually the only reliable trait in his character.
1
Yes, he’s a raging racist. And “his people” love it. Sad.
2
In the photo he looks like a tongue-tied wailing brat—
But don't be afraid of him.
Many in the GOP and out are afraid of him, including Pelosi, but NOT the four women referred to.
Stop being afraid of him. He's finished. Even he knows it.
1
Forget impeachment. Forget working within this rigged system. When are people with IQ’s higher than room temperature going to orchestrate mass protests ?
3
That’s what I keep wondering too...it’s great to read most of these comments but I sure do wish the writers were organizing their dissatisfaction. Where are the women who so strongly demonstrated right after his election. Bring on this pink hats. Show the rest of the world that Americans are actively working to toss the trash out.
1
If Trump feels people should go back from which they orginally came, he should lead by example as he defintly not Native American.
1
Mr. Blow,
I’m sure you know that the vast majority of people in America are not racists. And surely you know that the vast majority of white people do not desire to maintain America as a white country. You really do need to take a road trip and meet some of the fine black, brown, and white people who live and work together out here. You’ll find that most of us want to get along. We don’t hate. We don’t have time to hate.
4
Charles, I think rump will be the troll waiting for any signs of discord to exploit in order to "show" his disgust of all minorities, especially women minorities.
Women minorities in power, sure he'll even use Nancy Pelosi to show his disgust.
I was disappointed in Speaker Pelosi's references to Representatives Pressley, Cortez, Tlaib, and Omar.
My expectations of Speaker Pelosi are that she, as the experienced representative, set the tone towards all those in the House of Representatives.
rump salivates sadism through twitter when he perceives anyone is kicking a minority.
It's ugly, it's rump.
Charles, you've helped all of us today address the ugly, the rump and his gops.
Thank you once again Mr. Blow for bringing out so clearly the fact that Trump isn't satisfied with dog whistles and innuendo, that he with great pride and hope broadcasts his racism, sexism, xenophobia, and thorough disdain for what this country at its best stands for.
Every tweet builds the case for his impeachment or (why not) his deportation for such traitorous actions. Buzz off, Bozo.
THERE IS NOT A SINGLE REFERENCE TO RACE IN THESE THREE TWEETS. The President has made a reference to a dysfunctional country, Somalia, with incompetent and corrupt leadership. It is not racist to express facts.
Mr. Blow WANTS the President to be a racist, so that is what he sees, but it is delusion.
2
Of course Donald Trump is a racist. How many other Republican elected officials think that's OK? If not, what do they think?
#racistinchief is trending or so I am told. It may taken generations to cleanse the orange stain off the red,white and blue. But it was already bloodied.
1
Hit the nail on the head, Charles. Out from behind the curtain, Trump proudly proclaims that this is a white man's country and no others belong. If you ain't white, you ain't right.
1
THE ANCIENT PLOT TO ENSLAVE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE CAUCASIAN RACE.
"The poor duped Caucasian Gentiles of the world, were/are blamed for all of the past and present evils of racism, slavery and colonialism.
Caucasians are still being vilified, as being the greatest danger to the world.
The majority of people around the Earth don’t seem to comprehend that the Caucasian race have been and are being manipulated.
That is why racism is still alive and well in nations where the majority of the people are Caucasian Christians.
The rise in racism that we now see among Caucasians, in America and Europe is because their secret masters are stirring their emotions up.
They are much easier to manipulate and control when their emotions are high."
Click below to 'read' the article. Thanks.
https://chiniquy.wordpress.com/2015/07/01/the-all-mighty-creator-does-not-have-a-son/
1
I want to believe there is a bright side to the filth emanating from this man. With every utterance like this, he motivates more young people, more voters of color, more suburban and moderate women and more educated citizens to go to the polls next year.
And vote for his opponent.
1
Yet multimillionaire Nancy Pelosi thinks he is suitable as president. She opposes impeaching him.
His racism and cruelty and bullying is what got him elected.
Why wouldn't he go full throttle with it now? It worked wonders for him before.
And not one Republican has the brains to condemn his racism. Vote them all out. Every single one.
2
If you don’t appreciate being saved by the USA, I don’t want you here. It’s all about gratitude, not racism.
Sorry. I thought this fact was an established a long time ago.
Of course Donald Trump is a raging racist.
But then again, most of us here in his home town of New York City already knew that -- which is why we overwhelmingly didn't vote for him and tried to warn the rest of America about what would happen if they did.
Imagine. The largest and most diverse city in the country, and it produced someone as small minded, bigoted and xenophobic as Donald Trump.
This is the same person who was sued in federal court in the 70s for not renting any of his properties to Black people.
He lost.
This is the the same person who called for the death sentence for the "Central Park Five".
They were innocent.
This is the same person who said tiki-torch carrying neo-Nazis in Charlotttesville were "very fine people".
As a presidential candidate, he was publicly endorsed by white nationalists and the Ku Klux Klan.
And now, we're supposed to be surprised by his recent tweets telling four AMERICAN freshmen Congresswomen to go back where they came from?
America. Wake-up.
4
The United States is in the midst of a political civil war between real Americans and corrupt, racist Republicans who are striving to replace America's traditional pluralistic constitutional democracy with a white supremacist tyranny.
Unless American democracy is rescued from its Russian-Republican enemies, no other issues of any kind whatsoever will matter in the future.
Dictators do not care about public debates - they do as they please.
1
Hilary was the wrong choice by Dems. I voted for her. I always vote Democratic.
But Dem Party is lost in confusion.
Bernie got my $ last time. He would have activated voters, and beaten this #45.
Biden no way. See above...
Now watching Elizabeth Warren for the win.
Women are the key this time.
#45 hates women.
2
There is a question in there about why people who are proud of their cultural heritage would prefer be in this country. It's a stupid, racist, insensitive question, but a large part of America's population doesn't get it. This is a great opportunity to explain why immigrants believe America is the place to be despite their complaints and despite their ties to other cultures. Trump is insensitive, and yes, racist, but we already know that, and there isn't so much to gain by repeatedly pointing it out. Get over your injured feelings and explain why you love America - "immigrants" will benefit by having their love for this country explained to Trump supporters. You can't end racism by screaming "racist!" at the people you think are racists. They're ignorant. This is an opportunity to educate them.
1
Wasn't Trump's father arrested while participating in a Ku Klux Klan march?. Didn't Woody Guthrie write a song about his racism, "Old Man Trump"? Like father, like son. Why are we surprised?
Trump is 100% correct in the thrust of his remarks - that it is the squad who are racists, anti-American and some, anti-Semites.
The Democratic leader, Pelosi, is substantively in agreement, but of course not with his language. Why don't you deal with this reality?
It is interesting and sobering to read comments here asserting that Trump is not racist. Virtually everything that Mr. Blow has recounted has come directly from our president. Trump is obviously pandering to those whom he believes are his strongest supporters. His message is intended to promote civil division. If people have read anything about tyranny that has occurred in the past hundred years they should know that fascism has prevailed in otherwise democratic countries and it is in the process of gaining strength in America. For those who take our democracy for granted, Mr. Blow has issued the latest warning that it is a fragile privilege.
2
Sir, that dog whistle is now a tornado siren. He wants to use the N-word, he needs to use the N-word, he WILL use the N-word. Live and on TV. His fans will swoon in delight, they will declare him the avatar of truth, the purveyor of “ the way things should be “ and a fearless patriot. God sent him to save America, and that absolutely includes taking full and complete ownership and pride in His White Heritage. It’s only a matter of time, when the Campaign gets tough, much more competitive and the Circus Tent starts collapsing. And He will become more confused, combative and ANGRY. Guaranteed.
2
I guess the fact that the Toddler in Chief is a racist needs to be repeated, if only to remind people. But did anybody NOT know this already? Heck, that's a reason a significant part of his base likes him -- they wish that they could be as open about their racism as he is. Not saying that all Trump supporters are racists, mind you, but the converse is pretty much the case.
So well said. Perfect in fact. Thanks so much for this.
2
To Mr Blow's points, I would only add The Almighty Buck to the center of what we grimly call Trump's presidency. I suspect he thinks wealth is his passport to the very rich/very white society he seeks--all evidence to the contrary.
Always hate to read about the division of races in these types of articles. It makes me sad. Is it time to get off the BULLY nasty name calling playground and act like an adult yet?
1
@DonTnooo
“Bully nasty name calling” is teasing a boy who was born with a malformed foot. Calling him “gimp.”
Such behavior is cruel and detestable.
Identifying Donald Trump as a racist is another matter entirely. Trump CHOOSES to be the hateful, prejudiced man he is. He IS a racist.
It is not bullying to acknowledge this fact.
3
You needed yet more proof?
2
By virtue of their policies and the man they unerringly support and who they refuse to ever punish by withholding their votes, Republicans are racist. Each and every single one. Prove me wrong.
8
For $750 per day, you can go on a nice cruise or live in squalor in an immigration detention center. AOC's Squad was 100% right about the aid bill; detention contractors did not need one more penny to fix their moral failings. However, AOC was wrong to call Pelosi racist. This gave Trump an opportunity to be actually racist toward AOC's squad with impunity from the perspective of his base, using AOC's false about Pelosi's racism as cover. Who says Trump is stupid?
1
your phrasing of "like a dog eating its own vomit" is spot on. (no offence to dogs.)
4
@Larry
It is an inept analogy. When my dog eats his vomit I am grateful. He has helped me clean up. No such beneficial ending here.
2
For once, I have nothing to add. This column says it.
4
Trump’s crudeness has rescued “the Squad” for the moment and Democrats are rallying behind them. But note Rashida Tlaib’s comment about the West Bank tour last week: “My city [Beit-Ur al Faqua] is so excited I am possibly going to see her next month.”
I thought Tlaib’s city was Detroit.
@Art Eckstein
I’m guessing “KISS Me I’m Irish” buttons on St. Patrick's Day are highly offensive to you. People can and do retain great affection for the country from which their parents and grandparents emigrated while still loving loving the USA.
If Jared Kushber said “My city of Tel Aviv is so happy I’m possibly going to visit her”, there’d be an absolute explosion in the Left. And charges of “dual loyalty.”
1
Really Mr. Blow, you figured it now? I suppose at some point you will figure it out that Trump is president because he is a bigoted degenerate, a con artist, a criminal - and not despite these things.
But here is what you don't know, and will find out. In 2020, he will get close to 15% of African American votes, 40% of Hispanic votes as well. They too love seeing him stick it to people they don't like. He told them: "you are done for anyway, what have you got to lose?" And they agree with him; watching him have the likes of you throw a fit each day makes them happy.
Everything about Trump that bothers you is exactly what makes him an attractive candidate to just about half of all Americans who vote.
The more you and others point to his "qualities and behaviors" you do not like, the more he endears himself to more and more Americans.
Stop helping him get re-elected. He throws a worm each day, and you swallow the bait.
I know this is a bit of an oxymoron, but Democratic Organization is sorely lacking. They should be registering, setting up commitments to show up to vote, and spending money and energy ensuring the young come out to vote (as they did for Obama).
I have never seen anyone manipulate so many people this convincingly, as does Trump. Of course he is going to be president again; Americans are apathetic and disinterested, too given to equivocation, one too many does not vote, democrats are dumb, and we are plain stupid.
1
Great post, Mr. Blow -- very clear and accurate. Perhaps no one has noticed that the GOP's Carlos Curbello (FL) and Mia Love (UT) lost their seats in 2018. Were they too dark, too foreign for the GOP base? And what should we make of Rep. Amash, son of Palestinian immigrants (the GOP version of Rep. Tlaib), who is being drummed out of the party as we speak?
1
Too much name calling. The Times should not engage in this this kind of high school political strategy. Ad Hominem attacks are not useful in the public forum. Where is the debate of ideas? Where is Michelle Obama's "When they go low, we go high?"
140
@Joyce I respectfully disagree. Charles is not "calling" the President a racist. He is merely pointing out the fact that he is, indeed, a racist to the many who still believe otherwise.
I grant you that it would be much better for us all to debate ideas, but how is that possible when on one side of every issue the argument is based on fabrications. (Not stretching of the truth, mind you, but complete lies).
The days of treating Right Wingers with false equivalence has long passed. It's high time we fought fire with fire.
216
@Joyce
Joyce--This is an opinion piece. This is the author's opinion--not a debate of ideas. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean that the Times should not publish it for people who do like it.
And how is the Obamas' going high working out for the country now? It didn't prevent Trumpf from "winning" the presidency and trashing our country, its people and our democracy.
150
@Joyce It's not ad hominem. There is a PLETHORA of evidence supporting the statement "Donald Trump is a racist". Give it up, already.
It makes one wonder: if a person is so blind to Trump's racism, does that make that person racist themselves? I mean, if they truly are incapable of seeing / hearing his actions, is that not a kind of denial? Because, with him, it is THAT obvious that he is as bigoted as the day is long.
157
The President does not put a gun to the head of America-hating malcontents and force them to issue anti-Semitic tweets and shout such comments. He certainly does not encourage people to pretend that their brothers are their husbands. He did not create the dysfunctional societies in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America so precious to Mr. Blow. They became outhouse countries by their own efforts. Mr. Blow illustrates here the intellectual bankruptcy of the Left. All he can do is brandish the Racism Sword. Like Sir Thomas More, though lacking the philosophical foundation, the President will not bow or be cowed by the relentless attacks of officialdom.
If I was an American I would be ashamed. And very, very scared.
3
Trump racist remarks are a calculated attempt to pander to the (Archie) bunker mentality of his uneducated, white base.
6
In addition to your eloquent appraisal of the true character of this president, can we just add that he's uninformed, ignorant, arrogant, and unrealistic?
4
The New York Times needs to change its policies governing readers' comments about Trump. Polite language simply doesn't cut it when talking about Trump. In the name of truth, honesty and accuracy, drop all rules about language used to talk about Trump.
3
NY Times --you are overdue to get a headline such as the one The Daily Beast has this evening:" Trump is a racist. If you vote for him, you are too."
Stop pussyfooting around the Trump voter. Don't talk to them, don't do business with them. Cut off their oxygen. Don't listen to them on media. Stop watching Fox.
The United States were never united. No country this big can be. A comedian joked recently that the best thing about Europe, unlike the States, is that you can be in another country in under two hours.
Maybe all the liberal, by which I mean non racist states, could secede, leaving the racists to form their own economy and see how democracy works for them.
2
I think that the reason that there are not more comments for this article... is because... how do you respond to someone who has just simply yet eloquently told you the truth... other than... I suppose... to say thank you.
Mr. Blow, in the MAGA vernacular you are being "owned" by Trump. This, for the delight of his followers, was the sole purpose for his vile spew. It brings him psychic rewards when you sputter in helpless rage at whatever atrocity he throws at you. Watching him, we have seen there is only one thing that hurts him: ridicule. He's a demented clown enabled by an army of psychotic mental dwarves, and yet many of us remain constrained by our anachronistic "respect for the presidency". The presidency of before is gone for now and our continued demands for better behavior are worst than pointless, they only prod him to greater lows to amp up our pain and make him "stronger" (in his conception). So, ridicule. It should be our new national project. Let our skies be darkened by Trump Baby balloons.
4
We thoroughly enjoyed flying big mouthed baby trumpet over here and 250,000 of us demonstrated our anger when he brought his circus to our town. He, true to form, LIED and said we were welcoming him to London. You citizens of the USA must not only save yourselves but the rest of the world too. He is shattering our very foundations.
3
@Veronica Brown Thank you very much for that innovation. The other thing Britain introduced to us are insults (ours tend to be bland and stale), especially the Scots. OMG, cannot repeat any in this hear family newspaper, but some pretty much peeled the paint right off my car. Cheers.
1
Omar has a 6% approval rating in her own district, and that has nothing to do with her being black. Her family fled the terrible country of Somalia (which it is), came to America, and hates on America for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a midnight snack of hating on Israel, undoubtedly stoked by her religious bigotry.
The point is the very things she champions are championed in failed countries! There's a correlation that's worth pointing out.
1
What’s truly frightening is that—since Trump is in NO way clever enough to have written those idiotic remarks (they have more than one syllable each)—some *young* raging racist on his staff wrote them for him. And honestly, that’s the scariest part of this new normal scenario.
1
“Opinion” is right anyway
With this tweet our twit in chief has shown that the gloves are off, that dog whistles aren't necessary anymore. The fact that he used a racist tweet to distract from a racist policy only shows the lack of intelligence available. It is also now clear that any who hid their reaction to the dog whistles now stand in open approval of his racist rants or stand and disavow his actions publicly. Put your red hat on or stand with and for equality.
1
Generally, I have very little patience with the 'white people are guilty of all sins" nonsense some people spout, in the same way I have with any "everybody is...." nonsense for any group. And then this idiot opens his mouth and I am once again slapped in the face by the racist rants so beloved by some people in my country.
In my family, we have just about very race via marriage, birth, and adoptions and when I look around I see the same thing in the majority of families around me. trump and his kind had better wake up to the reality of America.
3
Just look at the picture of Trump at the head of this article. You would really have to be color blind not to see that he is way too dark to be called white.
Charles, you are correct in your diatribe. However, for you, of all people to suggest this is like "calling the kettle black", so to speak. ( And please, because I use that particular phrase, do not use it to call me a racist.)
If you recall your Opinion article "It’s All Rooted in White Panic", are you not a racist, as well?
Perhaps, if your Opinion articles were more balanced reading your "opinions" would hold more meaning. However, as you have intimated in your writing over and over again, all white people are racists.
In case you have forgotten, here is a quote from that opinion piece: "Everything that has happened during recent years is all about one thing: fear by white people that they will inevitably lose their numerical advantage in this country; and with that loss comes an alteration of American culture and shifting of American power away from white dominance and white control. White people don’t want to become one of many minority groups in America... "
As I wrote then, a comment that the NYT approved, however, would not publish, "bsb | nyc
Apparently, you have similar ideologies. According to you Mr. Blow, it is all about white people, white power, and racism. If what you write is correct, are you not a racist as well? If you were not so bigoted, perhaps this opinion would have some substance."
Were you really speaking about ALL white people?
So, even though I agree with you, do you really think you are the envoy to present this message?
Just a thought!
It’s so hard to put that genie back in the bottle. Once people with a white supremacist leanings find their voice and see others like themselves come out of their closet the political landscape shifts to somehow make that respectable. Sickening to see.
3
Mr. Blow, you have out done yourself once again. Ever time I conclude a column is your best, you prove me wrong. But I am confident this is your best column ever!!!
1
Ah, another "R" bomb, like Omar's "rebuttal" to Tucker Carlson who tried to explain without such pitiful name-calling why he didn't like her. Some Americans believe that it is irresponsible to use the "R" word in lieu argument. That's not only lazy, Mr. Blow, but in Oberlin it's quite expensive.
They are all white except for Omar. The sooner we get this straightened out the sooner we can work on fixing actual issues. The three of these women who are white who are trying to use an imaginary race card to bring things to heel are repulsive. There is no "brown" race. It's made up.
As such they are just as responsible as Trump.
I'm tired of white people who have a browner complexion pretending they are "other". It's insulting to people of African descent and Asian decent who truly are not of the white race and ARE being persecuted because of it.
I'm surprised Mr. Blow, an educated man such as yourself and an individual who has surly been persecuted for his race buys into this nonsense. It's despicable. And it doesn't help people of ACTUAL color gain any equality.
1
You’re just finding this out? There were a few clues, you know. Such as:
- Trump & his father settled with the DoJ re discriminatory rental practices
- Trump’s full page ad calling for the death penalty for the Central Park 5
- Trump still refusing to accept that the Central Park 5 have been exonerated
- how Trump referred to a Latino judge during the campaign
- Trump referring to A-A women such as Rep. Maxine Waters as “low IQ individuals”
- Trump referring to A-A women such as Omarosa as “dogs”
This is what I can recall of the top of my head. One would think that the paper of record would have a record of many more instances.
2
There is a reason why I wear a blue baseball cap with the words “Make Racism Wrong Again”
1
I agree, Mr. Blow. Why do you think we are just watching?
Yes Charles, you are 100% spot on.
1
If the Confederate States of America were allowed to secede and thus are not a part of the USA, then we could be proud of who we are though racism would still exist, it wouldn’t predominate. And we would not be the greatest threat to world peace in human history.
Somehow we have to lose the South. It’s like having cancer or HIV. It weakens is.
Though we cannot rid ourselves of this pestilence we can dilute their influence by opening the borders and rendering them statistically insignificant.
1
The straight news reporters for the NYT seem incapable of saying this: it's always "that X condemned as racist."
Is it that political reporters cannot say that the president is a Bad Person because that would suggest the presidency can be held a rotten, bigoted, corrupt and incapable person? That's the mindset of court reporters in an ancien regime monarchy.
If trump does not consider anyone who disagrees with him and criticizes not American does that mean I can stop paying taxes? Thank you Charles Blow for your columns- we must never stop calling out evil when we see it.
2
Will Pelosi finally agree to impeach that thing or will she continue to allow him to take this country down the road to fascism?
2
Yes, we get it. He’s a racist. He’s shockingly bad at attempting anything other than lying, and he offends with every move. We know. How about less writing about how terrible he is, and more about how we can legitimately be rid of him.
1
The GOP is now the official party of white supremacy and we are moving along to a dictatorship complete with internment camps . McConnell and Barr are quite content with a white supremacy leaning president freely issuing openly racist tweets. Trump is an evil vile man living in his own narcissistic bubble that sees himself as a living god and reacts to any critique as blasphemy.
2
Trump is a racist. This is a proven fact. Central Park 5, tenant history, “good people on both sides,” endorsed by the KKK, these latest vulgar tweets.
But one has to know that while Trump is a racist, this latest manufactured outrage is Kabuki.
The fact that Epstein, his co-accused of raping a 13-year old girl was arrested must be taken off the headlines. Remember, the FBI seized loads upon loads of discs labeled as “Young [redacted] plus [redacted]” as evidence.
What are the odds that one of these discs is labeled as “Young Katie plus Trump?” Katie is the 13-year old girl who accused Trump and Epstein of raping her and she dropped the charges after getting death threats. Stormy Daniels, anyone?
Ever since the arrest of Epstein, Trump has become more and more unhinged. Look at his tweets. Look at his word salads. Look at his body language and vacant eyes.
Expect more Kabuki from this racist, misogynist, and treasonous deplorable in the coming days.
3
Mr. Blow, there is no doubt about that. The White House has an entirely new meaning. The man is a racist through and through, and so is his cult. We knew that day one.
You can’t get more white than me ( Swedish and German ancestry) I’m disgusted by this incompetent racist fool in the White House.
As someone who has traveled the world for 40 years and continues too, I have long ago stoped thinking of myself as a member of a race other than the human race. Trumps rabid supporters live in isolated little bubbles of whiteness that are being left behind and are lashing out as they see their former power declining year by year. Rather than move into the future the long for the past. This won’t end well for them or their children.
1
Speaker Pelosi-
Can we at least get a censure resolution, so there is at least a smidgen of evidence 100 years from now that the good people of the country, through their representatives, expressed some opposition to this racist blowhard sitting in White House, rather than just wait until the next election (and hope)?
-Concerned Citizen
2
The author once famously said that if you vote for a racist you are a racist. While I believe in this logic many people who voted for Trump say 1. That Trump is not a racist 2. Neither are they. But that’s just the sad truth. By his comments and actions he is a racist who wraps himself in the AMERICAN flag to prove he is not. Sadly his base of deplorables are racists as well. This country is divided between those who stand behind a racist quasi dictator and true freedom for all.
Adage of the day: “a dog will eat its own vomit.”
Donald Trump is what a racist looks like. Do you know who aren’t racists? Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden.
And, yet, identity politics obsessed progressive purists, including every member of the “squad” would have you think so, wouldn’t they. Unfortunately, I’ve resigned myself to Trump winning again.
1
So--based on Blow's view of Trump -- it's a negative? Shouldn't vote for him no matter what? But, then, a Cultural Marxist like Harris or Buttigieg is okay?
Don't think that the "raging racist" broad-brush will stop his return in 2020--been the opposition's point of view since day one, right?
Spot on, Mr. Blow. I'd make just one small edit: "...who better to lead the charge than four women who represent the [remove: future] face of America..."
This will go down in history as Trump's George Wallace moment standing in the doorway to prevent black from going to school. What is next the the dogs and fire hoses?
Looking from outside your country it seems to me that the millions of people strutting around wearing a MAGA hat are openly declaring the are a bigot and a racist. The new white hood!
Silence is also assent I hope all Americans can make it clear to all elect Republicans from the local, state and federal levels, that they will never support them again until the party truely changes. The world is watching you.
2
Sarcastic, condescending, rude, cruel, boorish, moronic, misogynistic language is not necessarily racist. Many racists speak that way because they --wink wink--are not racist, just all of that other stuff which is not --wink wink--racist per se, right? I mean, everyone is entitled to free speech and an opinion, right?
"The president was only expressing his personal opinion," to quote a recently departed White House Press Secretary.
But there is a distinction to be made: racism is stereotyping based on race, not all the blather people likely holding racist views may say. While such persons may say stupid things like "go back where you came from," this phrase is not materially different from the 70's anti-American Republican mantra of "America, love it or leave it." Where is the stereotyping?
Trump may hold racist views. So did Dwight Eisenhower. Which would you rather have in the White House? The more relevant observation is that Trump is a hateful, narcissistic moron, far more dangerous that a simple racist. At least with the racist, you know what to expect.
1
If Democrats want to defeat Trump, they have got to get off the issue of race. Most Americans recoil at racism, still (although too many embrace it). Democrats already get 90+% of the African-American vote, and 70% of Hispanic votes; also a majority of Asian votes. Yet all I hear from Democrats is constant talk about race, ie: going after the voters they already have. This is how Democrats constantly shoot themselves in the foot. Their self-righteousness gets in the way. Democrats have lost the white vote, esp. white working males, and they should not have. Republican policies are terrible for them, and of course for women. Democrats have got to start focusing on women and getting back much of the white male vote. This election is about one thing: getting this dangerous, corrupt criminal demagogue, anti-democracy, fascist, despot-loving Trump out of power. If Democrats keep ignoring the middle and working class white vote to focus on the demographics they already have, they will earn their defeat.
Mr. Blow, I appreciate and agree with your opinion. However, I find it deeply disturbing that this opinion was not written by a white American. Why, when the racist comments are so blantantly obvious, is there not a race to opine on this regardless of color of ones skin. Is it numbness or "not my problem" among white Americans outside the NYT commenting crowd?
Every time a progressive starts wagging her/his finger, I get that sick feeling of four more years of Trump coming on. Not going to win middle America’s vote that way.
2
Donald Trump is not a racist. In order to be a racist you must believe in something, in this case, white supremacy. Donald Trump only believes that he is the greatest and most deserving,human being in the history of the world. Everything else, racism, white nationalism, sexism, lying, cheating, stealing, tweeting, you name it, is only a collection of tools he uses to further his narcissistic agenda of making Trump great again, and again, and again.
Excellent.
I'm sorry the Times sees fit to show that supremely awful and absurdly over dramatized photo of Trump--out of a horror movie-- with this column. We don't need to see it. We know all about him. It is a total turnoff and enflames bad feeling that is already bad enough.
Is the Times using this to market itself to readers? Must we tolerate new definitions of sensationalism?
We want to read the colums, to get the thoughts and views of the columnists. That's why we go to the NYT. Have some respect for us.
@Meredith
Thank you, sister. I hate the photographs they run of him and wish they'd just stop.
How high, how high, howwww hiiiiigh, how high, howwww hiiigh did you say, diiid yooooou say to count to. Sargent to first time flight jumper who stuttered. "You better count to one." Redd Foxx. Trump has stuttered many times about race and the first time was enough to call him racist. He caught on how to tweet but can't complete a sentence. He caught on how to fix his fingers in the racist salute to white nationalist even with his small hands.
The four "mean women" are disgraceful, unpatriotic, un American, and insulting over and over. The socialist democrats hear what they want to hear. As they do not have a 2020 narrative they jump on words of racist and xenophobic; they are all pathetic. This president does not play the politically correct game of avoidance, politeness, farce or anything else. It is scary the four "mean women" are in Congress and they will all lead to the ruination of this country.
"Go back to where you came from" or any similar variation, is and has always been a 100% racist proclamation. Not veiled racism or wink & nod racism, but out and out pure racism. Pure hatred.
My mother is the same age as the guy in the WH. She is second generation Italian. And she was relentlessly taunted as a child/teen with calls of "go back where you came from" and "dirty dego" amongst other vile comments. Her father changed their last name from a very easily identifiable Italian surname to a generic white bread surname. But with Sicilian heritage (gasp, darker skin), the racist comments towards her continued.
"Go back to where you came from" isn't new. Isn't original. These words cut to the core of our original sin in US. White men centuries ago, a generation ago and today feel they deserve to have total and complete power. and they are obviously so insecure in their own intellect & talents they must continually denigrate anyone not fitting into their mold of what "white" constitutes.
And beyond the blatant racism spewed in the Orange Menace's verbal diarrhea via twitter, let's not overlook the overt misogyny. Those of us who are sane reject the racist, sexist pig occupying our WH!
3
If you support racism, you are voting for trump. I dont want to hear that the economy is great because of him.The truth is you want a white America.
1
Is this the point where Trump supporters have to admit that their theory that he would become more Presidential once he was elected was wrong?? Or perhaps..... are they going to suggest it will take another term for him to get around to it? Maybe Kelly Ann Conway will tell us that his becoming more Presidential was just an Alternative Fact ? Why are there a Fox Nation of us... and MAGA Rally Voters among us who still think supporting a Divisive, Chaotic,Dysfunctonal President and Administration is a good idea ? With all the Constant Division,Hirings,Firings,Resignations,Indictments,Convictions,the Access Hollywood Tape,Cohen's Testimony, Mueller's Report and on and on and on...why would there be any Trump support left at all at this point? For those old enough to remember...it's as though Archie Bunker was elected President...Unfortunately we are not All...Happy... In The Family !! Who among us who Voted for this fiasco .. still thinks... this embarrassment of an Administration...the Worst in American History.. is a good idea? It must be like that commercial where they say..If I'm Wrong...I Don't Want To Be Right ? Say it isn't so America !! You can't want to live like this ...STOP THE INSANITY ... We have to get off the CRAZY TRAIN ... it can't happen soon enough !! VOTE 2020...LIKE YOUR COUNTRY and DEMOCRACY DEPEND ON IT !! VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHO !!!
1
"This Guilty Land" - That's all I can think of right now. John Brown's Body is hanging around our neck like a dead chicken.
1
"They're sending criminals and rapists. And some, I assume, are good people"
Describes the makeup of this current administration to a tee. From the top on down.
If there was ever a "chain migration immigrant" who comes from a country that can be characterized as a"corrupt and inept . . . total catastrophe," it was Melania Knaus's Slovenia, where her father was a prominent member of the Communist Party. Not to mention that the First Lady worked illegally in the US before hooking up with Donald Trump.
2
Well, it proves NYTimes readers are getting a disservice by reading this column, and not getting any real insight.
Those 4 Congresswomen were at the top of the news on every channel last night. Everytime they talk about this, those 4 women are the de facto chief of the Democrat Party. And since all 4 have said horrible, extremist, racist, and stupid things, they are now the face of the Democrat Party.
Mission accomplished by Trump.
Trump's tweets don't "prove" he is a "raging racist."
What they prove, instead, is how strong of a leader he is, the strongest in my 71 years of life.
He is strong because everybody reacts to him. He designs the court, makes the rules, is the referee, and creates the plays, and everybody else just plays along, letting him.
People think that by reacting to him, reacting to his tweets, that they are proving something. They are only proving that he is stronger than them. They react to him. He doesn't react to them.
Nobody will go along with this, I know, but the only way to be strong is to not react. Just let it go "swooosh" over your head, and go on with your life and with making other peoples' lives better. Turning the other cheek is the only strong reaction.
But that won't happen. With each reaction to Trump he gets stronger. But people simply LOVE outrage, they are addicted to it in our culture, so they react with outrage.....and he gets stronger.
188
Trump doesn’t react to “them”? He reacts to everything in the most thin-skinned, puerile manner possible! The “tweets” that are the subject of this column were a reaction.
159
@Travelers, everybody reacts to bullies and fools. that does not make them strong either.
Strength in leadership is "Speak softly and carry a big stick'.
Strength in leadership is bringing everyone together as a unified whole, not using divisiveness.
Strength in leadership is not being the loudest racist in the room.
107
@Travelers
Sounds as if "strong" really wows you. As in strong-man dictatorship?
Trust me, the U.S. doesn't want to go there...
110
"Trump is bringing the force of the American presidency to the rescue of white supremacy. And, self-identified Republicans absolutely love him for it."
This answers the common question I hear as to how could so many otherwise good people follow this man? Whether they recognize their white supremacy or not (usually not) it is what drives their otherwise unfathomable loyalty.
1
And just like that, everybody stopped talking about the connection between Trump and Epstein.
1338
@Kathryn Oh, no, they certainly haven't. We are capable of doing many things at once.
48
@Kathryn
THANK YOU!!!!!
The first thing I wondered to myself was oh boy, what is Trump trying to hide now.
Yep, his connection to Epstein.
Please everyone, let's not let this item disappear.
62
@David
Facts not in evidence, my friend.
5
"Make America Great Again" is a false slogan since America has never been great. We have had economic success and success at war but Blow is correct. For my country's entire history we have murdered, raped, pillaged and enslaved all those who are not white.
That American citizens support this openly racist president, that the Republican Party refuses to speak out against this vile tragedy is repugnant to me and to all other true Americans. I don't agree with all that the four women castigated by Trump propose but they have every right as American citizens to speak their minds.
Trump's goal is to distract the country from the devastating things he is doing and to divide those who oppose him. Americans of all races need to stand together against this repugnant racist reboot. Racism is evil and so are those who support it.
1
A solid portion of amerikkkans is supporting Trump(33%).And they want a racial war...
1
Just another clever diversionary tactic. Trump is not a racist. He is an embarrassment and a disgrace. A tyrannical, narcissistic sociopath but not a racist. This is an attempt to further breakdown the Democratic party - and it is working.
I just wish for 1 day (24 hours) the news media reported nothing about Trump. Nothing. The worst thing for Trump and his ego is the feeling of "not being relevant".
1
Those were not racist tweets. But give the NY Times commentariat a chance to virtue signal, to attack Trump, to show their general inability to think for themselves and sputter left wing dogma, they will.
Donald Trump deserves no defense, but please, people, please try to understand what is really going on. Trump is just the tip of the ice berg of the explicit exploitation and advocacy of racism/bigotry in America by the Republican Party and, in particular, by the Evangelical so-called "Christians," who, we now know, will stoop to any form of indecency, lying, corruption and, indeed, even torture of little children, to achieve their political objectives. Ever since LBJ signed the voting rights legislation, and, then, God forbid, an uppity black man became president, this evil has festered, and now its out in the open with Trump--and Republicans and "Christians" are silent!!
As an American white man, one who grew up in New York, all I can say is this president* embarrasses me every single day. These comments are beyond shameful and embarrassing, this is actually depressing to think there are actually people out there defending this perversion. Just look at Lindsey Grahams defense of Trump, calling "the Squad" communists - I am becoming doubtful we will survive one term of Trump - a second would be our end...
3
I am saddened that no amount of vitriolic Tweets Trump spews at everyone who dislikes/disagrees with him will reduce the support he gets from his base. The fact that ICE is now behaving like Gestapo will not reduce the support. Sadly, we have a state TV (i.e. Fox) that amplifies his messages.
1
Trump time and time again has proven he is racist, inept, undiplomatic, unempathetic, dangerous, unstable, ignorant, narcisstic and so on. But Trump is one person and should have been dismissed long ago. The greater problem is that so many people support him, including the spineless Republicans in Congress, who refuse to stand up to him. And the very sad part is that the "racism in the people who support him" will continue as Trump day after day adds fuel to this raging fire.
1
There can be no revolution (change) unless people show up to fight (vote).
In 2008, people of all ages, races and ethnicities stood in lines -- for up to 8 hours -- all over the country -- to hear Obama speak, and then again for early voting, and then again for the general election. I know, because I did all those things, and I saw the incredible diversity of the people who waited for hours for Obama to speak and who waited for hours to vote. And believe me, in Florida, it's no picnic waiting outside -- standing -- in the heat and humidity. What was amazing was the way that everyone was talking to each other; people who had never met before and would never meet again. Others brought cold water and even snacks. Many gave up their places to seniors in wheelchairs.
All of that has gone away. And, if it doesn't come back, Trump will win.
Why has it gone away?
Increasing gerrymandering, more and more limitations on early voting, especially Sunday voting, and increasing voter suppression through many methods.
But, it's more than failing to vote. The protests votes, for Johnson or Stein? And, that was not limited to the youth vote. Both my 19 year old nephew and 57 year old sister did that. They say they have a right to a protest vote. I say, yes, you do......but why bother? What did it get you to vote for someone who could not win and then effect changes you want?
People died for the right to vote. Wasting it is a right, but appalling.
2
It's telling that the vast majority of what the President says wouldn't be allowed in this comment section.
"and many of his supporters and defenders — spew their racism and tell themselves that it is perfectly acceptable when it is read back to them, in much the same way that a dog will eat its own vomit." I love the image. And if these racists don't get it that people of color have always contributed to the US in innumerable ways, maybe they will get it when there are no white people to pick up their garbage or change their bed pans in assisted care facilities. Thanks!
2
President Trump is the "All American President".
President Trump tells it like it is.
MAGA
@Kurt VanderKoi
"I love the poorly-educated..." DJT telling it like it is.
7
The many who have never support this clown and have known all along that he is a racist this is no surprise. But for the many Trump supporters this should erase all pretense that this is so and if still a supporter you are now along with the other infractions are associated with a racist let that sink in as you continue to support Trump. He was and has always been a flawed candidate. Is currently the worst President in recent history.
2
"White people and whiteness are the center of the Trump presidency. His primary concern is to defend, protect and promote it. All that threatens it must be attacked and assaulted. Trump is bringing the force of the American presidency to the rescue of white supremacy. And, self-identified Republicans absolutely love him for it."
He does appeal to a certain demographic this is certain, nevertheless, Trump is first and foremost an opportunist. He instinctively discerns which audience and grievance to play to.
One should not be mislead by his behavior nor his emphasis. A significant part of his appeal is not racist, racist though he may be; it is a sense of betrayal. A financialized US economy, directed by "priviliged white males", accomplished not only the further impoverishment of People of Color (POC) in this country but also many white middle class individuals. Lost factory jobs, lost retirement, lost health insurance, and lost opportunity plague all classes even if they disproportionately afflict POC.
Trump is more a reaction to our Failed Power Elite (so-called leaders) of both political parties than anything else. Look how he neutered the GOP establishment and then did well enough in the general election to defeat another esconced member of the Failed Power Eite (Hillary Clinton).
In times of discontent and anxiety all humans regress to tribalism. This is not the best way to fight the elite rather it plays into their hands.
The silence of the GOP is deafening.
This is the party of racism.
3
The bigoted, racist, misogynistic stance of Trump and all those who follow him cannot be denied by any sane person of any political persuasion. And that bigotry is being spread by a man with clear, unequivocally authoritarian motives. The country is indeed in grave danger, not solely because of Trump, but because so many follow him. Any citizen and any Republican who does not loudly condemn this president and his actions is complicit. And without shame — and that is the darkest danger. When there is no shame, there is no bottom, no low to which they will not sink, no cruelty they will not embrace.
Trump’s most basic insults are what he sees when he looks in the mirror. Can anyone tell me whose government meets this description? “[These] governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all).”
1
If it walks like a duck...
1
"Racist" card has been using too much more than the enough by the lefty, just like The Boy Who Cried Wolf story. SMH, it is meaningless or at least not that bad for most of the ordinary people...
Everybody is racist, that why Trump could tweet those words without any hesitation...
It's a matter of semantics. I do not think he is a raging racist just a bigot and rabble rouser.
If he thought supporting you Mr. Blow, as an identity obsessed, social engineer, who sees race in every issue, would have helped him become president he would have supported you.
1
The president will say absolutely anything to get re-elected. That's why he lies so often. Call him mentally ill or even dumb like a Fox, but do not attach labels like racist to someone who has no moral underpinnings. He'll claim he is a woman if it will get him re-elected.
2
“But, Trump — and many of his supporters and defenders — spew their racism and tell themselves that it is perfectly acceptable when it is read back to them, in much the same way that a dog will eat its own vomit.”
Yowsa. What a perfect metaphor.
1
Trump's tweet showed that he can still troll the media and change the narrative.
His tweet is not the headline across the country. And the media is not covering flooding in Louisiana or detention centers in Texas.
You guys take the bait every time.
2
“But, Trump — and many of his supporters and defenders — spew their racism and tell themselves that it is perfectly acceptable when it is read back to them, in much the same way that a dog will eat its own vomit.“
This is true on soooo many levels.
This is a sad comment on our country but an honest one. Let the healing begin by voting this racist out of office.
1
Democrats be careful. Trump’s racists words tend to also work as bait. They bait Democrats into talking about open borders and lax immigration policy. Trump’s opinion doesn’t matter to most people. To counter his incendiary remarks you may feel the need to defend yourself but that’s what he wants. He wants America to see you talk about your Non-American ancestry. Then the twists comes, he compares your defense of your foreign ancestry with his tough stand on immigration and all of a sudden you look like you want open borders and no consequences for illegally crossing the boarder. Don’t fall for it!
3
@JimH
Right...but they have, and they will continue to do so.
He's getting exactly the response he intended...all you need to do is peruse these comments. People forget -- many of those who voted for Obama also voted for Trump. They don't believe he is racist, and they don't believer -- and frankly are not -- racist. But when the racist card gets trotted out, and his voters by inference are also slurred, they become appalled at Democrats.
Yes, Trump is a racist. That’s not news.
But these foul tweets demonstrate that Trump has determined that fanning his racist base with this kind of ignorant nativism is his best chance to get reelected. If he can paint the Squad as the face of the Democratic Party, he can harness America’s “congenital disease” one more time in support of the Republicans.
3
So why is the republican symbol an elephant? Seems to me it should be a nest of crickets
1
While Trump constantly demeans women of all colors, shapes and sizes, where is his daughter Ivanka on this? She needs to be called on her support for a man as disgustingly sexist as her father. She can no longer be allowed to hide behind her false agendas.
3
Whether Trump is a racist or not is seriously irrelevant. We know he is a narcissist. We know that a Trump Presidency could not have transpired unless it was preceded by the Presidency of a Black Man in the White House. The ugliness that was awakened in this country by a Black President did not escape Trump's attention. Thus his embrace and furtherance of the Birther Movement. Trump understands branding and marketing. He knew he could ride the ignorance and bigotry of a significant portion of this country to the Republican nomination. Clinton's pathetic campaign of polls, focus groups and Identity politics played right into the hands of Trump and gave him the Presidency, which he did not expect. What we have to understand is that when Trump is on the trash heap of history as a vulgar buffoon, we will still be left with that "Make America Right (White) Again" and the mindless " Promises Made, Promises Kept" crowd. It is the one third of this country, that wraps itself in a flag but refuses to honor the principles that flag represents. This will be our challenge, to Make America Right Again.
1
Proof? Did we need proof? We have known this, we know this, this is not news...
America is spiralling down into the cesspool and no one has the courage to stop it. On one hand, the Republicans—and the 40% or so of Americans who support them—are giddy with delight at the way the country is debasing itself. On the other hand, a very large portion of Democrats, maybe the vast majority of middle-aged and older White Democrats, like to think of themselves as progressive, but clearly resent non-Whites expressing views that challenge America's status quo. Pelosi keeps trying to silence the non-White progressives in her caucus and belittle their points of view. In this way, she's a fellow traveler with Trump. Not overtly racist like Trump, but saturated with unconscious bias. Racists like Trump hate these women. But wealthy, comfortable, well-established liberals also don't like the disruption threatened by these young women. The status quo is good to them. They don't really want change if it inconveniences them too much. Trump will put children in cages. Wealthy liberals will complain, but if saving the children means missing a paycheque, the liberals will be sure to save the paycheque.
That's America for you today. It's all bad. The sooner it drowns itself in its own excrement, the better.
1
I wonder when Mitch McConnell will have had enough,
"Born in Taipei to Chinese parents who had left mainland China..." that's the bio of Elaine Chao, Mitch McConnell's wife..
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Rep Ayana Pressley "We don't need any black faces, that don't want to be black voices". Rep Ilhan Omar "All about the Benjamins". Not only did liberals not condemn these racist quotes, they made excuses for them. The left seems to be obsessed with racism, but are selective about applying it.
Sure he is a racist and less of one that he fakes being.
But what is this diversity you talk about?
Sure I know it is a cant word of a particular cult but it doesn’t mean anything.
There is about as much biological and cultural diversity in”white” complexioned Americans as the ones not to labeled and boxed up. Check it out.
To tell someone to "go back to where they came from" is a NOT polite at all way of saying "We don't wan;t your kind here: go away." It is both an intensely personal and a fundamentally tribal, xenophobic one (and i refuse to say "racist", because the whole social concept of "race" when it comes to human beings, is totally and utterly invalid - has been from the start) Its saying "Me, those like me, and those i like... OWN this country - you don't belong. Get the heck off of our property." To a certain extent this has ALWAYS been the fundamental worldview of the invading Europeans (well, at least a subset of them.... some were in fact very tolerant of diversity, and Christian in their acceptance of all people): it wasn't until 1955 that non-Europeans were offered the right of citizenship.. that's within the lifetime of a great many of us!! This out-dated, archaic and profoundly disturbing way of thinking must be fought tooth and nails - by example first, but also by any and all means possible. The very future of our "civilization" depends upon it.
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He is not only a racist but a misogynist as well. Look at his track record. He is obviously terrified of women in power who are not afraid to use it.
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The Times correctly pointed out that Bill Clinton, LBJ, Ronald Reagan and George Bush made comments that were obvious truths and were still (incorrectly) called racists. The truth is that the Democratic Party and far left progressives have hijacked the term and rendered it meaningless. If Trump is a racist then so is Pelosi.....according to AOC and this author. This war of words and mis-representation is tiresome and pointless and Democrats and The Times need to focus on the real problems and truths plaguing our society. Both are losing this debate while empowering Donald Trump.
No, Mr. Blow, Trump is not a racist, you are one for calling him a racist. At least that is how he and his doting band of deplorables see it. That is what he is calling the four congresswomen -- to call him out on his racism is racist. By this brilliant piece of logic, President Obama was a racist for having become president of a majority white nation.
Thank you, Mr. Blow. You totally nailed it!
Hopefully, enough folks on the right, in the middle, and on the left are appalled to the point where they get out of their houses in November of 2020 and vote this racist out of office.
2
Hmm, I wonder, is Mrs. Trump going back home too?
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Trump is nothing other than a traitor to America. To my mind, so is every single Republican. Full stop.
2
Are the billionaire right wing extremists like the Kochs, Adelsons, Mercers, Thiels etc., pleased to have used their fortunes to place ignorant racist Trump in the White House to undo everything America has fought and died for? Shame on them and the Republican leadership for inflicting the unbearable disgrace Donald Trump on the United States.
3
It might be instructive to return to the kidnap-torture-mutilation-murder of Chicagoan Emmett Till in Mississippi in the last days of August, 1955.
His sin was allegedly wolf-whistling at a white woman in a run-down store, saying to her, “Bye, baby,” as he departed. Fast-forward some 60 years. Carolyn Bryant, the exemplar of pure, white womanhood,” who was supposedly savaged by the young black boy, told an author that the encounter was a lie. “Nothing happened,” she admitted. Then why this “nothing” that ignited the civil rights movement?
Mrs. Bryant was exercising her casual free, white privilege to be what she wanted to be. She saw a black person as an irritant and got her society and its oppressive culture to remove the offending presence, no matter how benign. It was a fatal demonstration of power by a dominant, repressive mechanism to subjugate a marginalized “subgroup” of supposedly “sub-humans.”
It was so very American. It’s so very now.
When the American president disparages four duly-elected Congressional representatives of not belonging to their constituents; that their presence in Washington is an unforgivable affront to “white decency,” then he has given official government voice to the undercurrent that has always lain beneath the surface of the waters that we know as the United States of America.
The president told the world that the four women do not belong; that they can be mistreated and disgraced and defaced, much like Emmett Till was.
What’s new?
I continue to be confused why these types of articles are in the Opinions section.... Saying Trump is a racist is just as subjective as saying an Earthquake hit CA last week.
I'm 73 years old and I've yet to meet a Republican who wasn’t a “raging racist”. Well perhaps not Colin Powelll but I never actually met him
1
Wonder how many times he screamed that at his wives.
From this moment on when referring to President Trump I suggest all media (and I mean 'all' including television reporters) entitles him "The Racist President Trump".
1
Of course Trump has a soft spot for the white nationalist philosophy , "some very fine people," and a disdain for non-whites. His true self is inadvertently revealed in his tweets, where his thoughts gush out without any intermediaries to edit them. His measured speeches, those that are edited and on the teleprompter (not his rally riffs) , those speeches hide his malevolence to minorities, migrants and "others". But the tweets present him as he is---a hateful narcissist , who loves to terrorize. That he tells A O-C to go back to Puerto Rico as if that were a foreign country is mind-boggling. Doesn't he know that P.R. is part of America? But beyond all reason, this use of tweets to insult and to demean those who do not agree with him says more about how incompetent and vicious he is than it says about the targets of his tantrum rage.
The party's divergence percalated around increased border funding, but it was long simmering and this isn't Ms. Pelosi's first attack. There here are some 24 members of the democrats "Problem Oppressor" Caucus (so-called problem solvers) led by Constitutionally traitorous white male NJ legislator Josh Gottheimer. Ms. Pelosi has not shamed and individually named or encouraged their enlightenment and cooperation, as they are openly supporting ugly Republican initiatives, trading their leverage, when democratic unity was a strength. Perhaps to deflect and shield Ms. Pelosi's favored members, she attacks minority members by name, while republican leaning democrats then chastise mere mention of any Problem Oppressors by name. Why? To shield these traitors and bury progressive values? Why don't the Problem Oppressors instead explain the rationale behind further funding child abuse and imprisonment of innocent foreign visitors? Ms. Pelosi marginalizes the work of four novice women changing the world, to the obvious protection and advancement of the Problem Oppressors who inherently represent additional equity for Republicans. Why bother with any majority if democrats are voting Mitch McConnell's agenda?
Ms. Pelosi's proactively corrosive comments and complicit leadership is obviously intended to undercut and intimidate these minority women, and the constituent voices they represent. That she is in political alignment with her defender, racist in chief, is of her own concoction.
BET founder Robert Johnson praises Trump, says Democratic Party 'moved too far to the left'.
Candace Owens - Trump isn't a racist.
Charles, we already know that Trump is a racist. Someone needs to tell Republicans that this should matter to America.
Divide and conquer.
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Trump is a new version of "The Ugly American."
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No Kidding. Omar is an anti-semite. Definitely time to go home. These know nothings are enjoying their 15 minutes of fame. We need change in the White House
as a priority. Then a return to bi-partisanship in the Congress. I won't comment on the Court because we
probably need a Constitutional Convention to repair
that.
Too bad your paper won’t label the Tweets “racist” instead of letting others label them. All appearances, and Trump’s own history - remember his and his daddy’s little discriminatory housing problem? - point to him being a racist. Journalism is about assembling information to see if there’s a conclusion that can fairly be drawn. On this one, it’s clear.
Meh! It's good that the voters in all 50 states get to vote for President. Saying someone is a racist does not make it true. Just like saying some is colluding with Russians does not make it true. When the President wins the 2020 election in a landslide maybe you'll understand that not everyone lives in an echo chamber and not everyone buys the propaganda.
@rmacdon1
They who are you reading the NYT if you're so afraid of 'propoganda?'
Omar et al are vile. They wish to remake American society in their collectivist, third world image, and use the censorship tactic of political correctness to achieve their ends. Being tolerant does not mean having the mantra of diversity ringing in one’s ears or to accept the left’s version of American history.
Good for President Trump. His intemperance regarding 2019’s Gang Of Four was refreshing. He metaphorically gave them the finger, and, to paraphrase the punchline of an old joke, he does not like their horses, either.
If this is not grounds for impeachment, along with all the other outrageousnesses, I don't know what is.
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Independent view: Trump may be a raging nationalists but no more racist than Pelosi.
The dog whistle is now a foghorn. And his apologists keep providing cover for his affronts to our national dignity.
Is it racist to not believe diversity is our strength? If so then reality is racist.
Send him back to Scotland!!
Mr. Blow has put sound rational arguments on the table, and it is a moral imperative to cope and deal with them. Not wishing to diminish their importance in any way, I suggest that another reality needs to be coped and dealt with as well, namely the antisemitism on the Democratic Left which vilifies Jews indiscriminately, many of whom worldwide are people of color.
1
Birds tweet.
Trump has been a racist at least since the 1980s when he paid for a full-page ad calling for the death penalty for the juvenile black and Hispanic Central Park Five. AOC is correct—Trump doesn’t see her, Omar, Tlaib, and Pressley as Americans, though all four are, three born in the U.S. Trump has advanced from racism to white Christian identity politics, with a drumbeat of racist, authoritarian, and patriarchal messages. No populism—his 2020 budget breaks his 2016 promise, cutting Social Security and Medicare. No future vision—Keep America Great. Trump exalts America, excluding undocumented immigrants, while denouncing minority and women activists, the media, Democrats, and the urban liberal elite. Trump’s America is 40% of the population, like Hitler’s, who never received more than 40% in elections. Trump wants a second term but if he loses—will he stay in power?
@Bruce Shigeura
We should try to remember that being American is more about following a set of values than where you happened to be born. Naturalized citizens are Americans.
Applying this definition to Trump would disqualify him as an American. He has no discernible values except those of the monetary kind.
Interesting, last week AOC criticized Nancy for being racist. Is there any way that you can criticize anyone of color and not be a racist?
His father arrested at a KKK meeting, Donald and his father entering a "no contest plea deal" in a discrimination case bought by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. I don't need to read this president's twitter tirade to recognize that he is a racist.
I’m a proud sicilian american who was told to go back where he came from on several occasions in the past. When I see what a third world cesspool this country is turning into with the likes of the “ squad “ in congress, the southern border being overrun etc;
I’m starting to think about taking those people up on their request. Sicily is looking better and better everyday.
@Fat Dom Gamiello
My grandmother's generation remembered you third-world Sicilian boat-people coming ashore to "infest" lily-white America. And what have your people done for us since then?
"Racist"? LOL It has absolutely nothing to do with race; it's all about their horrible extremist political stances! Anyway, the word "racist" is thrown about so causally and frequently that it really has no real meaning inherent to it anymore.
I am of the opinion that the press calling him a racist, anti immigrant, anti women, tax evading philanderer, will only help him get reelected. His base likes that.
We should make him just the opposite. He loves jews( daughter is a Jew), very compassionate (ask Giuliani), not rich and has been loyal to his wife. That 30% will run from him.
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Now we are engaged in a great Civil War. It’s just not the shooting kind (unless you’re not white).
If Speaker Pelosi can’t muster 218 votes to censure this monster, she might as well go back to Pacific Heights and stay there.
Impeach or vote the racist Trump out of office.
To not be disgusted by Trump's racism means a racist stares at you in your mirror.
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Charles, this paragraph is pure brilliance: "But, Trump — and many of his supporters and defenders — spew their racism and tell themselves that it is perfectly acceptable when it is read back to them, in much the same way that a dog will eat its own vomit."
But you forgot to include dogs will show shame when confronted with eating their own vomit. The racist-in-chief and his fans have demonstrated they have no shame. They relish in being as vile as humanly possible. And as evidenced in some comments here, their reasoning involves "making liberals' heads explode" and the like.
We are living amongst a disgusting subset of humanity lead by the racist in the WH. So demoralizing.
1
"If the left is focused on race and identity, and we go with economic nationalism, we can crush the Democrats." - Steve Bannon, The American Prospect 08/16/2017.
Why do we trouble comparing Trump to Hitler? It is considered an extreme comparison but it's not. I know women who don't support abortion rights and have been brainwashed into believing it's worth giving up everything else for -- soon it will be birth control, next our jobs, then driving, and eventually we won't be allowed to leave the house without a male escort. Women are just one of the marginalized groups who are on Trump's hit list, but we are the only ones that a portion of which are willingly giving up civil rights to our oppressors. Stand Up Fight Back!
1
In case anyone had any doubts, the presidential election in 2020 will be run by the Trump campaign as a second Civil War.
Quite obviously, Donald Trump, a son of a Scottish born mother, husband of a Slovenia born wife only objects to Americans with backgrounds that are not European when criticizing immigrants. How anyone can deny his racism without a Mitch McConnell smirk affixed to their puss is beyond me.
Wake up! Trump has been killing any morality left in today's America. It is sickening to see Trump destroy America, daily, every which way he can. It never stops.
He’s a Race Arsonist. Using race, and hate, to gain re-election.
It’s that simple.
Racism is why his deplorable supporters support him. His racism is a feature, not a bug.
Diversity is highly overrated.
1
Beyond racism, and misogyny, Trump is profoundly ignorant. He appears not to know that three of the four Congresspersons he is smearing were born in the USA. Or that we are a nation of immigrants. In a word, Trump is a deplorable human being.
White supremacy responds with brutality and cruelty against other races who do not bow down to them, as Mr Blow stated. The comparison of the US civil war is helpful to understand this racism of current white supremacists(or those Trump supporters who revel in it while denying its existence to themselves and others). Of course, in the Civil war of the US, the Southern states had a population of 5.5 million not enslaved while the North had 18.5 million not enslaved(national parks service). The South amounted to just under 30% of the total population. Their battle did not end at the Appomattox courthouse. it raged on through the Civil war reconstruction, the Plessy vs Ferguson case, into the twentieth century. White supremacists, wittingly or unwittingly, found a champion in Trump and they wage their war of supremacy with renewed intensity. Why do you think David Duke is pro-Trump. We need impeachment to start now. It does not matter what Senate does. Ten months of scathing hearings which highlight his immoral and implicated criminal behaviors will make him impossible to reelect. Otherwise, Russian intrusion, voter suppression, and election felonies could make him the illegitimate president again. The former Southern states of slavery mandated the electoral college as a requirement to join the union. It negates so many of our votes in California and other states, and it focuses campaigns only on a few swing states where voter suppression can affect outcome. Abolish it now.
No, I think Mr Blow is quite wrong in this assessment, that Trump is demanding assimilation and bowing to others' customs. He is demanding exclusion, let's be honest. He is demanding the suppression of nonwhite votes, their minimizing in districting (which his Supreme Court has renounced as not their concern), and he denies every obligation to uphold the Equal Protection of all Americans. By no stretch of the imagination, is this a question of assimilation. Its tyranny and intimidation.
1067
@Carter Nicholas
I respectfully disagree. Trump is much smarter and more devious than most give him credit for. He isn't suppressing nonwhite votes by doing this - if anything he's probably firing up POC. What he is doing is announcing that these congresswomen will be the target of his ire, the tool he will use to bludgeon the Democrats into division and eventually another lost election. Why? Because these congresswomen are playing right into his hands. They can't see the forest for the trees. They can't or won't moderate their message or consider how they are dividing the Democratic party. He's going to use that to his advantage. He's going to say - vote for Democrats - and you're going to get hyper-liberal socialism. Sorry folks but that's a competitive platform on which to run a national campaign. AOC and the rest need to wake up and stop shooting themselves and the rest of the party in the foot for some purity test.
13
@Carter Nicholas I respectfully disagree. Trump has NO PROBLEM getting along with colored people who tow the Republican policies of anti-environmentalism, pro-rich, pro-corporate-power, pro-short-term-profits, pro-military, pro-Bible.
Exactly as Mr. Blow writes here, Trump simply wants minorities to assimilate to the corrupt Republican policies, and to stop coming across the border.
3
@John. You're giving him too much credit, but I agree with the damage they are doing to the Democratic party, and the country. Trump is hideous, but if Omar, Tlaib, Ocasio-Cortez, and pressley carry on like this, they will alienate voters despite being the target of his racism.
6
Nancy Pelosi immediately defended the Congresswomen Trump attacked and decried the prejudice behind Trump’s words, even spelling out that Trump’s agenda has been to make America white again. For all the differences Ms. Pelosi and these legislators have had, she will rally behind them and stand up for what is right. What a difference between them and Republicans.
3483
@NMI was happy to recommend your post, and I would like to add a comment, to wit, for Trump to take sides like that might just drive them together. People in a family may well quibble and scrap among themselves all the time -until an outsider decides to get involved. Then, suddenly, ranks close. Thanks for the help, POTUS!
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@GWBear
"shockingly snarky takedow"
all she said, in answer to a question about division in the Caucus, was that all they got on a specific vote was their own 4 votes. That was a fact, not snark, although, in spite of so many important problems to solve and unified House votes in the interim, so many people with nothing better to do have been talking about nothing else for a week
160
@NM
To all those replying to your comment.
This is NOT ABOUT PELOSI! Each and everything you say may (or may not) be valid and true, but every moment spent focusing on the Democrats' in-fighting is a moment not spent protecting our democracy from this clear and present danger that is our president.
Charles writes one of the most important and articulate opinion pieces I have ever read, and within moments, the focus has shifted away from the subject of his article.
Please, my fellow citizens, there is clear and present danger threatening our very democracy. Let us keep our attention on that.
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This white man, let's define him. An adulterer, a cheat, a con man, with cruel instincts and who speaks with a limited vocabulary but has mastered the code language that is clearly understood by his white supremacist base.
Now let's define who is base is. We make the mistake of just calling the blue collar non college educated whites as his base. The reality is his base is much bigger than that. These include well educated white men and women, your neighbors with whom you socialize and who in polling will never admit to be his supporters but in reality they harbor deep insecurities and resentments against anyone not of their skin shade. These are the people he is speaking to. His blue collar base will vote for him regardless. That's a given. This second category of his base is what he is nervous about and who he is speaking to with his disgusting tweets.
I must be a racist for not seeing racism in his quotes. Albeit foolish and childish, I am not seeing the racist part. My interpretation of this is that his remarks were guided solely at the Somali born Congresswoman. I say this because, Out of all of the women that the media is assuming he is referring to, she is the only foreign born and she does in-fact come from a lawless country in shambles. I believe the remark(s) was referring to the gross lack of experience rather than racism.
With the help of a few talking heads, we have learned over the past several years that even the most benign can be touted as racism. This is the state we are in.
If you cant argue based on facts, call it racism, its a sure-fire win.
1
Today a neighbor warned about an encounter with ICE in a neighborhood app. I couldn't believe to see how many of my neighbors were happy to see a neighbor family separated! the glee killed my heart.
Neighbors whose children take the same school bus and say hi when walking their dogs.
Trump had awoken something ugly, a daemon within all of us. I wonder if Evangelicals in my neighborhood would be happy to occupy the house when remaining household cannot afford the mortgage. Maybe that is the reason for that glee, worshipping wealth at any cost.
590
@A What you describe happening in your own neighborhood is horrifying. Its feels as if we're morphing into another country altogether...
39
@A
I am not one of those who has had a daemon awoken by Trump. Please do not lump all of us in that category. In fact, my opinion is the opposite. I think Trump has awoken a daemon in a small group of Americans but oppositely Trump has disgusted far more of us in our country. Nancy, Impeach Trump now.
21
@A Yes, it’s the gleeful cruelty of it all that truly fills me with despair.
35
"America was born with a congenital illness...Challenging America to own its sins and live up to its ideals... [is] an act of patriotism. "
The American Indian did not know the meaning of the word "patriotism", just like they didn't know the meaning of the word, property as we understand it.
Did the slave know the meaning of the word patriotism or property? Was the abolitionist movement an outgrowth of "patriotism" or human empathy?
Patriotism is a fiction - a cardboard cutout. Patriotism IS the illness, and racism IS a predictable symptom.
For better or worse, humanity is the only reality and the only hope.
1
We are also watching a vicious reaction to the Obama presidency. Apparently there is still a lot of boiling anger and hostility to eight years of having a black family living in the White House. I agree that this is a dark chapter in our country. It's also depressing. Obama embodied everything many white nationalists abhor--changing demographics, and inspired inclusive leadership.
3
I believe what drives this racism is an even broader and deeper cruelty and sociopathy that is now a putrid hallmark of this president, his administration, his party, and many of his supporters.
And it is now becoming more and more overt. This strikes me as unprecedented in American politics. And it is frightening. If we do not fight it and prevail, this nation will lose its moral soul.
2
"This is the second time Trump has weighed in on the dispute between Pelosi and the congresswomen."
I honestly think Trump was jealous of all the attention that the Pelosi-AOC-Tlaib-Omar dustup was getting, and being Trump, desperately needed all eyes back on him. As far as the racist nature of his statements, let’s not forget that Trump’s political origin story is the “birther movement,” which questioned the American-ness of another powerful person of color, Barack Obama.
2
OH it must be grandly gideous
To know I'm not as hideous
As those neathreathalic creatures
who support the monster who is resident
And pretends to be our president
A joy to ever keep
To know their company I will never seek
And instead choose an air so rarified
That even I am often terrified
Of the wonder of the wonderfulness of me
Oh yes I loved Obama
And ignored the whiteness of his mama
as we shared the instant karma
Of races bound together
By our common humanity
Oh my virtue simply oozes
From every inch and every pore
It flows onto the carpet and out the door
To share with those less fortunate
Than those with perfect souls like me.
I am simply so much better
than those who do not matter
I am someone the right folks must adore.
For it's people like me
As everyone should see
That will be the ones to ensure
Our democracy is restored
Who cares whose rights we trample
Our justification's ample
As those Russians (though a small sample)
Stole our democracy with emails and facebook ads
And left our country in such tatters
So join together sisters and brothers
As we kick these sorry mothers
From the halls of congress, the supreme court
and show evil Trump the door.
Our cause is just and pretty
Just like Trumps is down and dirty
We'll run him out of town on a rail in 2020
Or if lucky sometime before
And his evil soul shall never darken the purity of our country anymore.
1
He’s finally found a subject in which he has some expertise. He knows what words to use and how to find targets for them.
He isn’t worthy of occupying the place where we had President Obama, he isn’t fit for much beyond reality tv.
3
I am distressed by all the name calling on both sides. We are fast approaching the point where a Democrat so much as making eye contact with Trump will be accused of not showing sufficient disapproval. Reading the replies to Mr. Blow's piece, it is evidently comforting to call Trump a racist and a fascist, but is this unbridled anger going to win the election?
Perhaps Trump or We The People should tell 4 of Trumps 5 children to go home and take their mothers with them as well as the chain migrating grandparents. His children are no more or no less American than the women Trump told to go home and they certainly have contributed far less to advancing democracy and what it means to be American than the women working in Congress.
2
Times like these, the New York Times as well as other news media, have to stop giving Trump attention. It is exhausting, depressing and hurting our youth and our world image.
Sadly, there are many Americans who connect with Trump and the more exposure he gets, the more followers he recruits.He loves attention and makes sure he shocks us enough so we could read and write about him 24/7.
Like a child, he says the first think that comes to his mind and always whines, complaints and tries to convince us he is normal and a genius. Many poor minded people believe what he says.
Our country has become a circus and Trump is our ring leader.
Let’s stop this charade, stop writing about him, stop showing his photos and let’s replace him with photos of children in cages, with photos of poor neighborhoods and even photos of American casualties in war zones. Forget the perpetrator, just publish his crimes and the affect on the US.
Explain the request by the GOP
to increase the debt ceiling. Decode policies passed for common Americans to understand. Media could help Americans wake up
before the next election. We have been waiting for true patriots
to reveal this imposter but sadly, nobody came forward. I hope the media reverses course and starves him of attention.
There is a thread here that is worth considering. Trump is childishly and dangerously playing with fire, but it's a fire that he sees as useful to his agenda, his continued presidency, and his remaining unimpeached and possibly out of jail. The left, often led by voices such as Mr. Blow's, responds in predictable fashion every single time. It's not acting, it's only reacting, daily.
I don't agree with Mr. Blow on every issue, but I admire his intellect and his passion. From the beginning he's been committed to exposing and toppling Trump and I've generally applauded his efforts. Increasingly, I'm thinking this is a mistake. Because everything Trump says and does is uninformed, ill-conceived, egregious, or immoral there is nothing new to rail against and there never will be. Mr. Blow is, forgive the term, blowing too hard. He's oxygenating the fire and I think he should stop.
1
The fact that Trump is racist is not new. It is troubling that he has so many voters.
He is the anti-Lincoln. Separates us at all costs.
1
The most important lines are the in the last paragraph of this editorial--a third of the country agrees with the President. Trump made it clear where he stood during his campaign when he identified with Andrew Jackson, perhaps the most racist president we have ever had, as his idol. What was shocking about the election was that there are so many Americans who agree with this racist philosophy. Trump isn't responding to the positions of the Democratic candidates' positions on health care, taxes, etc. because he wants to focus the election solely on race.
1
And the profound silence of Republican Leaders in Congress a about Trump's tweets about Congressional Members of color tells us that they are enablers of racism and must be returned to private life in the 2020 election.
Evangelicals who support Trump also need to be reminded that their silence in the face of evil is a mortal sin.
1
Trump is unfit for office and should be removed. It is time.
Those latest Trump tweets are the exclamation marks of the undeniable truth that he is a full- fledged racist- with honors.
Climate change is still the biggest threat to our Pale Blue Dot but re-electing Trump is a very close second –imminent- he is a true hazard to the world.
USA has already been injured in a life threatening way. And he keeps on with the slaughter.
The leadership of the Democratic Party has a grave responsibility- egos must disappear.. period. AOC and Pelosi MUST work together. Pelosi granting the go ahead with the impeachment inquiry and AOC et al recognizing that discipline is not giving up ideals - it’s just a mean to achieve the goal – dethrone Trump and his sycophants.
1
What Blow describes as nascent anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim xenophobia is simply a continuation of early 20th century anti-Semitism in this country. But the Jews stood up for themselves in America, made a contribution, and overcame most (not all, but most) of the prejudice against themselves.
Trump appeals to the mediocrity of a large class of people who have nothing left, materially, culturally or spiritually, except their whiteness.
1
Members of "the squad" please stop cooperating with Mr Trump in his efforts to divide and disrupt your party. Thinking people know that his vile tweets are meant to sow dissension. Do not let him win this slime fest by responding to his taunts. Instead work toward some common ground with the party.
First win the 2020 election then push your agenda.
2
I fear that as he feels his grip on power strengthening, he feels less and less need to hide his true inclinations. That tweet storm on Sunday is the new reality, a blatantly racist and misogynistic man who feels he no longer needs anyone but his true believers and can now say or do whatever he likes.
2
Where are the Republican leaders and the conservative evangelical Christians? Why aren't they speaking out?
Silly question. Trump knows his followers, and clearly believes his latest racist tweets directed against these four women will appeal to them. Racism, misogyny, religious bigotry, and cruelty are Trump's big selling points.That's the real tragedy.
The worst part of what he's saying and doing is that it's exactly what his supporters believe. He says and does it for them and they think because they didn't say it or do it it gives them an out. Not so. If you support him and his racist comments and his racist behavior you are the same as him. Period.
He should immediately be impeached.
Hillary took so much heat over Bengazi. The Republicans were so vocal.
Where are the Dems. Stop arguing within yourselves. Organize and be vocal.
So this is his latest cry for attention. He's very needy that way. I'm pretty sure we all knew he was a racist before he sent the appalling tweet even those folks who pretend he's not really know that he is. In the meantime:
He is still an illegitimate president who was assisted by a hostile foreign government.
He is still breaking the law by ignoring legal Congressional subpoenas.
He is still filling our government with the most rapacious and venal humans he can locate.
He is still breaking the emoluments clause every day.
He is still coordinating with governments like Russia and Saudi Arabia while throwing out the British Ambassador.
He is still messing with our economy with tariff bingo.
But please let's spend the next week talking about his tweet. The ladies can handle themselves and that includes Pelosi. Shall we keep our eye on the ball?
1
Mr. Blow never disappoints in his effort to demonize both the President and his supporters. The world is not black and white, and most adults, including we 'deplorables' , know that no human is perfect. What neither Blow nor elite media will acknowledge is that 'The Squad' is a fair target of our President for among many things hostility to Israel. Please note that portion of the President's messages! Another part of the author's fantasy is that only a mythical 'one third...' of the US population supports the President, read the polls, President Trump rates now in the mid-40s and is rapidly heading higher. This is not racism or 'animus' but what is best for the United States.
1
Trump's comments are appalling and incendiary. Unfortunately, using racially division worked for him and could easily work again.
Democrats must be careful in how they respond - I'm sure he'd rather fight the next election over identity rather than what his Administration has done (or hasn't done) to improve the lives of the people. For Democrats, generating outrage and getting 270 electoral votes may be mutually exclusive options.
222
@Upstate Albert It does not work for him.
Yes, he won in 2016. It was the same election when HRC was not able to get the Obama Coalition to vote for her. Obama lost the majority of white voters in 08 & 12 and still won because of his coalition made up young and minority voters.
He lost 30 plus House seats in 2018 when he tried to use racism and immigration during the election. Young people and minority voters came out in strong numbers for a mid-term election. Their votes made a difference.
Please remember: 2020 is a turnout election. Dems. have the advantage, because of demographic changes, when they get out their vote like in 08 & 12.
Each year the GOP base is getting older, not younger. Finally, 40% of the 2020 electorate will be millennials/GenXers, with significant number being from a minority background.
10
@Upstate Albert
Exactly. Focus on deeds not identity, and news media - stop giving the bully the attention bullies so desperately crave, ignore him and he'll wither.
3
@Upstate Albert
So what are you saying? Are we supposed to just turn the other cheek and as him to "slap me harder Daddy!" Would that give me the 270 electoral votes?
3
Many of my friends and some family are Trump supporters and sincerely believe that he is making the country great again. Some of them are people of color, some are not Christians, some are on government aid or have close relatives who are black, brown, non-citizens, non-Christian, or are using government benefits.
All of them fully support the president's position and firmly believe that liberal / socialist programs should be eliminated. Many of them are highly educated and get their "news" from the cable channel, talk radio or reporting on the president's latest tweet. They have fully bought into the mainstream media being fake news.
Not one of them has a clue that when the president talks about "real Americans" that he does not mean them.
1095
@PS
So how do we fix this mess of misunderstanding of POTUS's motives? I don't mean it for a rhetorical question: What do we people who see Trump & McConnell's actions as harmful to the country say to open eyes and hearts out there in the Trump heartland?
79
How totally scary. Thanks for this account.
24
@Jack Aldred Moon
The assault on American education began with the Nixon administration, who realized that the huge protests against Vietnam were organized by students and professors. Subsequently, as states began squeezing their education budgets to free up monies for other (lobbyist influenced) projects, the federal government also began reducing monies for education. Now, you ask about critical thinking. Certain politicians are much happier with docile constituents who do not challenge their actions and words.
52
I had my second opportunity to observe a naturalization ceremony during Trump's presidency, the last being this past Thursday, July 11th, in Des Moines, Iowa. Thirty-nine new citizens were welcomed to the United States. My recollection is that less than ten were from the Americas or Europe. It was a beautiful sight. At each ceremony watching the hypocritical welcoming video from Trump made me sick. But as I told the person I had supported in becoming a new US citizen I still believe that becoming a citizen of the United States was absolutely the right thing to do.
287
Maybe another country. We are an evil narcissistic war mongering entity ruled by corporations. Whose God we trust is a code word for money.
13
@Chris-Jane
The new US citizen now has a voice.
Those who have chosen to become US citizens now have a voice.
I became one several years ago because I wanted to have a voice.
Use it!
17
@Yuri Pelham Yuri, in as much as I would agree with you in a different day, I beg to differ. America still (and Trump will trampled into the dustbin soon enough) holds on to the enduring morals in spite of the assault on her from the right. She has her faults. But she is so much better than this gang in DC right now.
2
I am an historian, born in New Zealand, whose career has been at the Universities of Cambridge (15 years), Pittsburgh (7) and now Auckland. My ex-wife and children are American, and the latter are also New Zealanders. Charles you are right about American history, and right to mention Native Americans before you get to slavery. The broad context is English/British colonisation, and the broader context is that all human history, including that of Native Americans, is a history of migration. From the perspective of an historian, one of the biggest current problems of the USA is the myth that it is an exception to historical norms, and therefore the greatest country in the world. This is nonsense, and this opinion is a consequence of - and can only be sustained by - ignorance. The USA is unique, and wonderful, and several of the most spectacular people I have met, and ever will meet, are American. It is also, in various ways, uniquely awful. Welcome to the club, America, and to human history, to which you belong. And total kudos to Charles Blow for understanding that the best way we can love a country is to seek to improve it by engaged and informed criticism.
1645
@Purangiriver - Thank you! It has long been my impression that the people who can best describe American history are those who are far enough outside of it to be untainted by the vast amount of propaganda that exists around those who are born here. When you think about it, this makes perfect sense.
23
@Midnan Sociologists and psychologists, who understand human nature, would argue that your first point is questionable, given the wrongs that the *white man* has committed against those who are not white. Historians, who deal with facts, would argue that your second conclusion is wrong.
4
@Purangiriver Just a reminder that Native American women of the Iroquois nation had rights of property, citizenship and divorce both before and after 1776, unlike "American" women in the United States of patriarchal caucasian oligarchy. It's discouraging to me whenever I read an academic with the highest of credentials referring to the historical white supremacy of America without also referencing the historical male supremacy of America. That's how invisible it is. Even academics gloss over the fact that half of Americans of all races were the legal chattel of their fathers and husbands when our nation was founded. The double standard is glaring.
23
Yes; valid are the author's observations. Yet, we should be talking about the big picture. Trump is a FASCIST.
FASCISM is the complete take-over of the economy by the rich and their corporate entities. It evades the ever-increasing resentment in economic disparities by scapegoating a) feminists, 2) homosexuals and transgenders, 3) non-whites.
While Trump is constantly painting the Democratic agenda as "extreme socialism", we need to be calling out Trump for his Fascism. We need to be connecting the dots and explaining to the American people that purpose of Trump's racism is the purpose of fascism in general--to distract them from the ever-increasing concentration of wealth at the top.
While I value and seek a diverse culture, constantly responding to Trump's racism is taking the bait. We need to respond briefly to his racist rhetoric and then immediately pivot a) corporate takeover of government and b) the increasing aggregation of wealth as the TRUE PROBLEMS.
142
@Michael Collins In support of your position, allow me to submit the following quotation: “The definition of fascism is the marriage of corporation and state ”― Benito Mussolini
1
@Michael Collins So why are so many of the very wealthy anti-Trump, anti-conservative? Thinking here about the Hollywood elites, the Big Tech moguls, and so on. They don't seemed concerned about the concentration of wealth in their pockets. I dare say that the term "fascism" and the term "socialism" vary from person to person. Perhaps you should make better and more specific arguments about his actions in office and not fall back to the usual name calling. Surprised you didn't call Trump a racist as well, has that fallen from vogue?
Trump's post is absolutely racist. But it is also his skilled practice of controlling the narrative and be the center of attention. and all involved, with the support of the media take the bait. Unfortunately, not taking the bait only results in him doing something more outrageous.... until he satisfies his ego
The silence from Republicans is deafening.
7
I’m glad we finally discovered it
1
“And, who better to lead the charge than four women who represent the future face of America.”
A sweeping, unilateral, and arrogant pronouncement that certainly qualifies as its own form of full blown bigotry.
Trump doing what he does at his worst as Defiler and Divider in Chief and Mr Blow energetically dancing to the divisive and discordant tune.
2
I can't defend this, yet another sign Trump badly needs duct tape across his mouth and around his keyboarding digits. Yet I disagree with Blow's triumphant proclamations about connections to, and proof of, white supremacism and racism ... unless of course we accept that each and every white person, especially of the male variety, is such from the get-go. Too broad a brush, buddy.
17
@Judy Harmon Smith
If they praise and practice racism they are practicing racists. If they witness racism and do or say nothing they are cowardly racists. Have I cleared that up for you?
7
@Judy Harmon Smith Mr. Blow didn’t say that all white men are racists. But clearly some are, and Trump is appealing to them.
@Judy Harmon Smith
I don't see your connect about each and every white man. Trump is a racist is a simple proven concept. Each and every other white man is not part of the discussion. Plus charactarizing Blow as triumphant is certainly off point. We are all losers with this man as president.
If the birther conspiracy wasn't enough to point out he's already a racist there is a problem. It's how he found his racist base. What's sad is how openly racist this country has become because of people like Trump enabling them. Freedom of speech allows you to say what you want. You are still responsible for what is said, unless your name is Trump. If we're still here trying to figure out if Trump is racist he's probably getting away with much worse.
1
Eating his own vomit. Well said.
There is not a line in this op-ed that I can disagree with. A very sad day.
For some reason,I have stalled on admitting to myself that Trump is a blatant racist. I guess it should have been clear before, with his asking to see Obama's birth certificate. In retrospect, I can't say why that felt different to me. Less egregious. Maybe because Obama was the President and Donald was a private citizen. But now that the balance of power has turned, there is something truly terrible about his Tweet. I still don't think I agree with calls for impeachment, but I want to be convinced to more than ever.
More than anything I just want him gone. Or maybe I just want to disappear, like a child hiding under the blankets as they listen to parents arguing in the next room. A sad day indeed.
1
I disagree with you Mr. Blow. Trump proved he was a racist long ago. That he is a racist isn't the problem. That so many people support him is. Trump did not win the election in spite of his racism. He won because of his racism.
3
"I read I forget
I hear I remember
I do I understand"
Only two words needed when asking if DAS MONSTER is a racist: "I concur."
The rest is conjecture.
The master of deflection and pitting opponents against each other. He paints Nancy as being the victim, coming to her aid while drawing even more ire toward her by being seen as more like him than her peers in the Dem party with her being painted in positive terms by DT. Until this Dem leadership stands up to this man with both barrels blazing, he will continue to continue the narrative and the sheep who cannot see the forest from the tress will continue to shrug when he gets away with extreme levels of malfeasance without consequence. The message s the Dems don't care and really only see their political survival as their core belief. We are at the mercy of those who are willing to see our Democracy crumble in service to greed and power as opposed to saving it and the Constitution. They should be defending both with the appropriate highly aggressive level of response that the tools given to them do do so. Every act of hate he gets away with strengthens his chances of getting another four years because he is not judged with anything but press releases and hand wringing, and does not suffer the appropriate consequences. I won't even mention the R's who stand silent. Their egregious abandonment of their Oath is beyond the pail and not ever going to be anything but.
Who will stand up to this man?
1
@JDH
In other words, Impeach this man and make that the front and center conversation for the public to witness. The press will cover it every day all day. Do it because it is the right thing to do. Then the people of this country aho see you defend it will respect and follow you. The truth in full display is difficult to refute. Press conferences with harsh judgements by Dem's is lost in the hurricane that DT gets the press to follow with ease. Take away his wind and give him a tsunami of an im[impeachment..
1
Thank you for calling this out and saying what needs to be said. it is time for all Americans to RESIST.
1
This was not a racist tweet. It was a tweet about Nationalism and Country of origin. You would like to have it be about race because that’s your game.
2
You might believe that we need stricter immigration procedures, you might agree that we need to repeal all of the Affordable Care Act, you might believe that somehow his policies are improving the live of working people, but it doesn't matter. Our president is a hateful man, a racist. He doesn't deserve the office he currently holds. He is a disgrace. We, as Americans, must do better.
2
Trump has systematically exposed the underbelly of your country by giving license to every white supremacist to take their hate out in the open without fear of reprisal or criticism. It is open season on people of colour because their flag-hugging president is speaking their language. Worse, his cowering party is allowing this, supporting this behaviour by remaining silent.
The tables are turning as he successfully flips the narrative, as he sees his critics as unpatriotic. He is using these women as bait for his base, what next, will he call them to arms to stand against his enemies?
This man must be removed from office.
1
I have never in my wildest dream thought that we will have a president that will promote recisim and stnds against divrsity at which this great country stands for. I will tell him that he will never scare or make me ashamed or regret that I choose America to be my home almost fourty years ago. Trump will be gone like the dust and all left is a memory of a filthy and heartful man!
1
I agree, Mr. Blow. The longer the Republicans stay silent and the Dems tip-toe around congress, the worse Trump gets. It seems the 2020 election cannot arrive soon enough.
I fear that he'll call for a lynching (or some violent equivalent) and his racist supporters will feel free to carry out their heart's desire. It sounds ridiculous, I know, but who'd have ever thought we'd have a bigot in the White House?
1
I have always maintained that to support Trump, one must either be a bigot, or not mind that he is.
What's the difference?
2
Trump is absolutely terrific. He's giving the primal scream that many Americans desperately wish they could shout at the Democrats and mainstream media. We've had enough of the woke. We've had enough of paying for illegal immigrants and open borders. We've had enough of the 42 gender delusion. We've had enough of the Democratic antisemitism, wrapped in a veneer of anti-Israel propoganda. We've had enough of having our healthcare made worse than ever with high premiums and co-pays. We've had enough of having all straight men considered rapists or potential rapists. We've had enough of foolish politicians telling us we need to get rid of our cars and planes and replace them with magical trains that traverse oceans. We've had enough of Marxist America haters telling us what's bad about us and our country. God bless you Mr. President. You will lead us to a better, saner America. Looking forward to the 2020 reelection blowout!
2
Trump’s tweets not only demonstrate his deep racism but they also vividly show us his instability and delusional thoughts. Surely he must know that three of the Congresswomen were born in the U.S. but he is nevertheless willing to state as fact that they came from other countries that were corrupt and incompetent. He is delusional in thinking that anyone would believe his false statements, and he has only brought scorn on himself by his racist falsehoods. These tweets should be Exhibit A in the need to apply the 25th Amendment to rid us of this unstable and outrageous fake president.
1
Of course he's been and is a raging racist: he knows his base. But being a raging racist does not quite capture this monster. There are plenty of raging racists in the congress that can easily be likewise outed. What distinguishes him, elevating to the level of Franco, Mussolini, and, yes, that guy, is that he is a fascist, down to the bone. And yet the oh-so-proper class calls him a populist, a term lacking in any meaning to 99 percent of the population.
1
"And, who better to lead the charge than four women who represent the future face of America."
I disagree with this statement. These four bold women are not the future face of America; they are America's face TODAY. The screams and howls of the white supremacists are as loud and vicious as they are because they are as a body dwindling, backed into a dark corner, fighting for the vestiges of their so-called greatness. #Timesup, in so many ways. It is the duty of every American to keep showing these racists the door.
May be Trump should go back to Europe. If he doesn't like it here, then he should leave. People of all colors have the right to be here.
Yes, Trump is a racist.
Yes, his followers accept this about him.
Yes, that makes them racists too.
Yes, it’s been obvious all along.
Yes, we need to vote them all out.
Yes, this country is better than this.
3
So the USA voted in a racist, misogynist plutocrat and you are now petrified at the creature you have unleashed onto the world. You don't know how to get rid of him; he gets you worked up over silly, dumb, emotional commentary and stirs up a storm over his gut - wrenching political machinations. I suggest you find someone even-tempered, confident and genuinely concerned for the welfare of all and with a firm conviction to ridicule, whitewash and highlight Trump's delusional self-centred ambiguities with a crystal clear clarity and arrogance that matches Trump's abrasive dismissive narrative. Pelosi is too nice and civilised. Might be an impossible task for your institutions of power and there appears to be no viable candidate in either party but unless you find one the USA and the world might have to live with the idea of Trump serving another term. It could be worse eg imagine if he tries to slip and materialises the idea of a life-long term for President of the USA ? What a ghastly thought.
And Pelosi is very much on the side of these brilliant young Congresswomen. Their disagreements are honest and not without respect.
The predator in chief hosts white nationalist dinner parties. His favorite cocktail is misogyny and racism on ICE.
If you do not think he is an overt, shameless racist, you are one of the following: incredibly stupid; in serious denial; or you are very much with him. In any of these cases, you are participating in evil.
There is no "reaching across the aisle" on this one. Which side are you on? Zero tolerance for racism and xenophobia must prevail. I have lost so-called friends over this. In the words of Frederick Douglass, "I prefer to be true to myself even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence."
1
Charles's column is a perfect example of how we must loudly and clearly call out and confront racism at every turn. Doing so isn't going to convince racists to stop being racists, but it will help the blithely unaware become more aware. And not doing so is to let racism persist and thrive and let people like the depraved bigot in the White House further rot our society.
And in other news, Sun rises in East. Trump knows that these congress people are US citizens, the "go back to your country" thing was specifically calculated to inflame emotions and get the media all in a tizzy. He loves the hand-wringing and outcry such schoolyard taunts elicit as do his supporters. Why play into it? Why cover the stupid things he says on twitter at all?
This is just another shiny object to distract us from his connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Trump is terrified that the crimes he committed with Epstein will comem out and he'll have to face charges (if not immediately, then once he's out of office). This is his game. Please please let's not get distracted by this. We all know he's a racist....he has made that clear all of his life. Let's focus on actual crimes he has committed. Let's lock him up!
1
Today I go to my workplace intent on representing the opposite of these disgusting thoughts. It is my job to counter them. There are more of us than them!
I am still waiting for a strong condemnation of trump's racist tantrum from my Republican "representatives".
Silence.
If anyone had any doubts, here is the proof that Trump (he is not my President) is a racist through and through. In 2020, America will have a test to prove whether we stand for the good or for the mighty dollar. All Republicans should be voted out as they are just as evil as Trump. Some, like the Senate President, are even worst.
The fact that DJT is a racist, bigot, xenophobe, and anything else along those lines does not surprise me. From the very first time I read about him, I didn't trust him. And from the very first statement, after "gliding" down the escalator, he showed his true colors. What bothers me the most is that such a large part of our population is also racist. And they can't claim otherwise if they continue to support this heinous person.
The Republican Party and 45 mutually and jointly advance the persistently singular issue of race baiting, conjoined with anti immigrant xenophobia. This is the party of Lincoln, make no mistake about it. Republicans in the House and the Senate are effectively emasculated from challenging 45's viciously driven anticolour, xenophobia binged tirade for fear of being primaried. Paul Ryan, mitch McConnell made hasty excuses ranging from 'he's new at this' to 'this is his first time' to placate GOP stalwarts. This sophomoric, weak, lame effort played right into 45's hands. Now the GOP and 45 are singularly recognized as the party of racial divisiveness and antiimmigrant belief. The 43% base precariously lings to the false belief of Caucasian white skin privilege. Regardless of lack of education beyond 8th, or perhaps, 12th, grade, their white nationalism fervor serves to reinforce their misplaced, illogical belief they are better than anyone else, a theme from the 1968 Southern Strategy campaign. Charles Blow is dead on point. Republican patent absence of multicultural, multiracial recognition and tolerance is dooming the GOP. America expansively recognizes racial and immigrant diversity. The intelligent Squad is rationally justified in their individual and collectively efforts. 'Make America White Again' loses. The inexorably changing demographics that constitute America, racially, ethnically, and religiously, incontrovertibly, irrefutably alters America positively. Race matters.
This is 2019 not 1819 or even 1919 and I never thought in my 70 years I would hear such uncouth, vulgar racist commentary from a sitting president. We knew that Reagan was a racist but he at least did not engage in such snark. I demand to know what the Republicans are going to do about it or are they just as immoral, callous and bigoted. If it weren't for gerrymandered districts the Republicans would go down in flames in 2020. Mitch McConnell is worse than trump because he knows better. Republicans had best watch their backs, voters will be gunning for them in 2020.
2
And where are the Republicans standing up and speaking out against the President's racism? Where is Elaine Chao? Nikki Haley? Tim Scott? Where is the perpetually disappointed and troubled Susan Collins? How about the glib Ben Sasse? Utter silence. Utter hypocrisy and venality.
2
Also proves that the Republicans in Congress are in lockstep with Trump’s racist ideologies.not a peep from those good folks. Astonishing, and shameful.
2
And Nancy Pelosi is not a racist, but she is also not above the stubborn racism of time's deserts. And right now it sure seems like Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib and Pressley are the pioneers of a future Democratic party that the Old Guard is turning away from in its current inertia and abnegation.
The impatience of this quartet seems very fitting in the time of such retroaction.
His supporters know he's racist, and that's why they love him! You only have to read some of the comments on conservative sites. The GOP has gone down they path of no return -- they're demographically doomed, and Trump is now their openly racist leader.
Trump is a huge problem, to be sure, but he is only part of it. Equally challenging is the reality that he is channeling an unpleasantly racist segment of the American population, pandering to their biases by singling out an individual here and another one there in order to give voice to and instigate their rage.
He does so because he needs their support in order to win the 2020 election, and is perfectly willing to denigrate others solely because of their race, religion, gender identity or ancestry as a signal of his obeisance to the prejudice and fears of his supporters.
Worse is that Trump simply doesn't care. For a man who is so attuned to the slightest slight against him and so emotionally ill equipped to handle criticism, he refuses to temper his outrageous utterances in order to garner broader support beyond the lowest common denominator of prejudice.
It is clear that among other shortcomings, Donald Trump has no conscience. His umbrage is reserved for offenses to his ego, and coupled with his abject racism, it reduces him to seeing people first and foremost only by the color of their skin.
It is way beyond time for people to expect anything different from this sorry excuse for a president. But it is not too late for decent Americans everywhere to rise up and vote him out of office in the next election. We cannot, over night, cleanse the nation of its racists, bigots and misogynists, but we can, in 2020, cleanse the stain on and in the White House.
1
Guys, get past it. People are racists. Everywhere. Even in US. And nonwhites typically are even stronger racists, then whites. And racism is not a problem. Problem is the discrimination. That must be fought.
1
trump must be impeached and convicted now. There must be no tolerance for these awful remarks. I am truly disgusted by everything trump stands for and truly shocked by his supporters. Republican senators, I am speaking directly to you: stop enabling this unqualified man who spits on our Constitution and our ideals every single day. If you do not vote him out of office you will go down in history as the most disgusting group to ever serve in our government. Right up there with every segregationist who was allowed to take the oath of office.
What trump is doing allows every racist and misogynistic person to feel that they are legitimate in their hatred for the other.
The people who express this hatred feel no shame, and with a president who mirrors everything back...they are in fact, prideful.
There is no way to see Trump in a different way. Any effort is a waste of time.
In any case he should know that if a society was made up entirely of people like him that is selfish, delusional, ignorant, liar, arrogant, with no integrity, unable even to close an umbrella, that same “ideal” community would collapse in a short period of time.
Trump did Nancy Pelosi a BIG favor by weighing in on her vendetta against these young, diverse, charismatic, and energetic Democratic freshwomen Congressional representatives. Hopefully, Pelosi will use the opportunity to heal the wound she inflicted in her vindictive comments to your fellow columnist, Maureen Dowd. Most commentators have succumbed to the "blame game"by siding either with Pelosi or "The Squad" of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) an Hispanic woman from the Bronx, Ihlan Omar from Minnesota (via Somalia), Ayanna Pressley (from Boston) and Rashida Tlaib (from Detroit) which only furthers the division in the party and weakens it at a time when the real racist is, as you note, Donald Trump. Both Pelosi and The Squad need to turn their fire from one another onto the bigot in The Oval office. He's the one responsible for concentration camps and 12 deaths of Hispanic immigrants there and threatening to deport tens of thousands of families. He's the one promoting a Muslim ban. He's the one constantly attacking women either physically in multiple charges of sexual assault or promoting draconian anti-abortion laws that enslave them. Pelosi absolutely must work to unite her caucus and the Democratic Party if there is to be any hope of generating a massive blue wave turnout of women, minorities, and young people--who identify with The Squad. It's time to stop inflicting wounds on her own members and start inflicting them where they belong--on Donald Trump.
I wonder what the German people would have to say if Trump went back to where he “comes from” and tried to “help his country”.
The truly horrific comment of the racist-in-chief pales by comparison with the complete silence of the entire GOP, from McConnell and Graham Allison the way down to the “moderates.”
Trump needs to slither back where he came from - from under a rock. And he needs to take the entire silent, complicit, enabling Republican Party with him.
Remember this in 2020. If you vote Republican, then you’re saying you want four more years of this monster.
2
The big lie of 2016 is that Trump voters
had economic anxiety. it was race period
the end.
Not every Trumper is a racist but all the Trumpers
are.
"Why don’t they go back"
Usual media headline
and NOT in the headline.
"and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done.”
2
The very first time he appeared here in the pages on the New York Times, a paper from which he desperately craves validation and recognition, was October 1973, when the DOJ brought suit in federal court in Brooklyn against he and father, charging them with violating the Fair Housing Act of 1968 in the operation of 39 buildings.
“The government contended that Trump Management had refused to rent or negotiate rentals ‘because of race and color,’ ” The Times reported. “It also charged that the company had required different rental terms and conditions because of race and that it had misrepresented to blacks that apartments were not available.”
“The (charges) are absolutely ridiculous," he said. "We never have discriminated and we never would.”
And so in one article, we have the first confirmation of his racism AND of lying on the record.
And yet here he is, president of the United States of America. I have completely lost faith in America.
1
I use to think that only in the deep South did people wear their racism as a badge of honor. That sickness is far more pervasive in the USA than that. How much evidence do we as a nation need to understand our Commander and Chief is a flat out raging bigot.
From discrimination in his family housing projects, to racist rants as to the guilt of the Central Park 5 even after their exoneration, to indicating he had irrefutable proof Obama was born in Africa, to his description of the good people marching in Charlottesville, to describing African and Hispanic countries a s holes, this President's bloodstream is as rife with prejudice and brutal intent as any small town sheriff in Alabama in the 50s.
Trump would turn the dogs out on 25% of our population.
1
I would confront a drunken barfly who made the same racist, misogynistic, xenophobic remarks that Trump made about four duly elected Congressional representatives.
But Trump is not a drunken barfly, even though he acts like one every day, and seems to be hoping that all the drunken racist, misogynistic xenophobic barflies of America can be persuaded to actually register and vote for him.
He has completely earned the disgust and disdain of decent, patriotic Americans.
2
The problem, Charles, is that while we Democrats have adopted "diversity" as shorthand for all that's good and noble on earth, to an enormous number of people it's shorthand for preferential treatment, arrogant social engineering, and the death of the meritocracy. We can either consider their perspective and try to make our case with a soupçon of humility, or we can brand them all as vile racists and yell louder. Being Democrats, we will of course choose the latter; hey why not? -- look how well it's worked so far.
2
Of course he’s a vicious racist. That was evident on Escalator Day.
His public persona, campaign, and occupancy of the Oval are all explicitly racist.
Here’s the question:
What are we all going to do about it?
My answer is I am going to get involved.
2
Q: What do Donald Trump and the Good Samaritan have in common?
A: Absolutely nothing.
No sane American would ever willingly embrace the ludicrous Green New Deal (designed not so much to address climate change as to impose government-ordered redistribution), the abolition of the Electoral College, the end of ICE, extending the franchise to 16-year-olds, cancellation of college debt, free tuition, reparations, a wealth tax, healthcare for illegals, third term abortion, or think of the Betsy Ross flag as a sign of oppression. The tyranny, hate, bigotry, and vile extremism of the Democrat Party has been exposed by Trump...and they and the media shout "RACISM" because it's their only defense to cover for their rueful hate of America. When people show you how much, and in what ways they hate America, believe them. Pray for America, and end their tyranny by voting them all out.
2
Complete silence from the Republican Party, when the President admits through his horrific words he is a card carrying raciest, still silence.
I suggest that the President and the entire Republican Party go back to the countries that THEY came from, and take all their supporters with them.
1
I love Donald Trump. I love him because, like Stalin, Mussolini, Franco, Hitler, and Mao, he forces an irrevocable moral choice on every single individual. The children and grandchildren of every American alive today will have a story to tell about what we did during these years. Will those stories be told clear-eyed, with grim but forceful pride; or told in hushed tones, with evasions and furtive, side-long glances? How many family albums will have missing photographs, or worse, photographs of uniformed figures whose faces have been burned away with a lit cigarette? How many dark family secrets are being born right now, while I write these words?
1
A President with German heritage needs to be advised that it’s not wise to “throw stones when living in a glass house”.
The author’s opinion is accurate, fair and heartbreaking. It is almost 2029, does anyone want a racist as President?
It is time for all immigrants (republican or democrat) and minorities (colored or women) to rise up against Mr. Trump and all his sujpporters. it is derogative for Mr. Trump and those republicans who keep silent when Mr. Trump is saying congressmen and women to go where they came from. Mr. R. Tagore (novel lauriate) once said the society is not poisoned by illiterate people but is poisoned when learned people behaves like illiterate people (Mr. Trump and his supporters). It is a wake up call for all Americans especially immigrants and minorities. we know they will be majority soon. let them form a party to uproot the rise of white nationalists. otherwise we will face another civil war when minorities and immigrant take over the control of this country's administration. it is time for these people to form a party of their own to combat such bombardment from our president - a sit down in fron to the white house (like MLK) may be necessary.
He’s shifting the focus because Epstein has dirt on him too.
2
Did I miss something, but where was Trump’s tweet directed at four (4) congresswomen, much less four (4) specific congresswomen? Hmm, interesting..........
You mean 8 years of harassing our first black President with birtherism wasn't enough proof?
Seriously? Delegitimizing the birth of an American? That alone should have disqualified Trump to run as president, but the Republican Party openly embraced his racism and the media enjoyed the sideshow.
To those who seek to reelect this offensive bully: may you reap what you sow.
Dear NYT:
President Trump stepped in it by telling these four progressive women to go back and fix their home countries before attacking the US and trying to remake it into a socialist country. He should have let Rep. Pelosi battle it out with them.
But I question if this is primarily a "white supremacist" attack.
Trump is criticizing the same four people who Pelosi attacked, albeit in a much more offensive manner, on purely political grounds.
Mr. Blow goes too far in seeing this as a full-throated defense of white supremacy:
"Trump is bringing the force of the American presidency to the rescue of white supremacy."
As Joe Biden says, "Come on, man!
Although his opponents will try to paint this in racist terms, as they have since he stepped onto the escalator at Trump Tower, this strikes me as a typically crass Trump political gambit, rather than a racist appeal.
Trump is clearly hoping to raise the profile of the "Squad," who he regards as radical socialists, and make them the face of the D party.
To the extent the liberal media and Ds rise up to defend them (primarily because of their race and gender), Trump wins.
1
That ol' "Go back where you came from" slur never seems to go away.
So, how about President Trump - how about if you lead the way and go back wherever you claim to have come from. If you do, I'm very certain our nation (and the rest of the world) will be better for your absence.
Mr Blow, it may have been an oversight but you completely missed the fact that a massive part of the south west US was once Mexican, peopled primarily by brown folk from several cultures.
And for this reason (primarily) I have ceased any and all intentional interactions with friends and acquaintances who refuse to see what is so apparent. He is a racist. My time is too valuable.
I'm sure Trump doesn't even know why his skin is white; he should learn, if that's possible; vitamin D is why! Since early migrants (yes, we are all migrants) to the north were exposed to less sunlight throughout the year, the skin of homo sapiens migrating north thousands of years ago turned white so their skin could absorb more Vitamin D when it was exposed. Does that make us all that different? Killing in the name of...
Mr. Blow. Everyone, including Trump's supporters already know he is a racist. And they don't care.
The question everyone needs to ask out loud is why the GOP remains silent over these racist remarks.
We already know why, because the GOP rides the Trump train no matter what. But that doesn't mean we need to let them take the easy road. It's time every GOP congresperson is asked the same question.
Why are you supporting a racist president?
And water is wet. So, what can we do about it as long as he has his Republican enablers? Sadly, all but nothing it seems.
First, it is more than "a third of them." Trump may or may not be a racist. You do not talk about the fact that the "squad" has the majority of the USA disagreeing with most of what they say. They have so angered many citizens that they are saying things they wouldn't normally say. This includes Trump esp. since he is the "squad's" major target. I routinely read your articles and have yet to find one that has anything positive to say about the white citizens of the USA.
1
His tweets don't prove he is a racist. The liberals and Democrats are choosing to call Trump a racist because he criticizes people who happen to be, and vociferously proclaim to be representatives of non white races. How can a white man criticize a black man without being called a racist?
These representatives are loudly advocating for citizens of foreign countries, not Americans. Try to leave the race out of it and what Trump says still makes sense. These representatives that identify with and speak for people from a certain nation are not speaking for or representing Americans, they advocate for foreigners who want to cross our borders illegally and stay in this country, taking it's benefits and bounty for themselves, AND send money, multiple Billions, back to their native countries. The NYT has reported on this. These countries are corrupt by any standard. That's why their citizens are leaving.
Puerto Rico isn't an American state, but Puertorriqueños are American citizens, but Puerto Rico is certainly corrupt. More corrupt than any state in the Union. If you want a more equitable comparison, look at how quickly Cuba recovers from hurricanes and that of the self made disaster in Puerto Rico.
These are not representatives who are competent to advise the USA on the proper way to do things. They only advocate and agitate to get more for the people they truly represent, those that don't want to respect our laws.
"... who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all),..."
Since most of these Reps wereborn here, his assertion is correct.
1
The silence of GOP leaders on Trump's tweets tells us they only care about keeping conservative white males in power. Nothing else matters to them.
Speaking as a 54 year old white man from a red state, there is no way on earth I would ever vote for Don Trump or his Republican enablers. I will vote though. And financially support the Democrats. We need to clean up this smelly mess in 2020.
As he tries to divide, our best response is to embrace ALL of our brothers and sisters...
We know the strengths in variety and varying points of view....
We know the powers of respect and simple decency....
Do NOT give in to the fear and the lies.....
Embrace.....
1
And you just came to this conclusion? It has been obvious to many of us for quite some time. The saddest part of the latest offense is that the entire GOP seems to be in collusion with him. That doesn't surprise me either. Gotta hold on to those elected offices at any cost. Gag me.
And this is a big revelation? Haven't you been paying attention to what he's said/done and what you've written?
Charles, you can sound the trumpets til you're blue in the face. Trumps supporters share the same values as Trump, just not as smart. They don't know they are being manipulated. They are racist, xenophobic, misogynistic ,fascists.
I read the wishy washy commenters disagreeing Trump is not a racist (really?) but they are tired off him. What is it going to take? There is no "straight talk" here. It's nationalistic racist ranting.
Yes it's also a distraction because Trump knows he's inadequate to any task other than creating chaos to direct attention to himself; and the press is only too willing to oblige....
Can someone please point out to me, EXACTLY which part(s) of these tweets is RACIST. I see a reference to a country, but not a race.
22
@Raz
Simple, Its the who of the "tweet".
2
@Raz If it's not racist, then why hasn't Trump told any white immigrants to go back where they came from? Also, there is no reference to an actual country--note he doesn't name a single one--nor could there be, as three of the four people he's referring to were born in the U.S.
14
@Raz, for starters, the insistence/assumption that someone who's not white must be from a different country and is not truly American. Three of these four women WERE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES. Second, if you're not aware of the history of phrases like "go back to your country," I suggest you do some reading.
17
It is sometimes insightful to read the self-deluded or dishonest calisthenics of Trump supporters who comment on these pages. But their defense of the indefensible, and vile is growing old, and as detestsble as this guy who has demonstrated by word and action that he is a blatant racist and proud of it.
In that light, a reasonable conclusion would be that his supporters who comment on this forum,are as racist as he is, but try to hide behind increasingly meaningless rhetoric to justify their allegiance.
It is the same as Trump stating that he is the least racist person while continuing to spew racist bilge.
1
Of course the Donald is a racist. This should be a surprise to no one.
1
PS: So does the Democratic Party. Joe Biden? Because the Irish are SOOOO underrepresented in American politics, right?
To me it has been abundantly clear for a long, long time: Trump is undeniably a racist. And he is viciously attacking these four women because not only are they not white, they are smart, educated, and capable women who criticize him...something Trump cannot swallow especially from women. Because he is a raging mysoginist in addition to being racist. He sees women as sex objects only...His 'manhood" is supremely offended by intelligent, capable women anywhere...Even more so when they are not white.
He is vile, crude, cruel, corrupt, autocratic but he is not dumb: he knows that his tweets will rile up his white voter base and that is the only thing that he cares about. The media including the NYT and WaPost, CNN etc..play into this by dedicating tons of newspaper space and airspace to his remarks. I get that it is a fine line because...how can you ignore such comments. Democrats and the liberal media have to be smarter if they want to beat Trump in 2020.
Excellent column!
Sorry Mr. Blow, but us other folks don't see it your way. (Yes, I'm a Democrat) Why are we wasting our time blasting Trump? Most of the country already knows he is a jerk, and also that much of what he says is calibrated to draw attention away from his inadequacy. Maybe you just don't have much else to talk about? Because as a White Jewish lady, I think your squad is racist and hurting Democrats and that includes their anti-Semitic targeted remarks. They are brand new Senators, and their audacity, arrogance, and hutzpah is obnoxious. I hope they all (and Trump of course) are voted out. All five continue to drag us down.
1
Any more than Obama?
This is beyond liberal or conservative policy or beliefs. It is beyond Democrat or Republican. This is SICK. This is a man who is bargaining nuclear bombs with Iran based on his personal obsession with President Obama.......who is on tape describing his sexual misconduct......who now abuses women verbally with racist attacks....who contradicts the Vice President's on site report of immigration camps.....who validates a perverse convicted sex offender with not one comment about victims.... Where is the outrage on both sides of the aisle? Is NYT the only citizenry willing to speak and not afraid of bring tweeted about?
Nothing new in Trump political vomitology...
It is what his followers want to hear. Or for the more enlightened among them, what they can easily forgive or ignore because it's just trump being trump.
It turns out we now know beyond a doubt who the famed "rapists (23 women and counting) and criminals (tax fraud)" is. We know the America hater, racist and misogynist. The xenophobe lines up with the russophile and autocrat --we know who he is. The 1%'s constituent sociopath, bane of the poor and needy --we know him. Wrecker of international alliances, the environment, the US economy (a chapter being written as we come down from our tax sugar high...) --we know. Liar in chief with some 11,000 lies to his credit --17/day; the divider --WE KNOW WHO HE IS...
HE IS US...! The 40% trump supporters who see what they want to see and disregard the rest. The undecided who pick through the carrion for leavings to their liking. Who rally to the festival of 'UN' --UNethical, UNpresidential, UNamerican, UNdecided.
Despite consensus among scholars and pundits that trump is the worst president since Andrew Johnson with an execrable supporting swamp and family.
So if anyone is going anywhere let it be trump. A one way ticket to Russia -a failed military petrostate where the poor and middle class suffer political and material deprivation and a fabulously rich, unscrupulous KGB/GRU kleptomaniac dictator runs amok.
Leave America alone. Just LEAVE!
trump is a vile racist. At this point I feel no qualms about categorizing his supporters as racists, too.
“We are watching as a president returns naked racism to the White House.”
Haunting words.
1
DT knew exactly what he was saying and eventhough three of the women are American born he is hoping that his base believes that they were not. As bad as this was neither side is totally innocent. Rep Omar said that Americans (meaning Jews) who felt a kinship with Israel had dual loyalties and AOC's Campaign Manager attacked a Native American Congresswoman for voting for the Border aid package as well as showing an affinity for an Indian politician who was a fan of the Nazis.
1
I believe that our president is thin-skinned and fights back when provoked.
( . . . and he has been provoked mercilessly these last 2+ years!)
However, whenever he tweets his attacks, folks like Charles Blow and his thousand cohorts always default to the race card.
The president attacks all comers, not just POC.
In this, he is completely unfiltered and transparent in his criticism.
Unfortunately people like Blow consistently see racism in everything.
.
.
1
You need a broader view, Mr. Blow.
Saying Trump is racist is like saying Attila the Hun had bad breath. Trump is way past racism. He is a danger to humanity.
I don’t need to read this entire article to agree our President is a racist. I have a lot riding on 2020, my peace of mind.
What a horrible thing it is to be female and even a shade more tan than Scandinavian Pink. The very definition of racist misogyny. Or is it misogynistic racism, a chicken-or-egg problem for Donald Trump?
These women are so racially unclean, Trump won't grab them in his preferred anatomical location for letting women know he they are attractive. Be just one drop of brown blood tinged and there is no attraction, no beauty.
Sadly, oh, so sadly, Trump is merely the mirror reflecting the will of tens of million of, even more sad to say, American citizen.
So sad.
1
Even if Trump were not a racist, would black persons vote for him? In past elections, black voters have always chosen a Democrat.
Thank you Mr Blow for your unwavering resistance to this horrible president and his disgusting enablers. And thank you for pointing out that these latest sickening Twitter comments are not only racist but also misogynistic. Trump insults everyone (except Putin and his daughter) but he saves his most vile comments (and behavior) for women. How any woman can support him breaks my brain. Lady Liberty should drop-kick him back where he came from.
"It is a form of white identitarianism, which opposes multiculturalism, but refuses to deem that opposition racist."
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck.
His refusal to rent to African Americans in the 70s was proof of his racism...
His rants about the “Central Park Five” back in 89’ and everything in between has repeatedly reconfirmed it.
He could be wearing a white hood and robe at his next press rant and the GOP would ignore it and FOX would spin it as a fashionable new bath robe.
He is, was and always will be a racist... All he has to work with is hate and fear.
On the day that Trump descended his golden elevator with trophy wife on display, and proclaimed his open bigotry as a campaign signature.... "Mexico is sending us murderers, rapists... " he made clear exactly who he was and intended to be if elected. And STILL we find ourselves shocked at the nakedness with which he publicly continues this nauseating ideology.
The Resistance again overplays its hand. The "go back" comment is obviously not meant as permanent. Democrats seem to think that everyone (besides them) is stupid and can't read.