by Alec Kohut
It started Saturday night, just hours after the bloodshed at the hands of white supremacists in Charlottesville. Republicans, after Trump refused to, began lining up to denounce white supremacy. They were shocked, shocked I tell you! And then, some Democrats began heaping praise on these wonderful Republicans who said the right thing that evening, and spoke up against hate.
And then some Democrats started preaching a desire to reach out to the poor alienated Trump voter, who surely now must see the error of their ways. This will surely be the episode that brings moderate Republicans to the table to talk. After all, they didn’t vote for Trump because of David Duke’s support, or his hateful rhetoric. They know this because every single Trump voter has told them so.
My question is: how many Trump voters that you know, have actually admitted they support his overtures to the white supremacist movement re-branded as the “Alt-Right?” If you’re like me, the answer is zero. Not one Trump voter that I know has admitted their racism. And even after Charlottesville, they won’t.
It’s jobs and trade, illegal immigration, and so on, and so on. They will not admit they made a mistake voting for Trump, because in their mind, they didn’t. They didn’t make a mistake at all. They knew about his racism, they heard David Duke sing his praises. They heard his misogyny, his hate, and they vote for him either because of it, or were willing to accept it. The best thing you can say about a Trump voter, is they are at least tolerant of vicious racism and hate. Think about it…that’s the best thing you can say about Trump voter.
So for me, this is not a time to reach out to Trump voters, but a time to choose sides. We have been warning about the rising tide of hate in America, especially after November 8th. We have watched hate groups become more emboldened. We watched Richard Spencer proudly proclaim, as he performed a Nazi salute, “Hail Trump.” But that wasn’t enough for Trump voters, and neither will Charlottesville.
One defender of Trump supporters even admitted that Trump enables white supremacists, but refused to say enabling Trump, therefore enables white supremacy. That person is just plain stupid. Another wanted to understand their frustration, and desperation, and reach out to them.
I will not reach out to Trump voters and their racist enabling. I will, however, leave the door open. When that Trump voter has had enough, and comes to the realization that they have indeed enabled racism and hate, I will listen. I won’t say “I told you so,” I won’t call them racist, I will welcome them to the non-racist enabling side of the political divide.
But I will not reach out to people, who after months, and months, of hateful rhetoric, and racist policies, refuse to admit they are in part to blame.
I have chosen my side, and I will not give aid and comfort to those who enable racism.