Another excellent article Mr. Boehlert. This one inspired me to join your community. When Clinton made that "deplorables" speech I was overtaken with pride. She nailed the phenomena of the alt right as portrayed in Breitbart News and as modeled by Steve Bannon, at the time Trump's Chief Executive Officer of his campaign. Interestingly the connection between "deplorables" and "alt right" has been lost since the entire Trump base seems to have taken on the qualities. When Clinton identified them they were only an influential splinter extreme.
Another aspect of this is that Trump's base and Republicans in general (where does one stop and the other start?) have taken to ridiculing the word. Clinton meant it in a specific description, not a general one. The base weakened the accusation by saying Clinton meant them all.
Thank you for your wonderful writing and analysis. I really enjoy reading your newsletter.
Well, yes, but she also could have called them treasonous bigots and misogynists who were supported a bigoted traitor and rapist. Either statement would have been equally correct, and the media would have, um, deplored them equally. Because, as it turns out, the true deplorables are in the political media.
In the age of irony, here's my issue which I think you've addressed. HRC spoke her truth and is crucified; Trump speaks his truth (Mexicans are "rapists") and he's glorified as straightforward. The misogyny cannot be ignored; dbtheonly is right in his Trump observation, democrats need to learn to not apologize for speaking the truth because by doing so, we enable the RW media's attacks.
Let's face it, Hillary was right about everything. She said this guy was Putin's puppet. He's Putin's puppet. She called only half of his supporters "deplorables". More than half, and at this point ALL of them, are deplorables. As Mr. Boehlert said, it was a throw away line. But then she, like all women type people, isn't allowed an off-the-cuff remark even if it is/was true. She was held to an impossible standard by news rooms full of (mostly) white, cisgender men who make decisions on what gets printed and who gets to report it. It's a glaring example of why we need more diversity - so this type of thing is pushed back on. Of course media being mostly corporate and profit-driven doesn't help. Remember the days when the news was a loss leader? Okay, you may not be an old like I am. Ha! But I remember. It was still narrated through the same white, cis-gender male contingent so I'm not sure we've made much progress regardless. We should still have a fairness doctrine. Some people say that doesn't matter anymore. I think it very clearly does because we depend on the fourth estate to get things right. To make sure that happens, we need representation in all facets of news gathering, editorializing. assignments and overall leadership.
I know a couple that got a note from their doctor so they don't have to wear a mask. There is no medical reason for it. It's just because they are "entitled" people who believe Trump and see themselves as victims. These are folks that have more money than most of us will ever have, such an inconvenience to wear a mask. Then of course there are the deplorables. And how were the deplorables created? Years of stripping our school curriculum from gaining knowledge that would keep the masses from being critical thinkers. Civics is not taught. These people have no idea how the three branches of government work, how a bill is created and passed, what it means to participate in a democracy. They believe the moon landing was fake and that aliens built the pyramids. Comedian George Carlin was so ahead of the curve when in one of his final HBO specials declared and I'm paraphrasing - "the owners of this country do not want an informed electorate, that is not in their best interest. They want an ignorant public who will vote against their own best interest" Well what's the harm in that. As the Covid-19 is showing, everything!
The eternal conflict between “can say” and “should say”.
I doubt anyone ever denied the truth of the “deplorables” statement. But was it a wise thing to say? Given the needle Trump threaded to win; is it possible that this was indeed a tipping point?
And the point is valid today.
VP Biden, the RW Media will twist anything you say to your detriment. Their attack ads will misconstrue anything you say. Heck, they’ll invent things you haven’t even said to attack you.
So, please be careful, think how each and every word can be repurposed by Fox “News”. Don’t joke.
Trump’s base: clueless white suburban ninnies, monster truck driving assholes-and-proud-of-it, low-info blowhards, knuckle-dragging bullies, science-denying dummies, Evangelical Christian hypocrites, those who are vulnerable to BS conspiracy theories, earth-raping corporate shills, greedy one-percent swamp creatures, shut-ins, racists, misogynists and homophobes, dumb people for whom Trump is their idea of a smart person, Stockholm syndrome victims, totally gullible suckers, folks who have no idea how our government works, those who would prefer a civil war over a united America, entitled, deplorable douchebags, fanatics and fools …
Clever piece, but no, it is never a good idea to dehumanize your opponents, no matter how subhuman their ideas and conduct may be. A gaffe by Clinton that reinforced the stereotype of liberals as aloof and condescending. Let's move forward.
Another excellent article Mr. Boehlert. This one inspired me to join your community. When Clinton made that "deplorables" speech I was overtaken with pride. She nailed the phenomena of the alt right as portrayed in Breitbart News and as modeled by Steve Bannon, at the time Trump's Chief Executive Officer of his campaign. Interestingly the connection between "deplorables" and "alt right" has been lost since the entire Trump base seems to have taken on the qualities. When Clinton identified them they were only an influential splinter extreme.
Another aspect of this is that Trump's base and Republicans in general (where does one stop and the other start?) have taken to ridiculing the word. Clinton meant it in a specific description, not a general one. The base weakened the accusation by saying Clinton meant them all.
Thank you for your wonderful writing and analysis. I really enjoy reading your newsletter.
Well, yes, but she also could have called them treasonous bigots and misogynists who were supported a bigoted traitor and rapist. Either statement would have been equally correct, and the media would have, um, deplored them equally. Because, as it turns out, the true deplorables are in the political media.
In the age of irony, here's my issue which I think you've addressed. HRC spoke her truth and is crucified; Trump speaks his truth (Mexicans are "rapists") and he's glorified as straightforward. The misogyny cannot be ignored; dbtheonly is right in his Trump observation, democrats need to learn to not apologize for speaking the truth because by doing so, we enable the RW media's attacks.
Let's face it, Hillary was right about everything. She said this guy was Putin's puppet. He's Putin's puppet. She called only half of his supporters "deplorables". More than half, and at this point ALL of them, are deplorables. As Mr. Boehlert said, it was a throw away line. But then she, like all women type people, isn't allowed an off-the-cuff remark even if it is/was true. She was held to an impossible standard by news rooms full of (mostly) white, cisgender men who make decisions on what gets printed and who gets to report it. It's a glaring example of why we need more diversity - so this type of thing is pushed back on. Of course media being mostly corporate and profit-driven doesn't help. Remember the days when the news was a loss leader? Okay, you may not be an old like I am. Ha! But I remember. It was still narrated through the same white, cis-gender male contingent so I'm not sure we've made much progress regardless. We should still have a fairness doctrine. Some people say that doesn't matter anymore. I think it very clearly does because we depend on the fourth estate to get things right. To make sure that happens, we need representation in all facets of news gathering, editorializing. assignments and overall leadership.
I know a couple that got a note from their doctor so they don't have to wear a mask. There is no medical reason for it. It's just because they are "entitled" people who believe Trump and see themselves as victims. These are folks that have more money than most of us will ever have, such an inconvenience to wear a mask. Then of course there are the deplorables. And how were the deplorables created? Years of stripping our school curriculum from gaining knowledge that would keep the masses from being critical thinkers. Civics is not taught. These people have no idea how the three branches of government work, how a bill is created and passed, what it means to participate in a democracy. They believe the moon landing was fake and that aliens built the pyramids. Comedian George Carlin was so ahead of the curve when in one of his final HBO specials declared and I'm paraphrasing - "the owners of this country do not want an informed electorate, that is not in their best interest. They want an ignorant public who will vote against their own best interest" Well what's the harm in that. As the Covid-19 is showing, everything!
There have even been incidents of people spitting on others who complain about them not wearing masks.
As for Hillary’s “deplorable” comment, many in media kept implying that she called all of Trump’s voters that.
Ah Mr. Boehlert,
The eternal conflict between “can say” and “should say”.
I doubt anyone ever denied the truth of the “deplorables” statement. But was it a wise thing to say? Given the needle Trump threaded to win; is it possible that this was indeed a tipping point?
And the point is valid today.
VP Biden, the RW Media will twist anything you say to your detriment. Their attack ads will misconstrue anything you say. Heck, they’ll invent things you haven’t even said to attack you.
So, please be careful, think how each and every word can be repurposed by Fox “News”. Don’t joke.
In the words of Red Leader, “Stay on target.”
Trump’s base: clueless white suburban ninnies, monster truck driving assholes-and-proud-of-it, low-info blowhards, knuckle-dragging bullies, science-denying dummies, Evangelical Christian hypocrites, those who are vulnerable to BS conspiracy theories, earth-raping corporate shills, greedy one-percent swamp creatures, shut-ins, racists, misogynists and homophobes, dumb people for whom Trump is their idea of a smart person, Stockholm syndrome victims, totally gullible suckers, folks who have no idea how our government works, those who would prefer a civil war over a united America, entitled, deplorable douchebags, fanatics and fools …
FWIW, the NY Times and the Washington Post are calling out right wing media for making things worse. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/7/29/1964773/-NY-Times-Washington-Post-Call-Out-Right-Wing-Media-for-Spreading-Covid-19-Virus-with-Disinformation
Clever piece, but no, it is never a good idea to dehumanize your opponents, no matter how subhuman their ideas and conduct may be. A gaffe by Clinton that reinforced the stereotype of liberals as aloof and condescending. Let's move forward.
Parsons of Missouri.