by Linda Weal
I have a lot of respect for Donald J. Trump. Largely, because he has replaced a good chunk of the conversation around here about the weird winter weather with something much more interesting and fun.
I want to be clear, although I am writing this, I am not politically savvy. I don’t have a tv to follow along with Trump’s latest pronouncements, and I usually see his face under a breaking news sign on a bar tv (sound off) with a headline underneath that reads something like, “TRUMP ATTACKS REPUBLICAN PARTY” or “TRUMP UNDER ATTACK FROM GOP.”
In fact, from what I can tell, I do not agree with Trump about much, not his ideas or proposed policies. I find much of what he says to be irrational, reactionary, and even silly.
But ideas and policies are not what I find so great about Donald J. Trump. Like I said, I have acquired a lot of respect for Mr. Trump and his candidacy. He has been leading the polls, as the Republican Party’s top contender to win their presidential nomination for about six months, and more importantly is connecting with a major segment of our nation’s citizens. A lot of people in the United States think he should be the next president.
How is he doing that? With a twitter account loaded with insults? With threats to America’s greatness? With that astonishing hairdo? By calling his rivals for the presidential nomination a bunch of chumps? Yes. But mostly with his secret weapon: his attitude and confidence in himself and everything Trump.
My theory as to his success has more to do with context than content. I believe that it is not so much what he says, but that he says what he thinks. Face it, he does stand out on a debate stage.
In recent history, I cannot remember a candidate that was a true contender for a major party’s nomination who cared less about political correctness or political pandering.
When was the last time we watched someone run for president that didn’t memorize and rehearse not only the lines they would say, but the things they wouldn’t or shouldn’t? Not Trump. This recklessness is refreshing. It feels honest. I do not get the impression that Trump is being careful to not say anything. Whatever pops into his coifed head is fair game for his speech.
We have all heard of a political “gaffe,” a mistake that a candidate can make that is so big that we all hear about it, joke about it, and in effect their campaign is ruined. (Howard Dean’s “scream” and Sarah Palin’s interview with Katie Couric come to mind.)
Donald Trump is a walking gaffe. He has done more to ruin his chance of nomination than any other candidate I can recall, and yet he climbs. I believe, if he farted, loudly, in public—maybe during a foreign policy conference—his poll numbers would continue to rise. It is exactly his refusal to bow to conventional appropriateness that is propelling his rise.
It is his authenticity that potential voters are responding to. There is a lesson in this for all of us, in politics and in life. Authenticity, truthfulness and audacity trump (pardon the pun) anything that feels rehearsed. He is not so much rude, as not concerned with polite.
To many, this type of candidacy boggles the mind. It defies conventional wisdom. In preparation for writing this piece, I asked many of my “smart” friends, colleagues, and family members (all more knowledgeable about current affairs and politics than I am) what they would say if they were writing a piece about Donald Trump.
The answers varied dramatically, but overall were negative, tinged with fear and laced with swear words. They each mentioned the fear of a country that would elect him to lead and fear for what will come under President Trump.
They rail on about his personal defects and poor policy proposals ad infinitum. And I was interested to observe that those who are most opposed to Trump’s presidential bid seem to spend the most time talking about and thinking about him. And how horrible he is.
Simply put, his opponents all seem to be enjoying being offended. So offended are many, that the media coverage of Donald Trump is at least triple what it would be if the outrage was not so prevalent. After all, outrage is fun for all, not just Mr. Trump.
The people who hate him the most, are the biggest reason he is everywhere. Rather than thinking about how to move the country along and who might do the job best we are all captive to Trumpmania and anti-Trumpmania.
I think there are several lessons to be learned from this candidacy, and I am grateful to Donald Trump for providing us a platform to talk about real issues. (Not issues like a wall, or immigration, or terrorism, or even Obamacare.) Issues like authenticity, being your own person, speaking your mind, and most importantly the value of not being offended so easily. Really, stop being so offended! Applying these principles will make our lives more interesting, fun and brave. We will stop whining and maybe even learn to pave the way for an authentic national dialogue. One that could make America great again.
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Guest editorialist Linda Weal is a resident of Old Forge.