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Commentary: DONALD TRUMPS EXPLOITATION OF ORLANDO


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2016 Jun 12, 6:46pm   9,205 views  32 comments

by marcus   ➕follow (6)   💰tip   ignore  

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/donald-trumps-exploitation-of-orlando

I'm guessing nobody is surprised. Stay classy Donald.

In the rhetoric of Donald Trump, mendacity and cynicism compete for equal time. It is hard to say which prevailed today as the Republican Party standard-bearer, a man who pretends to the most powerful political office in the land, tweeted this at his followers: “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism.”

This came in the wake of the most horrific mass shooting in the history of the United States—a slaughter of fifty men and women in an L.G.B.T. night club called Pulse, in Orlando, early Sunday morning. Trump allowed that he didn’t want “congrats” so much as he wanted “toughness & vigilance.” Just as profoundly, he announced, “We must be smart!”

Trump also told his followers—and hence the world—that President Obama should “immediately resign in disgrace” for failing to “mention the words radical Islam” in his remarks on the shooting. And, he suggested, Hillary Clinton might want to get out of the Presidential race for making the same sin of omission in her statement.

With every month, it has become clearer that Trump is a makeshift politician, whose rancid wit resides in his willingness to say whatever it takes to arouse the fears of a political base. He might have started his campaign with the idea of winning some votes and publicity, increasing his profile as a marketing whiz, and then dropping out. Good for business! But now that he has stunned the political world—and, likely, himself—he has shown little inclination (or, perhaps, capacity) to grow into his role, to modify his language, be it for the sake of the Republican establishment or of simple decency. He’ll have none of that. Whatever inflates his sense of self and prods the anxieties of the country—that’s what works for him.

It feels indecent on such a day to engage these comments of Trump’s at all. But their velocity, vapidity, and sheer ugliness reflect his character, his emptiness, and, most of all, the shape of the election campaign to come. Since Trump has ascended, it’s been clear that his demagogic instincts could be tested precisely by the sort of tragedy suffered in Orlando. And, when faced with the path of modesty and the path of dark opportunism, he has chosen the latter. That’s what he is about. It’s who he is.

This might have been predicted. In the wake of the attacks in Brussels, last March, Trump was asked if he would consider using nuclear weapons to fight isis. “Well, I’m never gonna rule anything out,” he said. “The fact is, we need unpredictability.” He said the terrorists were “winning,” and “we don’t do anything about it.” Waterboarding, he said, “would be fine.”

Now, Trump is again pounding the notion of American leadership as “weak,” as complacent.

“If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country anymore,” Trump said in a statement posted on his campaign’s Web site. “Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen—and it is only going to get worse. I am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack. We can’t afford to be politically correct anymore.”

Trump’s ruse is that somehow the United States is not engaged militarily in the fight against isis, or that “political correctness” is the chief factor undermining American security. He feeds his constituents daily with the misbegotten notion that the country is being flooded with countless unchecked “aliens” from the Middle East, South Asia, and Mexico. The mouth moves and the lies pour forth. Any contrary evidence, any complexity, is foreign. Questioned on television to prove his points, faced with contrary evidence, he talks past it. Never mind all the firepower expended against isis targets, the territory gained, and the difficulty of taking back cities when ordinary civilians are used, en masse, as human shields. We are weak; we are politically correct.

No one, not least the President, failed to take note that the man identified by authorities as the killer in Orlando—a twenty-nine-year-old American citizen and security guard from Fort Pierce, Florida, named Omar Mateen—had carried out a terrorist attack. Official sources also revealed that he had pledged allegiance to isis on a 911 call made just before the attack, and that he had legally purchased arms, including an AR-15 assault rifle, the same rapid-fire weapon used at Sandy Hook. The isis attitude toward homosexuals is well known: they are summarily executed, often thrown from rooftops. Trump, for his part, had nothing to say about the easily availability of weapons like the AR-15; he is deep in an embrace with the leadership of the National Rifle Association, which has endorsed him.

President Obama, in his statement, displayed a sense of calm resolution, grief, and outrage—as he has done repeatedly, after mass shootings in Binghamton, Fort Hood, Tucson, Aurora, Oak Creek, Overland Park, Newtown, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Chattanooga, San Bernardino, and elsewhere. Hillary Clinton, too, issued a statement that was rational, heartfelt, and touched on all the necessary aspects of the killings as we know them thus far—terrorism, the need to go on battling terrorism, the preposterously easy availability of guns, the victimization of the L.G.B.T. community.

The horror in Orlando was unspeakable. And we will learn much more about it in the days ahead. But today the event was made that much worse by a Presidential candidate who seeks to lead the country in complicated times and in its darker moments with self-aggrandizing tweets and hollow words.

Comments 1 - 32 of 32        Search these comments

1   marcus   2016 Jun 12, 6:51pm  

I knew this was Obama's fault.

2   Tenpoundbass   2016 Jun 12, 6:54pm  

Well in Trump's defense any mammal on the planet can see Obama has been nothing but a supporter of Jihad.

3   marcus   2016 Jun 12, 6:58pm  

Obviously.

4   marcus   2016 Jun 12, 7:12pm  

We're Americans and we are badasses. That's why America's leaders need to put the 1.6 Islamic people of the world on notice that we are at war with Islam, or rather with radical Islam.

It doesn't take any in depth complex analysis or focus groups to figure out that by making this declaration we decrease the potential for future terrorism. And that it would shrink the number of terrorists and terrorist sympathizers. Everyone knows that.

Why don't those pussy liberal enablers understand this ? Why are they always so "politically correct ?" Just the sheer declaration of how badass, brave and resolute we are, and how much we despise radical Islam, will make those suicide bombers and potential future terrorists run to their mommies, cowering is fear.

5   HydroCabron   2016 Jun 12, 7:16pm  

DieBankOfAmericaPhukkingDie says

People with CLASS!, fucking WINNER!s call me on the phone and congratulate me on calling it with flawless precision and beg for the chance to SUCK MY DICK!

A-fucking-men. Preach it!

7   zzyzzx   2016 Jun 12, 8:02pm  

Looks like Trump now has a lock on the gay vote and Marcus is jealous.

8   Tenpoundbass   2016 Jun 12, 8:46pm  

It's like America is being Child Brided to Hillary Clinton, and Donald is our only savior.

9   anonymous   2016 Jun 12, 9:45pm  

marcus says

I'm guessing nobody is surprised. Stay classy Donald.

of course not - reasonable americans expect our leaders to take action to keep us safe from those who want to kill us.

what is surprising are worthless dregs like yourself who wish harm on our way of life and enjoy the downward spiral due to some serious self-loathing and inadequacy issues. better to have america weak and pathetic just like you, eh marcus?

10   marcus   2016 Jun 12, 10:44pm  

landtof says

better to have america weak and pathetic just like you, eh marcus?

No, I'm just not stupid enough to think that saying "Islamic terrorist", or even more specifically asserting that Islam or Islamic terror is our enemy prevents terrorist attacks. In fact, my intuition is that it increases the chances. I think some on the fence terrorist wannabees are possibly going to think "challenge accepted" when we start constantly talking about how much we hate Islam.

Actions are what matter to those people, and saying the words Islamic terror is not an action. Obama is acting Presidential as Hillary would if she were President. They don't need to say anything that reflects or incites hate. But I'll bet anything there will be a lot of action, drone attacks and such in coming days and weeks against ISIS, and much of it won't be publicized.

http://news.antiwar.com/2016/06/12/iraqi-forces-capture-one-village-south-of-mosul-near-another/

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/06/12/Iraqi-defense-Hundreds-of-militants-arrested-in-Fallujah/1221465752074/

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/06/12/Thousands-flee-Falluja-using-first-safe-exit-route-secured-by-Iraqi-army.html

This and much more is going on right now and I'm sure in the near future, and should be proof to ISIS that if Orlando was a message from them, then they will be getting our response. LEt's get those gamers busy with their drones.

Actions speak louder than words, dimbulb (mish ?) US declaring publicly that we hate Islam does us only harm, but then you would have to have an IQ over 80 to understand that.

I don't know why, but you're such an idiot that I think you might be Mish. Am I right ?

11   Strategist   2016 Jun 13, 5:47am  

marcus says

No, I'm just not stupid enough to think that saying "Islamic terrorist", or even more specifically asserting that Islam or Islamic terror is our enemy prevents terrorist attacks.

Like the rest of the world, we are already at war with Islam. We cannot with this war without first acknowledging who the enemy is. Being fearful of offending the enemy is rather silly, and won't stop the attacks.

12   zzyzzx   2016 Jun 13, 5:55am  

Even by starting this thread, Marcus is acknowledging that Obama has been a failure. Get used to saying President Trump.

13   marcus   2016 Jun 13, 6:17am  

Strategist says

Like the rest of the world, we are already at war with Islam

WE aren't at war with Islam and we don't want to be at war with Islam. No, I'm not an apologist for Islam, nor do I think it's a really nifty religion.

zzyzzx says

Marcus is acknowledging that Obama has been a failure.

Jesus you guys are fucking stupid. And you're completely burying your chance of having your President Trump.

You keep forgetting that fully half the U.S. population is above average intelligence.

14   FNWGMOBDVZXDNW   2016 Jun 13, 8:09am  

Strategist says

Like the rest of the world, we are already at war with Islam. We cannot with this war without first acknowledging who the enemy is. Being fearful of offending the enemy is rather silly, and won't stop the attacks

We are and have been at war with a collection of people that make up several groups of terrorists who are claiming to represent true Islam. Agreeing with those terrorists is just helping them. Even GW Bush understood that. Unfortunately, we don't seem to be winning the war of ideas in the Muslim world, and Donald (smart as a stump) Trump is not going to help anyone win a war of ideas.

15   HEY YOU   2016 Jun 13, 8:59am  

Marcus says: "You keep forgetting that fully half the U.S. population is above average intelligence."
Patnetter's average are in negative numbers. I'm at -4.

16   marcus   2016 Jun 13, 2:21pm  

YesYNot says

We are and have been at war with a collection of people that make up several groups of terrorists who are claiming to represent true Islam. Agreeing with those terrorists is just helping them. Even GW Bush understood that.

Exactly correct, and should be obvious.

Why do you think they do it ?

Basically I'm thinking the logic (or emotion) of the people that buy the fear mongering goes something like this. "We need to punish the good Islamic people and put pressure on them to eliminate the bad "Islamists" from their ranks."

Wtf ? Is it not obvious that it would only create a rationale for more radical Islamists ? The biggest fear of the radical Islamists is having a sufficiently large portion of the Islamic population integrating in to the modern secular western world.

17   EBGuy   2016 Jun 13, 2:57pm  

Ducky said: You can't have a dictator without ample amounts of fear and bigotry.
The presumptive GOP nominee said that the nation's deadliest mass murder is, "an assault on the ability of free people to live their lives, love who they want and express their identity."

18   anonymous   2016 Jun 13, 6:45pm  

marcus says

US declaring publicly that we hate Islam does us only harm

hahaha you fucking pussy!

so you think that if "we coo wit dem" then they will hate us and attack us less??????

FUCKING BRILLIANT MARCUS!

19   Strategist   2016 Jun 13, 6:51pm  

YesYNot says

Strategist says

Like the rest of the world, we are already at war with Islam. We cannot with this war without first acknowledging who the enemy is. Being fearful of offending the enemy is rather silly, and won't stop the attacks

We are and have been at war with a collection of people that make up several groups of terrorists who are claiming to represent true Islam.

What is true Islam is for the Muslims to work out. If believers in "true Islam" attack the world, I expect the OTHER true believers in Islam to stop them.
Why do we have to do the dirty work for everyone.

20   marcus   2016 Jun 13, 6:54pm  

landtof says

so you think that if "we coo wit dem" then they will hate us and attack us less??????

Must be ironman. Takes phrase out of context, puts his own twisted interpretation on it, and then claims it's what I said.

Look landtof, why don't you just let the grown ups have their conversation. I'll stop by the children's table with a comment that you can comprehend later.

21   Shaman   2016 Jun 13, 6:54pm  

Why not internment camps pre-deportation of Muslims? No genocide, nobody dies, and they all get to experience true Islam! Win win!

22   marcus   2016 Jun 13, 6:55pm  

Strategist says

Why do we have to do the dirty work for everyone

probably because the owners need more divide and conquer issues to prevent us from having a government that's actually for the people.

23   anonymous   2016 Jun 13, 7:15pm  

marcus says

Look landtof, why don't you just let the grown ups have their conversation.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR TESTICLES.

24   zzyzzx   2016 Jun 13, 7:17pm  

Thread title should really be:
Commentary: DONALD TRUMPS EXPLOITATION OF OBAMA AND HILLARY INCOMPETENCE

25   marcus   2016 Jun 14, 8:06am  

zzyzzx says

Thread title should really be:

You guys are so far gone you don't even remember what common decency looks like.

Imagine yourself an intelligent child, who says the pledge of allegiance with pure respect and reverence for the U.S., for what it is, and even more for what it has been and what it can be.

Then imagine the biggest mass shooting in our country's history occurs, an undeniably tragic event that's hard to even wrap ones mind around.

The president responds to this tragedy with a speech that's much as many would expect.

Right wing nuts, and then the presumptive republican nominee call for the President's resignation because in his speech he used the word terrorist several times without saying the word "Islamic." As if somehow noting that this is another example of pure radical Islamic terror somehow accomplishes something. Or as if anyone didn't notice his name, or they didn't read or hear about the supposed ISIS connection.

You can't make this stuff up.

Meanwhile, if that mixed up POS asshole that did the killings in Orlando was actually connected to Isis in some way, this is the kind of response I would have expected from our commander in chief.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3640726/ISIS-leader-Abu-Bakr-al-Baghdadi-killed-air-strike-Raqqa-according-pro-Islamic-State-news-agency.html

27   Tenpoundbass   2016 Jun 15, 5:29am  

God Bless ZZXX...

29   Tenpoundbass   2016 Jun 15, 7:43am  

YesYNot says

Even Republicans think Trump is an ass-hat not worthy of the office.

I wish you people would make up your mind.

The Republicans don't know what in the hell they are talking about remember?

30   zzyzzx   2016 Jun 15, 8:01am  

It's all Obama's fault!!!

31   Rew   2016 Jun 15, 9:02am  

Tenpoundbass says

Well in Trump's defense any mammal on the planet can see Obama has been nothing but a supporter of Jihad.

Osama bin Laden
Anwar al-Awlaki
Abu Hafs al-Shahri
‘Atiyah ‘Abd al-Rahman
Ilyas Kashmiri
Ammar al-Wa’ili
Abu Ali al-Harithi
Ali Saleh Farhan
Harun Fazul
Younis al-Mauritani
Baitullah Mahsud
Noordin Muhammad
Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan
Saleh al-Somali
Abdul Ghani Beradar
Qari Zafar
Muhammad Haqqani
Hussein al-Yemeni
Jemayah Islamiya
Abu Ayyub al-Masri
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
Sheik Saeed al-Masri
Hamza al-Jawfi

32   Rew   2016 Jun 15, 9:05am  

Quigley says

Why not internment camps pre-deportation of Muslims? No genocide, nobody dies, and they all get to experience true Islam! Win win!

When they come to lock you up, for what religion you believe or what country you originally came from, you think that espouses American ideals? That's "your" America?

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