Between now and November, you have a decision to make. A lot of articles have been written about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. But what do their supporters have to say? The Atlantic Magazine went out and asked Trump supporters why they think he should be president. “Broadly speaking, the men and women who wrote fall into two categories: Those who earnestly believe that Trump is the best choice to lead America and those who are motivated by giddyness at the chaotic spectacle of his success.”
Here are a dozen of the 30 they offer:
1–A Liberal Who Wants America to Win––“I feel that Trump is our only hope in this next election. This is coming from someone who voted for Obama in the last election!”
4–Trump Has a Drive for Perfection––“He will expect greatness from us, he will tell us how to get to great, he will inspire people to be better than they are and have the hope that their efforts will not be thwarted by bigger government.”
6–Trump is a Moderate Compromiser––“His problem, according to the rest of the GOP, is that he wants single-payer health care and that he doesn’t want to completely defund Planned Parenthood. I don’t agree with him but why is it a bad thing to be moderate? A moderate has a special ability to be a liaison between the parties.”
7–Trump is a Corrective to American Culture’s Pathologies––“The preeminence of political correctness among the culture class indicates a momentous shift away from formerly prominent middle-class cultural values towards something entirely different. Even if Donald Trump were to accomplish little in his presidency, there is a hope that were he president, he could in some way alter that prevailing Washington/media culture, and set a new cultural tone.”
9–Trump Embodies the Rage of the White Middle Class––“Politicians spend no time helping them. Black lives matter more and illegal immigrants who break the law get a free pass. Evangelicals in this country no longer feel they have the right to religious freedom and have watched what they perceive as a sacred institution in marriage gutted. All the while, politicians they voted for to represent them just plain don’t.”
11–Trump Has Successfully Run Large Organizations––“He leads an enormous, diversified organization that is worth billions. This requires leadership. Leadership, by the way, is different from knowledge. When you lead a large organization you set vision, goals and expect results. You do not know every detail of every level of your organization. You can’t. The world is just too complicated. You delegate and empower. You can get information when you need it and the president has no shortage of people ready to educate him on issues.”
12–Trump is a Gamble Worth Taking––“I am of the belief that he is conceited and arrogant enough to avoid failing in front of the world at all cost.”
19–Trump Has Consistently Championed Protectionism––“On the two primary issues as to why I’m supporting Mr. Trump he has remained stunningly consistent.”
20–Trump Put Illegal Immigration Front and Center––“We have horrendous problem with illegal aliens, sanctuary cities & crimes.”
23–Trump’s Nature is to Make the Best Deals Possible––“While Trump may very well have his own best interests at heart it’s ok: his best interest is our best interest and that best interest is our property values and our economy. When our economy tanks, his property values go DOWN! If anyone would be interested in saving our country, it would be someone whose salary is directly tied to the value of the country we call the USA!
28–Trump Has Successful Supporters––“I’m a college graduate, I have a Family, I work in an executive-level management position for a Fortune 500 company and I’m a homeowner. What I think you may find interesting is that I have a circle of friends, both men and women, who have similar concerns and backgrounds. We are all employed with excellent careers and we all are supporting Trump for President.”
29–A Bernie Sanders Supporter Who’d Vote Trump Over Clinton––“While he might not deliver on his promises, he would certainly be a bull in the China shop of contemporary American politics, which has long needed destroying and rebuilding.”
Of course, not all of Trump’s supporters are altruistic. Among the responses were also these:
2–An Anarchist Who Revels in Destruction––“Like the joker from The Dark Knight, I just want to see the world burn.”
5–‘I Just Want to Watch the Chaos…’––“I’m a young guy who is immature, a bit antisocial, and with no plans for kids or a wife ever. At some level, I don’t really care how things go with America as long as it’s fun to watch.”
8–Trump Knows It’s All a Joke––“Many are right; it’s not about trusting Trump; it’s a collective middle finger to the establishment… Trump isn’t stupid, he gets it. He knows the more outrageous, the better.”
24–Trump is the Lead in a Fabulous Mockumentary––“I’d vote for the candidate purely for the comedic value.”
Meanwhile, Breitbart has a list of 20 reasons to vote for Trump:
1. He is not your ordinary politician.
2. Trump is not reliant on donors.
3. Yes, he doesn’t have much of a filter. Bravo.
4. He speaks for us little people.
5. Make no mistake, there is an establishment plot against him.
6. Diplomacy.
7. His business accomplishments.
8. He’s pro-women.
9. A stellar first family.
10. A man of sound morals.
11. The celebrity factor is actually a huge plus.
12. His policies are spot-on, particularly immigration.
13. He can bring in independents.
14. The naysaying is rooted in careerists’ self-interests.
15. Negotiation skills.
16. Many Latinos love him.
17. African-Americans love him, too.
18. Heck, Americans idolize him.
19. By process of elimination.
20. If he doesn’t earn the nomination, there is no hope for American politics.
Those were just the headlines. You’ll find a whole explanation of each point at the link.
Most Democrats and many Republicans have written off Trump, but there’s still a long way to November. And his negatives are already out there. Much of it is “old news.” Will Hillary have anything new to throw at him? (Maybe we should ask the Russians.)
Note: This article is a companion to Why ‘NeverTrump’ Movement Pushes Back
