David Brooks: Donald Trump Hates America

[brooklynite]

New York Times

So apparently Donald Trump wants to make this an election about what it means to be American. He’s got his vision of what it means to be American, and he’s challenging the rest of us to come up with a better one.

In Trump’s version, “American” is defined by three propositions. First, to be American is to be xenophobic. The basic narrative he tells is that the good people of the heartland are under assault from aliens, elitists and outsiders. Second, to be American is to be nostalgic. America’s values were better during some golden past. Third, a true American is white. White Protestants created this country; everybody else is here on their sufferance.

When you look at Trump’s American idea you realize that it contradicts the traditional American idea in every particular. In fact, Trump’s national story is much closer to the Russian national story than it is toward our own. It’s an alien ideology he’s trying to plant on our soil.

Trump’s vision is radically anti-American.

[hatrack]

1. Gee, David Brooks is . . . apparently awake

That's nice.

[bullwinkle428]

2. Eh, give him a week. He'll be back to calling the Democratic party

a bunch of far-left socialists, with crazy radical ideas that will never resonate with the "true blue, working-class Americans" of the "heartland", and can't believe that they're blowing the opportunity of a lifetime.

[ginnyinWI]

3. And 45 thinks that America belongs to white people.

Cause we took it fair and square from Native Americans, apparently.

We own it so we can tell other people to get out. How wrong that is!

Fortunately, his followers are the real minority in this country. Everyone else should then say to them--if you don't like it here, then you can leave!

Time for everyone to get off their high horse and live together. And throw that divisive man out of the White House!

[Wounded Bear]

4. Gee, ya think?

You helped create this bullshit, Davy.

[NewJeffCT]

5. Brooks is correct

Trump's whole campaign in 2015/2016 was that America sucks and only he could make it better.

But, Trump's only making it better for the extremely wealthy, and that is short-term.

The rural working class white protestants that are his base are worse off, but working class persons of color are even more worse off, so the rural white working class is okay with that.