Republicans are morally bankrupt low quality people, Trump knew this and exploited it

[Snake Plissken]

All you have to do is fill their feeding trough with racism and greed ... and you'll own them

[Cirque du So-What]

1. It's always been that way with repugs

They want people who can be blackmailed to do the bidding of the powerbrokers. When that information escapes, as it has been happening with greater frequency since the internet came into existence, problems ensue. Sucks to be them.

[DEbluedude]

2. I heard that definition put another way some time again. Oh yeah,

Deplorable. I think they called it.

[unitedwethrive]

3. He said as much in an interview back in the 90s...that if he ran, it would be as a repub.

It's obvious to most that if you are a snake oil salesman, you need to find the right audience.

[Skittles]

4. they have always been that way

President Johnson nailed them

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lbj-convince-the-lowest-white-man/

[Caliman73]

5. Unfortunately, there is truth to that concept.

I have said this in other threads where DU members talk about the need for an "opposition party" and a "conservative point of view".

Donald Trump is likely agnostic about political ideology. He has donated to both Democratic and Republican campaigns. He has, I think, been registered as both parties as well.

Here is the thing though, he could have tried to run as a Democratic Party candidate. He chose to run as a Republican. Why? Because Democratic Party members are typically more savvy about their candidates. I am not saying that we always pick the best people all the time. We have had our share of Jim Traficants and Marion Berrys.

The difference is in the degree and the tolerance. When our people do something that is outside the bounds of acceptability, Democrats do not simply tolerate it. Republicans seem to have no "out of bounds".

Trump would NEVER had made it as a Democratic Candidate. He would have been laughed off the stage, there would have been massive protest. He would have been mercilessly ridden until he quit.

He went in as a Republican because he knows that they have become the party of cruelty and of simply trying to "own the libs". There is no more "small government", "family values", "America first" Republican party. I would argue that there never was. Conservatives are not a monolith. They have always been the party of Big Business and of the wealthy, but more and more, they are simply for whatever will hurt women, LGBT people, and people of color while keeping the wealthiest people rich. Trump is happy to play into that idea in order to retain power and enrich himself. His followers will pluck out their eyes and chop of their ears and noses to avoid dealing with the problems he brings.