4 ms·

Yes, it's stupid. But that's the place we're at in the culture war. Pres. Trump is being crucified right now precisely for failing to provide such a statement.

Yes, it's stupid. But that's the place we're at in the culture war. Pres. Trump is being crucified right now precisely for failing to provide such a statement. We all have to be careful to pay our tributes, or we'll be ostracized. Can you think of any other reason for such widespread repetition of these useless words? (And of course I must, too. I'm speaking here from a completely abstract standpoint which shouldn't be construed as support for neo-nazis or anything vaguely like them.)

orangecat 9y ago
Pres. Trump is being crucified right now precisely for failing to provide such a statement. It's a bit more than that. Trump has had no problem condemning Antifa thugs and violent radical Islamists, so it is noteworthy when he equivocates on violent white supremacists, especially when some of them are claiming that he supports them.
- inevitable2 9y ago
  He has multiple times condemned the kkk and neo nazi's as well as the groups you mentioned. What I don't understand from media coverage is why is what he said not treated like condemnation for those groups or that his words weren't strong enough or that it needs to be repeated at every news conference.
  - mc32 9y ago
    Part of the issue is people are used to simpler statements. One enemy at a time. One condemnation at a time. Also they are used to how politicians typically do whatever necessary to appease their constituents till the horse is dead. Not saying this is bad, but that's the expectation and one he doesn't follow. I also think he's not attuned to people's sensitivity toward race. I said no new taxes. No new taxes. No taxes. I won't raise taxes. Taxes will not be raised. Over and over and over and over. Not being a pol hurts him here in that he does not get that aspect of governing. You don't just do what you think is right, you have to continuously signal your intention, otherwise your intention is suspect.
  - ghostly_s 9y ago
    Congratulations, you're not paying any attention. He notably refused to condemn them initially, then released a textual statement condemning them days later in response to criticism, immediately walked back his condemnation in a press conference, before condemning them again. If you read that as "He condemned them! Twice!", I don't know what to tell you.
- judah 9y ago
  He condemned them by name, but it took 48 hours to do so.
  - Angostura 9y ago
    And he then pretty much rolled back 24 hours later by suggesting some kind of equivalence between the white supremcists and those who opposed them.
    - empressplay 9y ago
      He could have been more eloquent, but the poison that kills me a little more slowly than the other poison is still poison.
  - sdenton4 9y ago
    And then went right back to false equivalence and whataboutism less than 24 hours later. The third statement reinforced the insincerity of the second.
    - ForRealsies 9y ago
      On Mass Hysteria Bubbles http://blog.dilbert.com/post/164297628606/how-to-know-youre-in-a-mass-hysteria-bubble http://blog.dilbert.com/post/164297628606/how-to-know-youre-...
    - pmoriarty 9y ago
      Not only that, he then went on to complain[1] about the removal of "beautiful" Confederate statues, effectively siding with the Neo-Nazis, who were in Charlottesville specifically to protest the removal of a Confederade statue. This is par for the course for Trump, who (only when under extreme political pressure from his own party) will belatedly condemn right-wing extremists with one corner of his mouth, but give them a verbal wink with the other. [1] - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40965029 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40965029
      - 9y ago

orangecat 9y ago

Pres. Trump is being crucified right now precisely for failing to provide such a statement. It's a bit more than that. Trump has had no problem condemning Antifa thugs and violent radical Islamists, so it is noteworthy when he equivocates on violent white supremacists, especially when some of them are claiming that he supports them.

inevitable2 9y ago
He has multiple times condemned the kkk and neo nazi's as well as the groups you mentioned. What I don't understand from media coverage is why is what he said not treated like condemnation for those groups or that his words weren't strong enough or that it needs to be repeated at every news conference.
- mc32 9y ago
  Part of the issue is people are used to simpler statements. One enemy at a time. One condemnation at a time. Also they are used to how politicians typically do whatever necessary to appease their constituents till the horse is dead. Not saying this is bad, but that's the expectation and one he doesn't follow. I also think he's not attuned to people's sensitivity toward race. I said no new taxes. No new taxes. No taxes. I won't raise taxes. Taxes will not be raised. Over and over and over and over. Not being a pol hurts him here in that he does not get that aspect of governing. You don't just do what you think is right, you have to continuously signal your intention, otherwise your intention is suspect.
- ghostly_s 9y ago
  Congratulations, you're not paying any attention. He notably refused to condemn them initially, then released a textual statement condemning them days later in response to criticism, immediately walked back his condemnation in a press conference, before condemning them again. If you read that as "He condemned them! Twice!", I don't know what to tell you.
judah 9y ago
He condemned them by name, but it took 48 hours to do so.
- Angostura 9y ago
  And he then pretty much rolled back 24 hours later by suggesting some kind of equivalence between the white supremcists and those who opposed them.
  - empressplay 9y ago
    He could have been more eloquent, but the poison that kills me a little more slowly than the other poison is still poison.
- sdenton4 9y ago
  And then went right back to false equivalence and whataboutism less than 24 hours later. The third statement reinforced the insincerity of the second.
  - ForRealsies 9y ago
    On Mass Hysteria Bubbles http://blog.dilbert.com/post/164297628606/how-to-know-youre-in-a-mass-hysteria-bubble http://blog.dilbert.com/post/164297628606/how-to-know-youre-...
  - pmoriarty 9y ago
    Not only that, he then went on to complain[1] about the removal of "beautiful" Confederate statues, effectively siding with the Neo-Nazis, who were in Charlottesville specifically to protest the removal of a Confederade statue. This is par for the course for Trump, who (only when under extreme political pressure from his own party) will belatedly condemn right-wing extremists with one corner of his mouth, but give them a verbal wink with the other. [1] - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40965029 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40965029
    - 9y ago