The pro-Trump forces are at work delegitimizing the anti-Trump protesters.
Trump and his media allies have a story to sell: the protests are phony. "The people" of America support Trump. Pay no attention to those protesters.
Eight years ago Democrats protested the "astro-turf" of the Tea Party, blaming it on the Koch brothers and Heritage Foundation. They were partly correct but the accusation hurt Democrats more than it helped them. It gave them an excuse and basis for ignoring the Tea Party--to their peril. The anger was real and they should have co-opted it. They didn't.
Now it is the Republican/Trump turn. I watched five minutes of Fox News this morning--Trump's favorite morning show--and saw the Fox Hosts visit with Michelle Malkin and make their points with disdain and outrage. Shame on Democrats for criticizing our "legitimately elected" president!
The five minute piece is a condensed survey of the ways Trump and his friendly media are trying to define anti-Trump protest: Click Here to see the 5 minute clip.
1. Protesters are against free speech, because they are criticizing Trump's condemnation of the media.
2. Protesters are wrongheaded and misinformed because they are "living in a bubble."
3. Protesters are unreliable because they are generally "panicked."
4. Protesters are making ridiculous ad hominem charges, with "inflammatory rhetoric," that Trump is anti-Hispanic, that "he is a fascist, that he's Adolph Hitler."
5. Trump opponents are hypocrites when they criticize a Trump "climate of hate" since some Trump opponents have "outright explicitly called for violence," and they ignored threats to a twitter trend to assassinate Donald Trump.
6. Trump opponents are "agitating for agitation's sake."
7. Trump opponents are being led and guided by Obama whose motives are merely persona since he is trying to "save his legacy." Obama "would do pretty much anything to continue his legacy."
8. They are not legitimate citizen protests. "Classic astro-turfing. These people don't represent anybody but the moneyed left wing progressive interests."
9. They are have communist inclinations: "pinkos."
10. They are not authentic. Instead they are taking direction from Michael Moore who gives protesters a calendar of activities to follow.
11. They are not citizens. They are professionals. "This is their full time job.
12. They oppose good people and values. "They don't care about policy, they don't care about taxpayers, children, women, men, workers."
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| Real Citizens |
My direct observations from southern Oregon is that political activity and agitation is several times as great as it was in the pre-election period. The protesters are real citizens, most typically of the baby boom generation. They are real and for now they are showing up with a purpose in mind: resist Trump's initiatives.
Democrats who were unmotivated prior to the election have become motivated. Rallies and protests are scheduled several times a week.
The local Democratic party's schedule is full of events: an Indivisible rally to oppose Trump and our local Republican congressman, a presentation on the dangers of energy pipelines, Party meetings, Racial Justice and Immigration meetings, coordination of appearances and where to park in overflow conditions for upcoming Town Meeting by Senator Wyden, organizing attendance for a Oregon Legislature Joint Ways and Means Committee, a rally regarding the high cost of rental housing, a gathering to make local country commissioner positions non-partisan, plus referrals to Facebook groups. This is happening in the final week of February.
As long as Republicans know full well they are selling a false story to their gullible base then it may be good strategy to keep up this narrative. Ignore the protests and protesters.
Republicans may make the mistake of believing their own spin and think the protests are a flash in the pan, just phony astroturf. That would be a mistake.
Trump did what Hillary Clinton did not do: motivate Democrats.
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