Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

Rogue Valley · Oct 23, 2018

Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

10/22/18
President Trump has settled on a strategy of fear — laced with falsehoods and racially tinged rhetoric — to help lift his party to victory in the coming midterms, part of a broader effort to energize Republican voters with two weeks left until the Nov. 6 elections. Trump’s messaging — on display in his regular campaign rallies, tweets and press statements — largely avoids much talk of his achievements and instead offers an apocalyptic vision of the country, which he warns will only get worse if Democrats retake control of Congress. The president has been especially focused in recent days on a caravan of about 5,000 migrants traveling north to cross the U.S. border, a group he has darkly characterized as gang members, violent criminals and “unknown Middle Easterners” — a claim for which his administration has so far provided no concrete evidence. “You’re going to find MS-13, you’re going to find Middle Eastern, you’re going to find everything. And guess what? We’re not allowing them in our country,” Trump said, when asked by reporters Wednesday if he had any proof of terrorists infiltrating the caravan. “We want safety.”

The overall strategy, Trump advisers and political operatives said, is to paint a portrait of a chaotic, dangerous world — with Trump and Republicans as the panacea. Many of the president’s assertions are false or clear distortions of the facts. Trump is incorrect, for example, in his claim that Democrats will “destroy” both Medicare and Social Security, while he has made both programs “stronger.” There is also no evidence that Democrats are paying for the migrant caravan snaking its way north toward the southern border, while voter fraud remains exceedingly rare. But that has not stopped the president from repeating such false or misleading claims, in part because advisers say his key midterm strategy is to fuel Republican turnout by riling up his most avid supporters, often through frightening and emotional appeals. “This is the way propaganda works,” Ben-Ghiat said. “You put different enemies together that really have nothing to do with one another. He’s trying to create this image of a wave of people of color, or threats, who are coming to invade the border.”

The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.

So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.

They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.

Harshaw · Oct 23, 2018

Rogue Valley said:
Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.

So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.

They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.

Two questions:

Does the WaPo consider this an opinion article or a news article? It's less than clear.

Do YOU consider this an opinion article or a news article? That, too, is less than clear.

Ikari · Oct 23, 2018

Rogue Valley said:
Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.

So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.

They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.

I mean fear and falsehoods are a general tool of both parties, but it's been Trump's bread and butter since the start, so I don't know why we'd think it would be any different now.

Fruityfact · Oct 23, 2018

Ikari said:
I mean fear and falsehoods are a general tool of both parties, but it's been Trump's bread and butter since the start, so I don't know why we'd think it would be any different now.

The both sides argument is tired and boring to anyone who pays attention.

Checkerboard Strangler · Oct 23, 2018

Ikari said:
I mean fear and falsehoods are a general tool of both parties, but it's been Trump's bread and butter since the start, so I don't know why we'd think it would be any different now.

Not that it's any different, but that it....

Harshaw · Oct 23, 2018

Fruityfact said:
The both sides argument is tired and boring to anyone who pays attention.

What, you think the Democrats don't peddle fear and division?

RetiredUSN · Oct 23, 2018

Fruityfact said:
The both sides argument is tired and boring to anyone who pays attention.

It is also recognized as the truth .......................to anyone who pays attention.

Checkerboard Strangler · Oct 23, 2018

Fruityfact said:
The both sides argument is tired and boring to anyone who pays attention.

Gotta agree at this point. Time to stop pretending that you're above it all.
You know the same **** we know, you're seeing the same **** we're all seeing, and you're certainly smart enough to not be blind.
Say that you don't like the Dems, say that you don't like either party and I don't care, but at this point any rational person is no longer making attempts to compare the two in terms of lies, agitprop, fearmongering, even violence, the latter of which is now clearly promulgated for the express purpose of leaping into the air in hysterical shock and horror when anyone defends themselves.

You're witnessing a carbon copy of the Russian Little Green Men in action, minus only the munitions and the military hardware.
Should you doubt too much what comes next, check back in three weeks if we don't seize control of Congress.

Ikari · Oct 23, 2018

Fruityfact said:
The both sides argument is tired and boring to anyone who pays attention.

I think it's quite relevant to anyone who pays attention and wants actual change

Rogue Valley · Oct 23, 2018

The GOP certainly can't run on Trumps tariffs either, and they don't want to talk about that. Hell no.

Or on DeVos education, or arming school teachers, or on the sale of National Park land to corporate pals.

None of them are running FOR any positive accomplishments. They run on the fear of the various bogeymen they invent.

Fruityfact · Oct 23, 2018

Ikari said:
I think it's quite relevant to anyone who pays attention and wants actual change

You're right, acknowledging that both sides are not the same is how we'll change the country.

Fishking · Oct 23, 2018

Checkerboard Strangler said:
Gotta agree at this point. Time to stop pretending that you're above it all.
You know the same **** we know, you're seeing the same **** we're all seeing, and you're certainly smart enough to not be blind.
Say that you don't like the Dems, say that you don't like either party and I don't care, but at this point any rational person is no longer making attempts to compare the two in terms of lies, agitprop, fearmongering, even violence, the latter of which is now clearly promulgated for the express purpose of leaping into the air in hysterical shock and horror when anyone defends themselves.

You're witnessing a carbon copy of the Russian Little Green Men in action, minus only the munitions and the military hardware.
Should you doubt too much what comes next, check back in three weeks if we don't seize control of Congress.

I already owned you on the comparison between systemic violence and intimidation carried about by the left and the right. Don't keep trotting that out. As to fearmongering, that also doesn't compare. The left, since day 1 of the Trump admin, has been in a breathless state of panic and fear this entire time. We need more screaming at the sky to prove the point?

Moderate Right · Oct 23, 2018

Rogue Valley said:
Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.

So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.

They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.

Nobody runs on fear better than the left. Did you already forget, Republicans are fighting a war on women, a war on minorities, a war on the poor, a war on seniors, a war on immigrants, and a war on everyone else. It is YOUR side who runs on the fear of the right.

Ikari · Oct 23, 2018

Fruityfact said:
You're right, acknowledging that both sides are not the same is how we'll change the country.

Not going to "change the country" by supporting the status quo. The Republocrat Oligarchy is why we're in this predicament in the first place.

Checkerboard Strangler · Oct 23, 2018

Fishking said:
I already owned you on the comparison between systemic violence and intimidation carried about by the left and the right. Don't keep trotting that out. As to fearmongering, that also doesn't compare. The left, since day 1 of the Trump admin, has been in a breathless state of panic and fear this entire time. We need more screaming at the sky to prove the point?

This isn't about me and if you owned me, it would be evident to all, and it's not, not even ONE.
Troll bait rejected, move along and find someone else.

ludin · Oct 23, 2018

Rogue Valley said:
Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.

So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.

They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.

Let see more jobs than workers. check
people making more money check
finally growth in the economy check

so what is your problem exactly?

ol yea trump trump trump trump. see folks TDS at it's finest.

you seem to ignore the:

trump is going to destroy the country.
women won't be able to vote
the economy is going to crash

meme that the left has been promising for the past 2 years.

yet it didn't happen.

JustHanging · Oct 23, 2018

Rogue Valley said:
Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.

So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.

They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.

It's worked every other election, so why not?

A lot of Conservatives seem to be a very to scare, just tell them some brown skinned people are coming, and it's full on panic.

Blue Dog · Oct 23, 2018

The GOP is better at demonizing the opposition. Specious rhetoric is bread and butter during the election cycle. The Democratic Party will always face an uphill battle, because they are the “tolerant” party. They cannot roll in the mud with the republicans and win. Calling those on the right “deplorable” and “dregs” was folly. Whether justified or not the DP has presented itself as the better standard. That’s why going toe to toe with the reactionary wing of the opposition will not work. If they are considered “knuckle draggers” they can go as low as they want...

Ok, dropping the mic...

Tanngrisnir · Oct 23, 2018

ludin said:
Let see more jobs than workers. check
people making more money check
finally growth in the economy check

so what is your problem exactly?

ol yea trump trump trump trump. see folks TDS at it's finest.

you seem to ignore the:

trump is going to destroy the country.
women won't be able to vote
the economy is going to crash

meme that the left has been promising for the past 2 years.

yet it didn't happen.

Let's see....

CPI essentially destroying any wage growth benefit? Check.
Economy was growing well before Trump? Check.
Massive debt and deficits? Check
Unmatched corruption and incompetence in government and cabinet officials? Check.
Foreign policy that has the US mistrusted and laughed at? Check.
President's party acting to remove healthcare and the social safety nets? Check.

You seem to have a hard time accepting facts.

Nothing quite like unfettered worship of the god Trump.

ludin · Oct 23, 2018

Tanngrisnir said:
Let's see....

CPI essentially destroying any wage growth benefit? Check.
Economy was growing well before Trump? Check.
Massive debt and deficits? Check
Unmatched corruption and incompetence in government and cabinet officials? Check.
Foreign policy that has the US mistrusted and laughed at? Check.
President's party acting to remove healthcare and the social safety nets? Check.

You seem to have a hard time accepting facts.

Nothing quite like unfettered worship of the god Trump.

as usual your facts are well not facts.

CPI (inflation) is going up because people are making more money not because there is a large surplus of items.
so that is a good thing.

since when is 1.5% GDP growth a good thing? it is quite pathetic actually. GDP for 2017 2.4 estimated for 2018 3.0
Yea obama had quite a bit of that didn't he.
You mean not going on an apology tour and making us look weak got it.
You mean forcing you encourage people buying crappy government plans they can't afford to use got it.
You weren't complaining about obama's trillion dollar deficits so well you shouldn't have an issue with these.

yes you never accept facts since you don't know what they are.
then again you never do know what you are talking about.

Tanngrisnir · Oct 23, 2018

ludin said:
as usual your facts are well not facts.

CPI (inflation) is going up because people are making more money not because there is a large surplus of items.
so that is a good thing.

since when is 1.5% GDP growth a good thing? it is quite pathetic actually. GDP for 2017 2.4 estimated for 2018 3.0
Yea obama had quite a bit of that didn't he.
You mean not going on an apology tour and making us look weak got it.
You mean forcing you encourage people buying crappy government plans they can't afford to use got it.
You weren't complaining about obama's trillion dollar deficits so well you shouldn't have an issue with these.

yes you never accept facts since you don't know what they are.
then again you never do know what you are talking about.

Yawn. You've yet to counter a single point I made, and you have to lie about an apology tour.

Thanks for proving my poing.

We now return you to your regularly schedule Trump worship service.

humbolt · Oct 23, 2018

Tanngrisnir said:
Yawn. You've yet to counter a single point I made, and you have to lie about an apology tour.

Thanks for proving my poing.

We now return you to your regularly schedule Trump worship service.

I think you should put your poing back in your pants before people start laughing.

DamnYankee · Oct 23, 2018

Rogue Valley said:
Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

The GOP certainly can't run on healthcare which they tried their best to destroy, nor on the tax cuts for the wealthy which is ballooning the deficit, nor turning the EPA into a deregulation machine for polluting corporations, nor Trumps misogynist personality or his love for Putin. They haven't accomplished much at all for the vast majority of Americans.

So the GOP peddles fear, bigotry, xenophobia, religious gobbledygook, and as many outright lies as they can cram into the final two weeks of electioneering.

They've borrowed their divisive midterm strategy from the omnipresent Russian meddlers.

Normal people think leftists are whack-jobs.

That pretty much settles who normals are voting for.

Harshaw · Oct 23, 2018

Checkerboard Strangler said:
Gotta agree at this point. Time to stop pretending that you're above it all.
You know the same **** we know, you're seeing the same **** we're all seeing, and you're certainly smart enough to not be blind.
Say that you don't like the Dems, say that you don't like either party and I don't care, but at this point any rational person is no longer making attempts to compare the two in terms of lies, agitprop, fearmongering, even violence, the latter of which is now clearly promulgated for the express purpose of leaping into the air in hysterical shock and horror when anyone defends themselves.

You're witnessing a carbon copy of the Russian Little Green Men in action, minus only the munitions and the military hardware.
Should you doubt too much what comes next, check back in three weeks if we don't seize control of Congress.

^^^^^

Says there's "no comparison" and that Republicans trade in fear a lot more than Democrats

Does it in a paranoid, fear-mongering, doomsday screed against Republicans.

Nice work.

RetiredUSN · Oct 23, 2018

Tanngrisnir said:
Let's see....

CPI essentially destroying any wage growth benefit? Check.
Economy was growing well before Trump? Check.
Massive debt and deficits? Check
Unmatched corruption and incompetence in government and cabinet officials? Check.
Foreign policy that has the US mistrusted and laughed at? Check.
President's party acting to remove healthcare and the social safety nets? Check.

You seem to have a hard time accepting facts.

Nothing quite like unfettered worship of the god Trump.

Slowest recovery on record...check!

Housing bust largely by brought on by democrats strong arming lending institutions since the 80's.

President Obama caught spying on our allies!

Yep....you sure are up on things.

Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

Rogue Valley

Lead or get out of the way

Harshaw

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Ikari

Fruityfact

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Harshaw

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RetiredUSN

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Ikari

Rogue Valley

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Fruityfact

Fishking

Moderate Right

Ikari

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ludin

JustHanging

Blue Dog

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Tanngrisnir

ludin

Tanngrisnir

humbolt

DamnYankee

Harshaw

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RetiredUSN

Trump and Republicans settle on fear — and falsehoods — as a midterm strategy

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