To the extent that Joe Biden made a mistake in referencing Trump voters as “garbage” – a statement that Biden immediately walked back, Donald Trump massively topped it just a day later. In an election that is coming down to a historic gender-gap, Trump did all he could to further scare American women by stating that he plans on trying to protect women “whether they like it not.” In so doing, he may have handed Harris the last few votes she needs.
It is safe to say that outside of a clear joke, the phrase “Whether you like it or not” is an inherent threat. It may be a light threat, something said in passing, or it could be the ultimate threat, an abusive warning that something horrific is about to happen and there is nothing one can do about it. It will be something that a person will be forced to endure. It can send chills down anyone but especially women who may have long had nightmares about ever hearing the phrase. The fact that Trump made the claim during a campaign speech in Green Bay, Wisconsin – or anywhere, is a massive, massive “mistake” even if specifically said and said with the best of intentions with all too real sincerity. Now his campaign must weather the blow.
According to Mediaite, Trump stated:
And my people told me about four weeks ago, I was saying, “No, I want to protect the people. I want to protect the women of our country. I want to protect the women.”
“Sir, please don’t say that.”
“Why?”
They said, “We think it’s, we think it’s very inappropriate for you to say.”
I said, “Why? I’m president. I want to protect the women of our country.”
This is not hard to believe. The other people in the room understand why the promise to protect women is dangerous and offensive. And yet he went forward as he so often does. Yes, everyone wants independent leaders but they should also strongly consider others’ advice over presuming to know better, especially when it might involve a different gender, race. There is a reason one wants a diverse perspective and there is a reason his biggest supporters said “No, don’t.”
Americans want to protect themselves. Gender really doesn’t even play into it, though women are probably used to hearing that they require a man for protection and many resent it. “Protection” is a tricky word. It can be reassuring in some contexts but it also assumes some level of control. Americans do not want to be controlled, men or women. We want leadership, not protection. We want guidance, not control.
Trump went on to commit the ultimate mistake, perhaps precisely because this is what he believes and most certainly because he’s willing to ignore others in the room:
They said [APPLAUSE], they said, “Sir, I just think it’s inappropriate for you to say.”
[I] pay these guys a lot of money. Can you believe it? And I said, “Well, I’m going to do it whether the women like it or not. I’ve gotta protect them. I’m gonna protect them from migrants coming in. I’m gonna protect them from foreign countries that wanna hit us with missiles and lots of other things.”
There it is. “Whether you like it or not” is an inherent threat, a statement from which people recoil. We keep ourselves out of certain situations to protect ourselves from never hearing it. As Trump’s staff understands, the best way to avoid such a threat is to never associate with the type who “Knows what’s best for them” especially in situations when others are saying, “No, no, no.”
There was one way for Trump to make it worse and he found it. The promise came full circle in saying that even if his staff believes it’s a mistake, he is president and he knows better. So he’s going to say it whether they like it or not. Except, in this context, they’ll all be forced to endure the consequences, no matter what he thinks.
It may be too late in the cycle to really matter, maybe. But if this statement makes the rounds among voters, especially women, it might all slip away from him. The gender gap could still crater further. Whether he likes it or not, women might keep him from the presidency.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak
“So, what are you going to say during your speech sir”? “I’m going to say the stupidest, most threatening thing possible to freak out 1/2 of the electorate”.
“sigh”
“Whether you like it or not”
that’s abuser language and most women know it immediately.
So he’s going to protect them from being grabbed by the pu$$y ?????
No. He’s going to protect them so HE can then grab them by the pu$$y.
Please excuse my strong language, but as far I’m concerned, he can stay the hell out my personal business! He has admitted to assaulting women, taken away a right to make our own medical decisions and he wants to protect us? My thoughts only get ruder from there.
this is called legalizing rape and murder of women who have miscarriages etc
Hasn’t he done enough to “protect” the women in this country, from rape, to assault, to watching minors undress in his pageants, etc? Plus the reversal of roe v wade that has hurt so many women and will continue to do so. And if he wins this election, women will have no rights, no birth control, no money, and will have to suffer many years of economic and other hardships while he makes the country whatever again? I don’t want his help, his protection, and I sure don’t want to suffer the hardships of losing all I’ve worked for plus my pittance of social security and Medicare so that he can give money to millionaires and billionaires. No.thank.you.”sir”. My military family members were not losers and suckers and the women in my family, magat or not, do not need his f@ckin’ protection! Screw him and the whore he rode in on!!! This was discussed on CNN this morning. Got a lot of coverage. None of it good. He screwed up bigly!
Sounds like something an adjudicated rapist would say.
Touche!