How about this? Donald Trump had the press over to Mar-a-Lago Tuesday morning in order to alert people for the thousandth time that he disapproves of the situation on the border. What if he had taken time to say… “I do want to note that some controversial statements were made at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. I want people to know that I love all Americans and I don’t like what was said, that’s not me!” The shock wave over an “almost-apology” would have saved him a ton of grief while also showing people that he can, in fact, calmly put things in perspective.
But, no. Perhaps Trump will learn what Hilary Clinton did the hard way: Never, ever, put voters down, no matter whether deserved or not. Doing so only acts as a slam to all voters, at least in perception. Now Trump will have to deal with the fallout of what he owns by association, the “floating trash” Puerto Rico. Because it’s just not going away.
Unrepentant agitator Matt Drudge ran a banner headline reading “They’re eating the Puerto Ricans” – joining two of the already iconic moments in the campaign. Drudge used an AI-generated photo depicting Trump as a ranting mental patient. Cheap, but on brand for Drudge. Nothing seems out of bounds anymore anyway. Trump sure doesn’t feel bounded by the “that’s too over-the-top” line. (With one exception. To be fair, the Trump campaign did ax the “C**T” word that comedian Tony Hinchcliffe otherwise would have used applied to Harris. It does show that the Puerto Rico comment got through review.)
Much more importantly, Pennsylvania – like most Northeast states, has a lot of Puerto Ricans and unlike their islander families, these folks vote for president. They already have something to say about Trump’s remarks. According to MSN:
Evidence of the backlash was immediate on Monday: A nonpartisan Puerto Rican group drafted a letter urging its members to oppose Trump on election day. Other Puerto Rican voters were lighting up WhatsApp chats with reactions to the vulgar display and raising it in morning conversations at their bodegas. Some are planning to protest Trump’s rally Tuesday in Allentown, a majority-Latino city with one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the state
Nice timing, Ace. Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by a narrow 80,000 votes. Trump’s comedian – and thus, by extension – Trump, might have just offended the 450,000 Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania. If the remarks offend just one in five Puerto Ricans enough to change their vote, it could mean losing the state. Talk about a self-own. Amazingly, an apology would likely rock the battlefield such that it might make up all lost ground, perhaps even gaining votes by acknowledging a problem.
But that’s not Trump and he’ll put his head down going forward as if nothing happened, which is just fine for Harris supporters in Pennsylvania. Back to MSN:
“This was just like a gift from the gods,” said Victor Martinez, an Allentown resident who owns the Spanish language radio station La Mega, noting some Puerto Rican voters in the area have been on the fence about voting at all. “If we weren’t engaged before, we’re all paying attention now,” Martinez said.
It is more than likely that everyone was paying attention already. The burn comes in motivating voters to actually get out and make a statement. It is even possible that some Puerto Rican Trump supporters (To the extent they exist) might think, “I hope Trump wins, but he’s getting a message from me…” It could happen.
What won’t happen is a situation in which Hispanic voters suddenly feel better about Trump and his divisive tendencies. It is almost chuckle-worthy. This football is set-up to be spiked. Imagine a different universe, one in which Trump says: “I just don’t like it! I don’t like putting people down like that. There are Trump-supporters in Puerto Rico and they’re not anyone’s trash! That’s not me!” – It is all he would need to say and he might even lock the state away.
People would be shocked. Days of news heading right into Election day. Instead, things will play out as they usually do. The Trump campaign outrages various Americans and then acts as if none of it matters, lashing out even harder.
He might get away with it. He has before, just – not always. Biden did win Pennsylvania and now Harris is better positioned than just a week ago. That rally really was trash.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected] and @JasonMiciak
Let’s see what his campaign comes up with next to piss off another block of voters. You know, I always call him a failure but he’s really good at own goals.
just a small point, according to Carville there are 273,000 Puerto Ricans in pa with the highest concentration not just in Allentown but in the neighborhood where Trump is holding his rally. for the record I spent part of my childhood in Puerto Rico (late 60s to early 70s) and remember it as paradise.
“remember it as paradise”
Very nice.
Such a rich and vibrant culture, too. Contributed so much music and joy to the mainland, too.
Thx
jason
“Imagine a different universe, one in which Trump says: “I just don’t like it! I don’t like putting people down like that. There are Trump-supporters in Puerto Rico and they’re not anyone’s trash! That’s not me!” – It is all he would need to say and he might even lock the state away.”
Yeah, but that would also have to be a universe in which Trump responded far differently to the tragedy that happened following Hurricane Maria’s slamming Puerto Rico back in 2017.
Sure wish the Democrats get a handle on controlling the weather because I do have a wee request.
A Category 6 (yeah, I know it’s only up to 5) hurricane slams Mar-A-Lardo with Trump there, but survives, sore and soaked. And as he tries to rise from the rubble, a crowd of Puerto Ricans armed with paper towels that they saved from 2017 tosses them at his mug.