Donald Trump famously said during the 2016 presidential campaign that “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK?” His description of himself as a potential criminal along with his confidence that his Republican base would stay with him has been borne out in his years on the public political stage.
Each indictment for criminal behavior has resulted in an increase in his political poll figures. This phenomenon begs an explanation. In March of this year, his numbers for nomination as a Republican candidate for president stood at 43 percent. In April, when a grand jury in New York indicted him on 34 felony counts in connection with a hush money payment to a porn actress, his polling popularity increased to 50 percent. Two months later, he was indicted again, this time on 37 (more have been added since) federal felony charges for alleged mishandling of classified documents. His poll numbers rose to 55 percent of Republican voters.
The past week, Trump faced a third indictment dealing with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and stay in power. Poll results are on their way and continue the upward trend.
Donald Trump is still wanting more and appears to be gleefully awaiting a fourth set of charges for his role in attempting to force a change in the election results in Georgia. “I need one more indictment,” he has recently stated, “to ensure my election!”
The question is why is the overwhelming majority of the Republican Party willing to support Trump despite the criminal allegations against him and a behavior that diminishes the country? Why does his grip on the Republican Party appears to have grown stronger with each indictment he has faced?
The answer lies on an evolving demographic and political fact that our country has not experienced before. The fear of losing “American” culture especially by MAGA Republicans is driven by the fact that the traditional majority is becoming a minority.
The short-term result of the fear is to become less caring about our brotherhood as Americans and more competitive in the drive to assert racial and ethnic cultural constructs as well as seek to revise history in our favor. It is no accident, for example, that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is leading this type of cultural push including making slavery more palatable in his run for the presidency.
One can say that not all Republicans feel the same way as the extremists do about our current political climate. However, being part of a political party involves a certain amount of discipline that encourages loyalty to its membership, sometimes despite serious doubts about some of its positions.
Also, it is not surprising for those spouting racial superiority and “White supremacy” to target the Black community as a contrast. Part of the fear of demographic and political change was realized in earnest with the election of Barack Obama, America’s first African American President, in 2008.
Also, Black political leaders have largely become the face of the Democratic Party left wing. In this vein, it is very noticeable that Latinos, potentially the most powerful force in the arena are more focused on the achievement of the American Dream.
The wheels of change are reshaping the demographic and political landscape of our country. The fears resulting from that change are the main source of our divisions.
Those fears are being played out in our 24/7 television screens. Healing our wounds after that change will take decades.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
