The boomlet for Donald Trump as a Republican nominee for president of the United States ought to be a wake-up call for Republican candidates and Republican party leaders alike.
Why has Trump surged ahead of other Republican candidates and potential candidates in the polls? It is not likely that his resurrection of the issue of Barack Obama’s birth certificate has aroused all this support.
The birth-certificate issue does more political damage to Obama’s critics than to the president himself, because it enables the media to paint those critics as kooks. Nor are Donald Trump’s political positions such as to create a stampede to his cause.
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Radio-talk-show host Mark Levin has rebroadcast Trump’s varied and mutually contradictory statements on political issues and personalities over the years. It was a devastating revelation of Trump’s “versatility of convictions,” to use a phrase coined long ago by Thorstein Veblen.
So then what is Donald Trump’s appeal? And why should it concern Republican leaders in general?
Trump has what so many other Republicans are so painfully lacking: the ability and the willingness to articulate arguments clearly, forcefully, and in plain English. Too many Republicans talk like the actor of whom a critic once said, “he played the king like he was afraid that someone else was going to play the ace.”
What electrified so many Republicans about Sarah Palin in the 2008 election campaign was that her speeches offered such a contrast to the usual mealy-mouthed talk common among other Republican candidates, including Sen. John McCain. Whether you agreed or disagreed with her position on the issues, you didn’t have to wave your hand in front of her eyes to see if she was awake.
Donald Trump is dangerous in at least two senses. If, by some tragic miracle, he should become the Republicans’ candidate for president in 2012, that would be the closest thing to an iron-clad guarantee of a second term in the White House for Barack Obama.
That would be a huge setback for the Republicans — and, far more important — a historic catastrophe for this country.
What seems more likely is that Donald Trump as a candidate for the Republican nomination would use his superior articulation skills — not to mention brash irresponsibility — to trash all the other Republican candidates for that nomination, leaving them damaged goods in the eyes of the public, and therefore less able to gather the votes needed to prevent the reelection of Obama.
Why Republicans seem not to understand the crucial importance of putting the same time and attention into articulating their positions as the Democrats do is one of the enduring mysteries of American politics.
It was obvious that the Democrats coordinated their talking points and catch-phrases — “social justice,” “tax cuts for the rich,” etc. — even before the overheard and recorded statements of Sen. Chuck Schumer about Democrats’ plans to repeatedly use the word “extreme” to characterize Republicans.
But how many Republican catch phrases can you remember? Republican rhetoric tends to range from low key to no key.
Nor is there much evidence that Republicans have asked themselves how the left wing of the Democratic party gained such ascendancy in recent years, in a country where millions more people identify themselves as conservative than as liberals.
In short, there is little or no evidence that most Republicans see any need to fundamentally change their approach to the public. But if they think that they can rely on Obama’s declining popularity to win the 2012 election, they may be in for a rude shock. Worse yet, the whole future of this country and of Western civilization will be in jeopardy — in a world where the likes of Iran and North Korea become nuclear powers while we engage in empty talk at the U.N.
Barack Obama’s declining support in public-opinion polls makes some conservatives feel that his reelection hopes are doomed. But Donald Trump can be Barack Obama’s secret weapon in his fight to remain in the White House. The Donald can be his Trump card.
Thank you for your column Dr. Sowell but you should have just used a picture of the Weeper of the House to make your point as well as to why the republicans DO NOT want to win in 2012. I mean, who elects a crybaby as Speaker of the house and then demands to be taken seriously?
Another spot-on article, Dr. Sowell. Thanks. Again. My only wish is that you were heard by more Americans. It would be advantageous, to say the least, to have your insight and lucidity be in the "main stream media". Americans are/have been done a grave injustice at the hands of our "journalists" and reporters. If information is key, I can see why certain influential powers that be in our fourth estate conveniently choose to leave out the thoughts, opinions, and ideas of men like you and Mark Levin. Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of yours, and have read not all, yet, but most of your books as well as many of your columns, and it has been a sincere wish to have you, sir, be our president some day. I know I am not alone in this idea. I also know you are too smart to do it. I can still dream, can't I? Anyway, thanks again for your important contributions to our country. Sincerely.
One of the more frustrating things about the upcoming preseidential election is that the best GOP candidtaes have already taken their names out of the hat. Christie and Ryan are clearly the two best candidates and both appear to be content in their current positions. Not only are they the best and most articulate of the GOP candidates, they also stand in stark contrast to BO. What a shame. Unless Christie or Ryan has a change of heart, it's Romney or bust for the GOP in 2012.
You know what would help squash this attempt by the Liberals to choose our candidate again?
Conservatives plainly stating Trump does not meet our nominee standards.
If the so called "conservative" media stuck to that message rather than fuel the fire MSM is stoking (be it for ratings or just chasing Lefty's lure), this story would be getting as much traction as high gas prices and the real effect of ignoring the debt crisis will have on our Nation and government Programs.
The more I am hearing about Trump, the more my suspicions are being confirmed that he is the ultimate Moby. Trump is pretending to be a conservative and Republican only to push the more extreme irrelevant views in order to discredit the movement. How else can we explain his push on the birther issue and now his personal attack on Obama's university qualifications? Even if he doesn't fully succeed he can create a mini civil war within the GOP and waste resources that would be better used fighting the liberal agenda.
Dr. Sowell, you are right on as usual. I've suspected for some time that Trump is knowingly helping to reelect Obama. He's got a record of donating mostly to very liberal Democrats, and has liberal views on many issues. I strongly doubt he'll get the Republican nomination. If he decides to run on a third party ticket, we'll now for sure that he is supporting Obama.
"Trump has what so many other Republicans are so painfully lacking: the ability and the willingness to articulate arguments clearly, forcefully, and in plain English. Too many Republicans talk like the actor of whom a critic once said, “he played the king like he was afraid that someone else was going to play the ace.”
What electrified so many Republicans about Sarah Palin in the 2008 election campaign was that her speeches offered such a contrast to the usual mealy-mouthed talk common among other Republican candidates, including Sen. John McCain. Whether you agreed or disagreed with her position on the issues, you didn’t have to wave your hand in front of her eyes to see if she was awake."
Dr. Sowell hit the nail on the head with those two paragraphs. Why Republicans are scared to clearly and aggressively state their case is beyond frustrating, yet they do it again & again.
I thought it was interesting that Dr. Sowell didn't say anything about Trump running as an independent--I believe this is where he can do the most damage.
“So then what is Donald Trump’s appeal? ...the ability and the willingness to articulate arguments clearly, forcefully, and in plain English.”
This is true, but it is not the only basis of his appeal. It is also the issues he is focusing on.
In particular, the Republican candidates need to address the problem of the loss of middle class jobs, especially manufacturing jobs. Republicans speak passionately of the debt and deficits, and of course the importance of these issues cannot be overstated. But for many people, especially independents and many Democrats, the primary concern is jobs, jobs, jobs. Republicans speak abstractly and in a general way about reducing regulation and taxes on businesses as a way for the economy to create jobs. They need to be a LOT more passionate, specific and convincing. Merely arguing to keep the Bush tax cuts is not a sufficient or convincing policy to create jobs. Trump gives the impression that he cares a great deal about this issue and intends to do something about the loss of jobs.
Dr. Sowell believes the presence of Trump may end up damaging the other Republican candidates. Perhaps. But I suggest there may in fact be two positive effects from Trump’s participation in the Republican primary process: 1) His presence will increase substantially the number of voters paying attention to the Republican debates and the primaries. But after Trump brings these people in the door, one of the other Republican candidates will need to step up and close the sale if that person wants the nomination. 2) He will force the other candidates to focus on job loss and the way to create jobs. THIS needs to be a main focus of attack on Obama in the general election, as opposed to merely attacking Obama on the debt and spending, and whichever Republican emerges with the Republican nomination needs to have a convincing and specific plan to create the conditions for job growth (good middle-class jobs, not merely lower-class jobs in non-tradable services).
“The birth-certificate issue does more political damage to Obama’s critics than to the president himself”
The MSM is trying hard to peddle this line, but when a third of independents and even 10% of Democrats express uncertainty about whether Obama’s story is true, believe me, this issue does NOT help Obama.
Mr. Sowell have you not seen Herman Cain yet? He is more straightforward and concise than anyone else by a long shot. You probably haven't because the media is shutting him out; including FOX news.
I agree that it is an "enduring mystery" as to why Republicans are never able to drive the debate. Maybe it's because our message appeals more to intellect than it does to emotion. And we certainly never get any help from the MSM. When the MSM spins high gas prices into a positive because walking is such great exercise, it becomes painfully obvious that our side is fighting with both hands tied behind its back. But maybe it's also because we never press our advantage. Mr. Sowell's is yet another essay that slams the birthers. Our leaders and pundits don't even recognize an issue that is resonating with the people. And they fail to see that it's not so much about the birth certificate as it is about the hypocrisy of campaigning on transparency and then deliberately shrouding much of your background in secrecy. The Democrats have never been squeamish about capitalizing on character issues. Remember Bush's DUI conviction or the macaca incident? But when our side unilaterally disarms like McCain did on Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers we miss a golden opportunity. Like it or not, we cannot sell our principles unless we grab people's attention and the way to get their attention is to exploit legitimate character issues.
If you actually listen Mr. Trump, his lack of knowledge is apparent. He calls for OPEC to stop "screwing us" with high oil prices. Oil prices are set in dollars; keep printing money, the decline in the value of the dollar makes oil prices rise further. This is not the only reason for high oil prices, but it is a direct relationship.
I think that the only reason that Trump is getting any media attention is that his concentrating on the birth issue, makes all republicans look like kooks(as Dr Sowell points out). I think they are happily using this buffoon to show a negative image of republicans. trump is nothing but a product of the media and they are now using him as a their tool.
"Nor is there much evidence that Republicans have asked themselves how the left wing of the Democratic party gained such ascendancy in recent years, in a country where millions more people identify themselves as conservative than as liberals."
There are more Democrats than Republicans, and many blindly vote for thier party.
Elites, like The Donald and their unemployable family members have always inserted themselves to relevancy. His wife, Melania has turned herself into a wannabe jewelry designer. That is what the Nation needs an arm candy with questionable legal alien background status as a First Lady.
The Republicans can't display articulation because they will sound like Democrats. There may just be a very invisible line between the two. One world order.
Obama being elected again would be "a historic catastrophe for this country?" I think we are already there, man.
Pundits and Republicans have missed and continue to miss the most basic of basics: The US is no longer following the Constitution or the Republic model. This is why the birther issue resounds with the general public: it is simple and obvious. It is a Constitution deal-breaker. Discussions about budgets and socialism is not pertinent because living in debt and socialism are part of the mainstream thinking in the US (they should not be but you can't argue with reality).
I don't agree....I think anyone but Obama will get voted for...I'd like to see Allen West or Herman Cain....I am just your adverage John Q Citizen. I also think many people just like that Trump is taking to the white house...We need some huevos right now, and apparently he does have them.
Obama being elected again would be "a historic catastrophe for this country?" I think we are already there, man.
Pundits and Republicans have missed and continue to miss the most basic of basics: The US is no longer following the Constitution or the Republic model. This is why the birther issue resounds with the general public: it is simple and obvious. It is a Constitution deal-breaker. Discussions about budgets and socialism is not pertinent because debt and socialism are part of the mainstream thinking in the US (they should not be but you can't argue with reality).
