When we keep the focus on the the horrors of the child separations, I believe many Republicans will have a hard time heading to the polls in support of more of the same. However, if we imply that anyone who is concerned about immigration is a racist, then even the less-than all-out-White-Supremacists will be encouraged to vote. That is my take on the recent NYT editorial by Thomas Edsall called Don't feed the Troll in the Oval Office. He cites extensive research to back this up.
When I see claims that Comey tipped the election for Trump, I tend to think that, no, it was not Comey, it was Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” comment. While I agree that the recent calls for the left to tone down it’s rhetoric are usually not warranted, I think that direct attacks on the character of Republican voters may not be a wise move.
Edsall explains,
While Trump told reporters in January, “I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed,” he and his loyalists believe that they will thrive on repeated charges from the left that he and those who vote for him are racist. Those charges — perhaps paradoxically — serve to intensify the resentment of conservatives and Republicans toward liberals.
Trump’s rhetoric — migrants “infest” and “invade our country” — is intended not only to intensify the anti-immigrant views of his supporters, but also to encourage liberals and Democrats to accuse him and his supporters of bigotry. Trump’s tactics are based on the conviction of many of his voters that opposition to immigration is not a form of racism. They deeply resent being called racist for anti-immigrant views they consider patriotic and, indeed, principled.
Yes, most Republicans are racists, however they don’t see it that way. We should be enlightening them on the suffering of the less fortunate without alienating them with labels.