The Real Story Behind The Basket of Deplorables

I have to say, first, that when I hear the term "Basket of Deplorables" I think right away of Edward Gorey, for some reason. Do you?

Anyway, I've seen and hear a lot of whining and bellyaching about this term, and Secretary Clinton's statement.

But most people have only heard the statement, and not the discussion that led up to it. That, folks, is the real story. So spend two minutes and edumicate yourself:

Personally, I can't see how one would support Trump unless one was fully deplorable, or a basket case, or both. Secretary Clinton underestimated with that 50% thumbsuck guess.

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Now you are doing it, Greg. Real progressives understand that people can disagree without being "fully deplorable, or a basket case, or both."

By Tom Harris (not verified) on 12 Sep 2016 #permalink

She later said "half" was wrong, but never said what the ratio might be... (Not zero!)

She also smacked Trump down something fierce when he Tweeted: While Hillary said horrible things about my supporters, and while many of her supporters will never vote for me, I still respect them all!

Her response: Except for African Americans, Muslims, Latinos, immigrants, women, veterans -- and any so-called "losers" or "dummies."

By Brainstorms (not verified) on 12 Sep 2016 #permalink

Tom Harris - https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/no-true-scotsman

Clinton's only error was making it 50% when she should have said 100%. It is not possible to support Trump and still be a decent human being, unless one is too stupid to understand Trump.

By Doug Alder (not verified) on 12 Sep 2016 #permalink

Equally important is to listen to what Clinton said about the other 'basket':
"But the other basket -- and I know this because I see friends from all over America here -- I see friends from Florida and Georgia and South Carolina and Texas -- as well as, you know, New York and California -- but that other basket of people are people who feel that the government has let them down, the economy has let them down, nobody cares about them, nobody worries about what happens to their lives and their futures, and they're just desperate for change. It doesn't really even matter where it comes from. They don't buy everything he says, but he seems to hold out some hope that their lives will be different. They won't wake up and see their jobs disappear, lose a kid to heroin, feel like they're in a dead-end. Those are people we have to understand and empathize with as well."

By Lars Karlsson (not verified) on 12 Sep 2016 #permalink

One could never get away with making the Gashlycrumb Tinies with any children other than white children as the target for the so-called humor. But it gets 4.8 on amazon and all the lefty Goodwhites twitter about how wonderful and edgy it is.

There is an anti-white bias in the media, Hollywood, education and the government. Everything most non-white countries take for granted about sanctity of borders and the right to run your country for the benefit of citizens is something that whites in Europe, America and Australia have to fight for.

Frankly, Trump is not a white supremacist or even a white nationalist, he is only a citizenist. But even that is still better than the alternative as far as white Americans are concerned.

By Deplorable (not verified) on 12 Sep 2016 #permalink

Deplorable: It's called "punching up."

Trump has demonstrated his racism in many ways over decades. He's not a white supremacist, because white supremacists have a philosophy. They think about things. They think terrible evil things, but they think. Trump isn't at their level. He can't be any kind of "-ist" because he doesn't get the gist.

"There is an anti-white bias in the media, Hollywood, education and the government. "

I'm constantly amazed at the inventive ways trump supports display their mind-numbing stupidity.

Tom, I'm sure you are equally outraged at Trump's mocking of the physically and mentally disabled, his racist comments, repeated lies, etc.

Oh, you're not? Considering the history of your fake science class at Carleton I'm not surprised.

I don't know that there can be a single description of everyone who supports trump. While there is no doubt a good percentage of his followers are racists and white supremacists, but I'd guess there is a significant percentage who really believe (wrongly) that crime is spiraling out of control, that there is a non-zero chance President Obama will pull some way to remain in power as a dictator, or other asinine conspiracy.

Probably, as demonstrated by "deplorable" above, the most general description that can be made of his supporters is that they are amazingly stupid and gullible.

He’s not a white supremacist, because white supremacists have a philosophy. They think about things. They think terrible evil things, but they think. Trump isn’t at their level.

Or as it was put in The Big Lebowski: "Say what you will about the tenets of National Socialism, at least it's an ethos."

By Eric Lund (not verified) on 13 Sep 2016 #permalink

The Gashlycrumb Tinies is half a century old....

By Lars Karlsson (not verified) on 13 Sep 2016 #permalink

So, if you want people to immigrate legally, you're deplorable? If you care about the law regarding immigration, you're deplorable?

If you'd rather have jobs stay here instead of be NAFTAed out of the states, you're deplorable?

You mean, if you're not Politically Correct and say nice words to the dozens of minority victim groups, you're deplorable?

If you reject someone who habitually mishandles classified and top secret information, who excuses her woman destroying husband, who is corrupt to no end, a "strong woman" who can't stand on her own two feet (what with the Parkinson's Disease)...you're deplorable?

I'll be the first in line to suggest that a different candidate in each slot would be preferred...but this is the downside of the two stall cattle system we seem to "enjoy"...there isn't a third or fourth option. People have been taught and believed that they must cast a vote FOR one of these two...

Half of Trump supporters are racists. If you don't think being a racist is deplorable, of course you aren't going to agree with the original statement.

But really how can you argue with the math? Say strong support is 40% for Trump-- that would mean only 20% of the registered voters in the US would have to be racists. Does anyone doubt that this is the case? Does anyone think there are lots of racists in the Hillary column? Maybe some when she was running against President Obama, but certainly not now.

Ron: You forgot "Benghazi." You need to review your list of right-wing talking points.

Also, when you referred to saying "nice words to the dozens of minority victim groups," did you mean words like: "They're bringing crime; they're bringing drugs; they're rapists..."?

The only thing preventing Trump from continuing to offend those groups is the teleprompter — which he earlier deplored but has been forced to use to keep even a semblance of credibility for his campaign.

By Christopher Winter (not verified) on 13 Sep 2016 #permalink

"So, if you want people to immigrate legally, you’re deplorable? If you care about the law regarding immigration, you’re deplorable?"

You know (or should) these are not the statements made by Trump and his goons that get qualified (rightly) as deplorable.

"If you’d rather have jobs stay here instead of be NAFTAed out of the states, you’re deplorable?"

If you think those jobs would be here if NAFTA didn't exist there is no hope for you.

"what with the Parkinson’s Disease"
Now you're just being an ass repeating falsehoods. No surprise there.

Greg: re. Edward Gorey: that was just brilliant.

Nope, I hadn't thought of Gorey, nor has anyone on Daily Kos as far as I can see. So, credit to you for making the connection.

Now all we need is an illustrator or someone who can manipulate some existing Gorey images (satire is fair use). Any suggestions?;-)