An interesting answer to the question, provided by James Holman at The Washington Post
Many readers would probably be stunned by some of the people who are secretly supporting Trump and don’t want to admit it on the record. His coalition includes not just rock-ribbed conservatives and God-fearing evangelicals but Ivy-League-educated professionals. Some realize he’s not actually that authentically conservative and look the other way. Some, who fancy themselves moderates, admire the businessman’s malleability. Yesterday, as an example of someone in that vein, former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert (who lost to Ted Cruz in the 2012 Texas Senate primary) endorsed Trump. Others just like to jump on bandwagons and back winners.
The more that Republican elites express alarm, the more a swath of these folks think that Trump might be just the change agent that’s needed to nuke Washington. Remember, most grassroots activists believe these D.C. politicians and talking heads are part of the problem. When I was in Alabama on my five-day road trip through the SEC Primary states, a local official came up to me, asked me to turn off my tape recorder and whispered that he was supporting Trump. Over the past few days, I’ve spoken with Republicans in the same boat from Minnesota and Massachusetts to Texas and Tennessee.
Interesting points, part of which explains why so many rock solid conservatives have gone for Trump.
From Massachusetts, for instance, The Post’s Ben Terris argues that Trump is the favorite because he’s perfectly channeled the voice and spirit of a loudmouthed sports fan from the state. “People follow politics here like they follow the Patriots or the Red Sox. They want to know a politician is a fighter and has their back,†state Rep. Geoff Diehl said.”
At the end of the day we have to remember that the GOP must take the White House back. Principles are great, but, we’re talking politics.
Though on principle I agree with you that we need to take the WH, I’m not convinced it will make a difference to a party that ignores and undermines a large segment of it’s base.
Teach which candidate do you think is most electable ?
I suppose that Donald Trump would be marginally better than Hillary Clinton, but that’s kind of like saying that Benito Mussolini was a better guy than Adolf Hitler.
As for supporting Donald Trump, when you walk in [insert slang term for feces here], some of it sticks to your shoes.
Why do folks support a fascist demagogue like Trump? He offers simplistic solutions to assuage their fears and promises to afflict the “other”. Ban Muslims! Build a wall to keep violent Mexicans from stealing your job! Out-negotiate China, Iran, France, Russia and Mexico! Force corporations to keep factories here!
Nearly 50% of Republican voters support Trump – and most regular Republican voters will vote for him in the general election, regardless. Can he attract enough non-Republican white males to win? I doubt it.
He’s a natural fit for the redneck, racist, sexist, hate-filled wing of the GOP, and the pseudo-strength and bombast he projects appeals to traditional right-wing authoritarians. He represents what the Republican Party has become.
Why don’t you ask yourself why folks support Obama and Hillary?
They have a lot in common with Trump.
Not really.
We understand that conservatives and right-wing authoritarians tend not to reflective but there is a yuuuge academic literature on authoritarianism. A long, long discussion is attached. The last few pages summarize the findings.
New conservatives/authoritarians are frightened. Gays getting married. Hispanics everywhere. Negroes treated as equals. Muslims beheading people. Mexicans taking your jobs. The American dream collapsing. And along comes a strongman to protect you.
An evangelical leader asks what you have left once your principles are gone.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/02/29/russell-moore-why-this-election-makes-me-hate-the-word-evangelical/
“An evangelical leader asks what you have left once your principles are gone.
”
Hillary Clinton, that is if she ever had any principles.
The problem is simple: Donald Trump is saying the things that need to be said, using the language of the people rather than the politicians, but he’s a lying scumbag who doesn’t mean any of it, and an authoritarian and demagogue to boot. He also has some charisma that I don’t get at all, but it’s obviously there. The people I can believe mean (most of) what they say are charismatically challenged, at least compared to Mr Trump.
It always amazes me when people stand next to each other and argue contradictory things.
So far, I’m hearing from AntiTrump is…
A. He’s going to do the things he says he’s going to do, how horrible.
and
B. You dummies, he’s not going to do the things he says he’s going to do.
I suspect the B folks realize that the A argument just makes Trump more popular.
It always amazes me when people stand next to each other and argue contradictory things.
They are not necessarily contradictory things. They are possible outcomes.
If Trump does not do what he says, he will continue to the liar he is. That’s his past – he lies.
If Trumps tries to do some of the things he says, he is anti-Constitution and not a conservative.
The country got into more trouble because of the “cult of personality” following Obama. Now some so called “conservatives” are doing the same thing with Trump.
So while you find it amazing that people look at outcomes and find neither desirable, others look at Trump supporters and see that facts and rational thought mean nothing to them.