06-28-2016, 05:06 AM
I'm not sure whether the ditching of the Muslim ban is a flip-flop rather than a decision to go for dog-whistling rather than full-on racism.
Let's face it, Trump's 'new' position may well end up being a lot like the old one. No doubt the countries that will be targetted are Muslim countries. And wouldn't it be a shock if a citizen of such a country could pass the vetting process by proving he or she isn't Muslim. Presumably, Christians will be given the red carpet treatment. Concessions may have to be made for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia because of their strategic importance to the US.
Of course, that would pretty much put an end to any Syrian refugees entering the country unless they're Christians.
If this system is extended to those who naturalised in other countries but were born in or are able to obtain passports in those Muslim countries, then it mops up a lot of French and Belgian Muslims.
Trump is just doing what the GOP has always done: trying to obscure his aim by saying it is something else. The novel aspect of what he's doing is that he preceded the dogwhistle with blatant bigotry. Previously, GOP politicians would have refused to admit their true motivation even if facing a firing squad.
This novel aspect raises 2 questions:
1. Will moderates be sucked in by the ditching of the explicit reference to Muslims?
2. Will his bigoted supporters feel he has sold them out or will they accept that he has only changed his language to suck in stupid moderates but he remains every bit as bigoted as them?
Let's face it, Trump's 'new' position may well end up being a lot like the old one. No doubt the countries that will be targetted are Muslim countries. And wouldn't it be a shock if a citizen of such a country could pass the vetting process by proving he or she isn't Muslim. Presumably, Christians will be given the red carpet treatment. Concessions may have to be made for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia because of their strategic importance to the US.
Of course, that would pretty much put an end to any Syrian refugees entering the country unless they're Christians.
If this system is extended to those who naturalised in other countries but were born in or are able to obtain passports in those Muslim countries, then it mops up a lot of French and Belgian Muslims.
Trump is just doing what the GOP has always done: trying to obscure his aim by saying it is something else. The novel aspect of what he's doing is that he preceded the dogwhistle with blatant bigotry. Previously, GOP politicians would have refused to admit their true motivation even if facing a firing squad.
This novel aspect raises 2 questions:
1. Will moderates be sucked in by the ditching of the explicit reference to Muslims?
2. Will his bigoted supporters feel he has sold them out or will they accept that he has only changed his language to suck in stupid moderates but he remains every bit as bigoted as them?