Trumps defense of the Confederate flag, as opposed to protecting statues of the American creators, is callous and inflammatory. By focusing on the flag, he misuses what would otherwise be a political advantage. In an Economist/YouGov survey taken last week, citizens were equally divided, 44 percent to 44 percent, on whether “statues of Confederate generals on public home” ought to be removed.
From Trumps point of view, the most appealing poll is a Politico/Morning Consult study taken four weeks back. Independents and suburbanites– who had stated by clear pluralities just a few days earlier that “statues of Confederate leaders need to stay standing”– partially chosen restriction of the flag to toleration of it at NASCAR occasions.
Thats not real of the Confederate flag. When the Economist survey inquired about “Confederate symbols on state flags, such as the state flag of Mississippi,” most voters– 55 percent to 34 percent– supported removing them. And while thats not the very same thing as banning display screens by NASCAR fans, it shows that the flag scores about 10 points worse– 20 points, if youre counting the space between support and opposition– than Confederate statues do. By selecting a fight over the flag, Trump has chosen the most difficult ground to defend.
President Donald Trump in the East Room at the White House on Tuesday.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
On Friday, checking out from a teleprompter at Mount Rushmore, President Donald Trump saluted the four presidents sculpted on the mountain: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. On Saturday, he recited a list of “American heroes,” consisting of Washington, Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman. On Monday early morning, Trump blurted out his real sensations. After requiring an apology from Bubba Wallace, a Black NASCAR driver who was incorrectly thought to have been targeted for intimidation by a garage-door cord knotted like a noose, the president denounced NASCAR for banning “the display screen of the confederate flag” at its occasions.
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When voters were asked whether the statue must be taken down from the entrance to a significant science museum in New York, they said it should not, 59 percent to 25 percent. When they were asked about “the Mississippi legislatures vote to get rid of the confederate emblem from Mississippis flag,” they agreed with that decision, 51 percent to 34 percent.
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At best, Trumps defense of the flag diverts him from a helpful position on statues to a fight on which he hardly breaks even. And it threatens to turn the public versus him on related matters. When voters are asked whether the Pentagon must “relabel military bases that are named after Confederate leaders” or “leave the names” alone, a plurality prefers to leave them alone. But when the exact same question is framed as part of a restriction on “Confederate-related stuff” at bases, a plurality endorses relabeling the bases. Thats a warning to Trump: By contesting the flag, he conveys the impression that the entire dispute is about Confederate fond memories, not patriotism. Which impression, surveys suggest, is what inclines citizens to relabel bases and remove statues.
The White House, picking up the damage, is rushing to manage it. The real story, she firmly insisted, was leftists attempting to “tear down George Washington,” “tear down Lincoln,” and “tear down our monuments.”
Thats what its like to shill for Trump. He attacks NASCARs only Black full-time chauffeur and stands up for the Confederate flag.
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Trumps defense of the Confederate flag, as opposed to protecting statues of the American creators, is callous and inflammatory. When the Economist poll asked about “Confederate symbols on state flags, such as the state flag of Mississippi,” most citizens– 55 percent to 34 percent– supported removing them. And while thats not the very same thing as prohibiting displays by NASCAR fans, it shows that the flag scores about 10 points worse– 20 points, if youre counting the gap in between support and opposition– than Confederate statues do. At finest, Trumps defense of the flag diverts him from a helpful position on statues to a fight on which he hardly breaks even. Thats a cautioning to Trump: By battling over the flag, he conveys the impression that the whole debate is about Confederate fond memories, not patriotism.
