Trump may be concerned about running at "socialism"

[Jerrymander]

*against

As he campaigns for re-election, Donald Trump and his team have made trashing the “socialists or communists” in the 2020 Democratic presidential field a cornerstone of their messaging. In private, however, the president often strikes a different, more nuanced tone—one driven by a concern that socialism (at least as defined by the Democrats) may actually sell politically.

This year, Trump has repeatedly told friends and donors that running against “socialism” in a general election may not be “so easy” because of its populist draw, according to four Republicans and sources close to Trump who’ve heard him say this over the past several months.

According to a person who was in the room, Trump told donors at a recent private event that though “a lot of people think it’ll be easy to beat [in 2020],” the “truth is, it might not be so easy.” The president, according to the source, said that “you can have someone who loves Trump, but many people love free stuff, too.” He added that if candidates tell Americans, especially young voters—that they’re going to cancel their debt, “that’s a tough one” to run against.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-2020-president-privately-tells-confidants-that-socialism-wont-be-so-easy-to-beat

 

[Roger Ramjets]

Tax cuts for the wealthy, plus 'free stuff' for the poor. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[kellyb]

Seems like anti-socialism messaging was only really effective back when everyone really believed they were on their way to becoming millionaires. I think most of the middle and low income GOP finally gave up on that delusion by 2008.

Trump campaigned on version of restoring dignity to being white and just middle or lower class "normal". He was a billionaire, but he was really into cheeseburgers, porn, and wrestling. He talked about bringing back the working class jobs, and he made sure to say he "didn't believe in" entitlement reform.

 

[TragicMonkey]

The UAW strikers losing their health insurance is certainly a powerful current example of why Medicare For All isn't a bad idea.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

The UAW strikers losing their health insurance is certainly a powerful current example of why Medicare For All isn't a bad idea.

And then there is Trump letting the coal companies off the hook, leaving the taxpayers holding the bag if the black lung sufferers are going to be provided medical care and disability at all.

Come on Democrats, make a campaign commercial showing this.

Coal Miners To Demand Congress Restore Full Black Lung Benefits Tax

Dozens of coal miners are expected on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, where they'll press federal regulators and members of Congress to address the epidemic of deadly progressive massive fibrosis, the advanced stage of black lung disease.

They'll ask lawmakers to fully restore a coal excise tax that pays for medical care and some living expenses for miners diagnosed with black lung, a crippling disease caused by the inhalation of coal and silica dust. The tax was cut more than 50% at the end of last year. It supports the federal Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which is more than $4 billion in debt.

The presence of the miners in Washington, some of whom will be dragging oxygen tanks and struggling to talk and breathe, could put more pressure on the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which has resisted direct and quick responses to the epidemic and silica dust exposure.

 

[lionking]

Since when is socialism “free stuff”?

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Since when is socialism “free stuff”?

Since the GOP misrepresents it.

 

[kellyb]

Since the GOP misrepresents it.

I think they usually only call it that in private now.

I suspect internal focus groups show that people actually really do really like "free stuff."

 

[dann]

They don't need focus groups for that. They are already well aware how much billionaires love free stuff, which is why health care shouldn't be available to ordinary people.
And it's not a new thing.

 

[Sceptic-PK]

...the president often strikes a different, more nuanced tone...

Did this article change countries mid-story without telling us?

 

[Belz...]

*against



https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-2020-president-privately-tells-confidants-that-socialism-wont-be-so-easy-to-beat

One more indication that he doesn't know what he's talking about. Social programs aren't about "free stuff".

 

[newyorkguy]

Dozens of coal miners are expected on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, where they'll press federal regulators and members of Congress to address the epidemic of deadly progressive massive fibrosis, the advanced stage of black lung disease.

Wonder how many of them voted for Trump? It's sad. When will people wake up?

 

[Armitage72]

This video clip about "Socilism" from the documentary "Right America, Feeling Wronged" never gets old.

 

[The Greater Fool]

I think this is just this years 'fixed elections'. He's setting up his excuse for losing and in the off chance he wins it will be just that much more amazing.

 

[dann]

This video clip about "Socilism" from the documentary "Right America, Feeling Wronged" never gets old.

Amazing! Ignorance is so much easier when you've got a smartphone.

 

[Dr. Keith]

The Trump quote sounds like what a politician says at a fund raiser: This will be a tough fight, we are going to need all the help you can give. Now write some checks!

 

[dudalb]

Problem is people have different ideas when the word "Socialism" is used.
The word had suffered bad damage from countires like the Soviet Union and Mao's CHina calling themselves "Socialist".
Maybe some rebranding should be done.....

 

[Cain]

Seems like anti-socialism messaging was only really effective back when everyone really believed they were on their way to becoming millionaires. I think most of the middle and low income GOP finally gave up on that delusion by 2008.

My favorite stat from ~2000. Nineteen percent of Americans believed they were in the top 1%, and another 20% believed they'd be in the top 1% some day.

 

[Pope130]

Problem is people have different ideas when the word "Socialism" is used.
The word had suffered bad damage from countires like the Soviet Union and Mao's CHina calling themselves "Socialist".
Maybe some rebranding should be done.....

Perhaps they should re-brand themselves as "Neo-Socialist".

 

[kellyb]

This is relevant to the current side conversation:
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mattberman/elizabeth-warren-joe-biden-poll

Warren and Sanders backers have some clear ideological similarities in the post-debate poll — 89% of Sanders backers have a favorable view of democratic socialism (Sanders identifies as a democratic socialist), as do 80% of Warren backers. Biden voters were much more split: 35% had a favorable view, 30% unfavorable, and 34% were unsure. A quarter of Sanders supporters said they considered themselves to be democratic socialists, compared to just 12% of Warren supporters.

I'd guess most of us US left wingers are "pro-democratic-socialism" to whatever extent it's an accurate term to describe how we think the politics of Scandinavia are admirable and a short term ideal to strive towards, but we think focusing on the US legacy of the New Deal and how arguably "socialist" programs (like social security, national forests, etc) can exist within a larger capitalist economy is ultimately more useful framework to explain the policies we advocate.