Brian JopekTrump uses “Marxist,” “communist,” and “socialist” interchangeably, and when he and his allies accuse Democrats of being one of those things, they are not talking about an economic system in which the people, represented by the government, take control of the means of production. They are using a peculiarly American adaptation of the term “socialist.” - Heather Cox Richardson
John Gordon@BrianJopek @jsonstein I think she’s being too analytical. I doubt Trump cares what any word means. It’s just sounds he makes that he varies based on audience response.
Jeff Sonstein@jgordon @BrianJopek doesn’t care or cares but doesn’t understand? I’m for the latter interpretation. <shrug/> hard to tell with a pea-brain
Michael ☕️@jsonstein @jgordon @BrianJopek
I have to go with John on this one.
"We love the poorly educated." -Trump, 2016
The words he uses are chosen to create an emotional response, not a logical one.
And it works because his crowds have been programmed to respond negatively to the word "socialist." Even though those same people would sorely miss their Social Security benefits, Medicare, public schools, public roads, health insurance, etc.
@mcpinson @jsonstein @jgordon I believe, in so many words, that’s pretty much what Heather’s saying in this piece.
@mcpinson @jgordon @BrianJopek I am not sure he is making conscious choices; I think folks give him too much credit for conscious cleverness.
<shrug/> and I know I don’t know… just my wilda$$ guesses analyzing the psyche of someone I’ve never met: always a dicy business