Stupid People Vote Trump?

Conventional wisdom holds that you don’t insult potential voters. In general, that’s probably still true. Hillary Clinton certainly took a beating in 2016 for using the expression “deplorable” for Trump voters.

But in certain circumstances, maybe conventional wisdom is wrong. Donald Trump has certainly gotten away with treating voters — even his own — with contempt. Maybe Democrats should try it.

Grass-roots Democrats certainly insult Trump supporters among themselves. They use social media to smear their political enemies. Both sides have made politics personal.

Is it ugly? Yes. Is it productive? Maybe. Intimidating your enemies isn’t a bad thing. Shaming them, banishing them, may not help, but at least they’re isolated. You can’t reason with people filled with hate.

Stupid take great pride in their unique abilities to see truths that others refuse to acknowledge.  They buy into conspiracies or simplistic memes rather than force themselves to think.

Maybe it would harden the stances of people who hate Democrats.  Maybe it would prove that Democrats don’t respect them.  Trump supporters tend to have chips on their shoulders and a cynicism that closes them off to facts and reason. As a rule, nobody likes being humiliated in public. But some Trump supporters do seem to begging for it..

But maybe attacking the stupidity of Trump supporters would make them think twice before they associate with morons. Maybe it takes a personal insult to realize that Trump doesn’t give a damn about his supporters, unless they’re Russian or rich.  

Maybe folks should realize it takes a moron to support a man who’ll take away your health care and Social Security, who’s working to poison the air and water, who is gutting the regulatory agencies that protect your food and drugs.

Video has made it possible to publicly shame the cos-playing militias and the proudly maskless jackasses spewing hate and disease in Walmart. Maybe Democrats should campaign on their stupidity.

Republicans often try to slur Democrats by conflating them with celebrities and protesters. Why not associate Trump supporters with self-hating creatures who want to destroy their families and their country?

Attacks against the stupid should, of course, be based on facts:

Stupid people don’t take precautions against disease.  Stupid believe bullshit.  Stupid people vote against their self-interest.  Stupid people vote for criminals, traitors, lying scum.

You’re voting for Trump? Are you a fucking idiot?

Democratic candidates shouldn’t engage in disrespectful tactics.  But that doesn’t mean calling out stupid people wouldn’t work.  And it doesn’t mean that outside groups shouldn’t do it..