GOP thinks flag protests are a winning issue for them

[Johnny2X2X]

You don't have to convince me, I know that kneeling isn't disrespectful to the flag, to our soldiers, or to the country in any way. But you have to know that Trump and his twisted band of fascists think this is a winning issue for them. This group of Tea Partiers thinks that minorities kneeling in protest is akin to using the Declaration of Independence to roll a joint. Vilification of rich black athletes comes natural to this group. Trump is feeding this issue because he knows it riles up his base like no other issue can. Symbols mean more to these people that ideals.

So while I am glad to see so many people standing up for what they believe, this is no doubt politically beneficial to Trump, if it wasn't he would shut up about it.

[LonePirate]

1. There's no doubt it strengthens the support from conservatives. It's independents they want to sway.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I respectfully disagree. Trump is preaching to a rapidly diminishing choir.

Yes, he's got his "twisted band of fascists" behind him, but that's it. Remember, it wasn't just the players who are protesting; the NFL team owners and people like Tom Brady and Dale Earnhart are supporting them and not Trump. Trump often does things that are not politically beneficial to him in the long run because he isn't thoughtful. He's just reactive and says and does things without understanding what he's doing.

[pangaia]

4. "Yes, he's got his "twisted band of fascists" behind him, but that's it."

He's got almost the entire US government behind him plus russians,

Whatever he is doing, it sure is working because the intended chaos is happening.

[Johnny2X2X]

7. More division

He is using this to say, "look, the other side hates America." As if he's some authority on America.

And listen, the owners and coaches only took umbrage with the words he used, "SOB", you know they absolutely still abhor that those uppity minorities (who they think are only free of chains because rich whites allow them to be) dare to complain that they're being abused by the police.

The slave owner mentality many rich whites have comes through loud and clear on this issue. They couldn't give two shits about the flag, it's the fact that blacks have the temerity to complain about anything when they could still be slaves that grinds on them. That's what I see at play here.

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. The alternative is to not support our black sisters and brothers, which is not an option

for me and hopefully anybody else with a brain, soul and heart.


If this is a winner for him, then what does that say about this country and that flag?

It better not be a winner, otherwise this country cant survive.

[SharonClark]

16. Totally agree.

[RiverStone]

20. We will witness more shift away from his rascist propoganda

I imagine as the kneeling grows and diverse athletes from ALL sports (professional, college, and even high school) express what's wrong with his words, he will become increasingly isolated.

Next, expect to see fans at games locking arms and/or kneeling.

[inwiththenew]

3. I agree with your assesment but we'll have to wait and see if it is

I have no doubt the GOP would rather turn 2018 into another battle in the culture war than a debate about policy or governing. I know sure as I stand here Trump would too.

[Gothmog]

5. Deplorables are very stupid people which is why they vote for trump

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. This Washington Post editorial (Johathan Capehart) disagrees, too:

Those who argue that doing any of this plays into Trump’s hands politically are flat-out wrong. That’s a demand that every American remain silent as rights they revere and rely on are chipped away by the creeping normalization of the reprehensible by this president. By that logic, fighting against injustice would be never okay.

Political considerations must take a backseat when character is at stake, when matters of conscience come into play, when standing up for one’s beliefs is paramount. By speaking out, by taking a knee, by not bowing or buckling to pressure from as high as the Oval Office, Kaepernick and those now joining him are showing the power of our Constitution and the promise of our nation. They neither need nor deserve lectures on patriotism. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are what make America great.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2017/09/24/taking-a-knee-with-colin-kaepernick-and-standing-with-stephen-curry-against-trump/?tid=hybrid_collaborative_1_na&utm_term=.b427d7bef5a5

[Johnny2X2X]

8. Symbols more important to about 30%

I think this piece fails to look at it from the other side. This group loves their flag worshiping. The symbol is more important to them than what it represents. My Facebook feed is proof, the Righties have gone crazy with this, "if you won't honor the flag get the hell out of the country."

It's like shooting fish in a barrel to Trump. This issue is a winner for him.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. This is a really stupid "issue"

I know that Republican voters and other regressives eat this s**t up but still........just proves what a bunch of undemocratic fascists they all are.

[Johnny2X2X]

11. Agree

Here's the thing. Do you think Trump gives one thought to anyone disrespecting the flag? Not a chance, this is a draft dodging racist who sold out to Russia, the flag means absolutely nothing to Trump, it means no more than a flag with Mickey Mouse on it to Trump. He could care less if people burned the flag before every sporting event. It's about dividing people and it's about rallying the racists. Nothing divides us like this issue and nothing rallies his base like love of symbols.

Do people realize that Republicans literally have tried to make laws to throw people in jail for any form of disrespect of the flag? In a fascist state, symbols are very important because they can be used to force people to comply.

[njhoneybadger]

10. "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."

[Iggo]

12. It's not a flag protest.

[Johnny2X2X]

13. I agree

You don't have to convince me. But that's not how they have framed this.

There are tens of millions of Trump voters who think this is absolute proof that the other side hates America.

[Iggo]

14. Calling it a flag protest legitimizes their framing of it as such.

It's a protest against police brutality and the killing of unarmed black people by police.

As I told one of my coworkers this morning, "They're not protesting the anthem. They're protesting police brutality DURING the anthem."

[SharonClark]

17. Oh hell, if they didn't have this to distort and lie about they'd make shit up like they always do.

The deplorables are 'truthers' on multiple issues.

[DBoon]

27. tens of millions of Trump voters think Obama was born in Kenya

Truth is an unfamiliar concept to Trump voters

[LeftInTX]

15. I don't think so

Trump may have broken a law with all of this. He is crossing a line that the GOP knows is wrong. I don't think the GOP wants to get behind this. Sure, there will always be Louie Gohmerts, but the rest knows you don't try to control private business with verbal threats.

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/09/24/trump-broken-law-dalling-boycotts-nfl-doesnt-fire-peaceful-protestors.html

[rock]

18. Yep

The GOP likes these kind of issues because they're:
1) cheap;
2) highly emotional;
3) symbolic.
Perfect for a party that has no substance/content!

[Johnny2X2X]

24. Precisely

And notice that the owners and/or coaches who were Trump supporters aren't denouncing Trump because of this, they're saying, "Well, I don't agree with what he said." or "what he said is just a little too divisive."

This issue hasn't swayed many if any Trump voters away from him, period. All of this tide has turned talk is premature. This issue is exactly what Trump wants to talk about.

[grossproffit]

19. Trump isn't an idiot. He's shaping the news cycle to ignore other issues of gross negligence

by this administration.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

21. That's Because WE Need To Be Out There NOT ALLOWING THEM TO FRAME THE DEBATE!!!

Every time you hear a RW'er or RW media try to frame this as a "protest against the flag" or paint the protestors as "America haters," you fire right back and point out to them that it is NOT a protest against the flag, but a protest against racism. In order to help in this regard, I made the following post on my Facebook page this morning. Feel free to use all or parts of it to your liking.

"I have always stood and removed my hat for the National Anthem. Always. I would even scold people who didn't. But after this weekend, I would #TakeAKnee too, because it's not about the flag or veterans or any of the other lies right-wing media wants you to believe. It's about not letting a tin-pot dictator tell us what is and is not "acceptable speech." I value the Constitution. I do NOT value #Dolt45 or his opinions."

[L. Coyote]

22. This is a winning issue for them because it supplants real issues they are losing on.

This isn't about winning on this issue, this is about making the issue of the day the one of their choosing so they don't drop below 30%.

Link to tweet

[maveric]

23. No one is protesting the flag! Or the anthem.

It's the injustices that are being carried out by certain parts of our establishment.
They don't get it.

[maryellen99]

25. On my FB page...my white FB friends are putting an I stand frame around their profile pic

I now know they don’t like black people/minorities and equality.

[Lotusflower70]

28. It feeds the base

The hardcore thirty percenters love it. But I don't think it expands it at all. And the bs argument that you can't support military and police and still support the rights of those who choose to protest is ridiculous. I loved seeing all the vets come out in support of the players. The president blatantly disrespected a segment of the American people. That shit has to be called out.

[LovingA2andMI]

29. It's Not....Period.

Flag Protests are Freedom of Expression, which is Freedom of Speech -- even if that speech is silent speech. This is NOT a "winning" position of the Alt-Right or Right.