This could be bad for Donald Trump. Donald Trump has somehow or another earned the praise by one of the most controversial figures in society. This guy here, the story via BuzzFeed: (H/T to Memeorandum)
The Audio:
The Story:
David Duke, a white nationalist and former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, is urging the listeners of his radio program to volunteer and vote for Donald Trump.
“Voting for these people, voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage,” Duke said on the David Duke Radio Program Wednesday, referring to Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. “I’m not saying I endorse everything about Trump, in fact I haven’t formally endorsed him. But I do support his candidacy, and I support voting for him as a strategic action. I hope he does everything we hope he will do.”
Duke then urged his followers to call Trump’s campaign headquarters to volunteer.
“And I am telling you that it is your job now to get active. Get off your duff. Get off your rear end that’s getting fatter and fatter for many of you everyday on your chairs. When this show’s over, go out, call the Republican Party, but call Donald Trump’s headquarters, volunteer. They’re screaming for volunteers. Go in there, you’re gonna meet people who are going to have the same kind of mindset that you have.”
Earlier in his broadcast, Duke called Trump’s victories in Nevada and South Carolina a “historic day.”
The American Spectator, who doesn’t seem to be a big fan of Trump says thus:
I would be shocked if Wolf Blitzer doesn’t bring this up in the debate and if he doesn’t then one of his opponents must.
If Trump disavows Duke unequivocally then he’s OK (unless he calls Duke a great guy a few days later). But if Trump dodges the question or hesitates then there’s an opening. The question is which Republican rival will take it.
But given that Trump has gotten away with accusing former President Bush of lying about WMDs and blaming him for 9/11, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility Trump could get away with having Duke’s support in the GOP primaries. So let’s assume Teflon Don survives the praise of David Duke and wins the Republican nomination. You can bet Hillary Clinton will be broadcasting David Duke’s voice to every African-American, Latino and other minority voter in the country from now until election day.
As much as I hate to admit it, that is painfully correct. If Trump does not say something that would disavow Duke’s praise; he could very well lose the general election. Because if there is one thing that the Democrats do well, and that is race issues. Where the Republicans and Conservatives, with the notable exception being the neoconservatives; are more tolerant of people like Duke — the Democrats are not at all. Which is quite ironic, considering the Democrats were the ones who tried to keep blacks from voting, many years ago.
However still, Donald Trump needs to take a firm stand on this and if he wants to be elected, publicly and forcefully reject any sort of endorsement, whether implied or direct, for any sort of group that is commonly associated with bigotry and hatred of any sort at all. If Mr. Trump wants to win the election, this is what he must do and I mean quickly.
Other Blogs: The Hill, Talking Points Memo, RedState, Political Wire, Nashville Scene, Business Insider, American Spectator, Mediaite and The Resurgent
Ping! and Ouch.