There have been some moments from Donald Trump’s campaign that have made me laugh in a shaking-my-head kind of way, but I’ve mostly been disgusted by his act. The one moment I actually genuinely enjoyed from him came in the most recent debate when he defended New York and New Yorkers from the condescension of Ted Cruz. It was also a weird moment, because for once Donald Trump seemed authentic. He was, just for a minute or two, no longer a New York billionaire playboy pandering to the religious right and opponents of ethnic pluralism, but a real New York City citizen defending his culture and lifestyle.
I don’t really know what makes Trump effective as a politician, but on the surface anyway the whole phenomenon doesn’t make any sense. If people are angry with New York money, why would they rally around a guy who embodies New York money? Why would a New Yorker who lives in and loves the most ethnically diverse city in the United States want to go around the country railing against the increasing diversity of the country? And why would folks who value traditional family values and conservative religious principles have any admiration for a guy who is well-known for adulterous affairs and multiple divorces, and who doesn’t seem religious at all?
You can try to answer these questions if you like, but you should agree with the basic conundrum here. And it only gets more confusing when you look at Trump’s record on the issues and some of his policies that aren’t exactly representative of orthodox conservatism.
It seems to be working, however. There’s no doubt about that.
So, the next question is, is this something we should be celebrating?
If I have the time this weekend, maybe I will tackle that question.
