General Discussion

teach1st

(5,935 posts) Thu Nov 17, 2016, 11:33 PM Nov 2016

Leave Hillary Clinton out of this

I thought about this after spending much of today reading the online comments following various news articles about President-elect Trump. Too many people with excellent points about Donald Trump got lost in tangential arguments thrown up by Trump supporters (or Russian trolls, who knows?), and too often the excellent points about Trump got lost in the arguing.

One way I've seen to counter Trump supporters who crash Trump discussions on places like Facebook with "But what about Hillary..." is to just tell the "but what about Hillary" interloper that Donald Trump has won and Hillary Clinton has lost. They won't listen to a reasoned defense of Mrs. Clinton, they won't buy your popular vote argument, they won't buy anything reasonable you have to say about Hillary Clinton. Defending against the "but what about Hillary.." diversion steers the argument wildly away from your main point onto endless tangents. It's better to take her out of the discussion right away. Although few Trump supporters will listen to your reasoned attack on Mr. Trump, it's easier to keep them quiet after a "leave Hillary Clinton out of this." (And after you dismiss Hillary Clinton, always ask a question that they have to answer.)

Trump detractor: I can't believe that Donald Trump thinks it's good for white nationalist Steve Bannon to be anywhere near the White House.
Clinton detractor: What about Hillary? She supported that racist senator, Robert Byrd.
Trump detractor: Hillary Clinton lost. Donald Trump won. He will be the next president. Leave Clinton out of this. Do you think it's OK for a racist like Steve Bannon to be one of Donald Trump's top advisors?

5 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Leave Hillary Clinton out of this (Original Post) teach1st Nov 2016 OP

One slight correction: "Hillary Clinton lost the Electoral College. pnwmom Nov 2016 #1

But then teach1st Nov 2016 #2

What about that is an argument? Are they going to argue he didn't win the Electoral College? pnwmom Nov 2016 #3

No, they won't argue that if you don't teach1st Nov 2016 #5

Better yet might be to avoid these discussions-- they never end well... TreasonousBastard Nov 2016 #4

pnwmom

(108,990 posts)

1. One slight correction: "Hillary Clinton lost the Electoral College.

Reply to teach1st (Original post)

Thu Nov 17, 2016, 11:40 PM

Nov 2016

Trump will be the President, not Hillary."

teach1st

(5,935 posts)

2. But then

Reply to pnwmom (Reply #1)

Thu Nov 17, 2016, 11:43 PM

Nov 2016

But then you get into that argument. It that's not your main point, it does no good to get into that argument. It's a tangent and you're dragged away from getting Trump supporter to defend Bannon's racism (in the example).

pnwmom

(108,990 posts)

3. What about that is an argument? Are they going to argue he didn't win the Electoral College?

Reply to teach1st (Reply #2)

Thu Nov 17, 2016, 11:44 PM

Nov 2016

teach1st

(5,935 posts)

5. No, they won't argue that if you don't

Reply to pnwmom (Reply #3)

Thu Nov 17, 2016, 11:46 PM

Nov 2016

Trump won. Clinton lost. Let's stick to the point. Do you support a racist Steve Bannon as one of Mr. Trump's top advisors?

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)

4. Better yet might be to avoid these discussions-- they never end well...

Reply to teach1st (Original post)

Thu Nov 17, 2016, 11:45 PM

Nov 2016

We've been through all the arguments and potentials during the campaign, and the asshole still managed to win so there's little point rehashing his negatives.

Better to look at what he does, and constantly point out his gaffes, mistakes, and just plain ignorance. One of the things that defeated Hillary was the constant negativity-- everything negative, even the lies and falsehoods, were repeated often enough that they slowly became the truth.

Trump has very little actual support and was elected with a minuscule margin (negative margin, actually) by people who pretty much gave up mainstream politics and figured why not give this guy a shot at fixing things... As it becomes clear he has no clue, he will become marginalized and, hopefully, destroyed.

Reply to this discussion