Did or did not Trump say in Charlottetown, "There were some fine people on both sides"?

[Atamasama]

@Babale

But the specific question in this thread was whether he said that “there were very fine people” among the neo Nazis. And he did not - he pretty clearly (about as clear as anything that comes out of his mouth) said that the fine people were not the Nazis - although, that was a lie, it was specifically a Nazi rally so there were assuredly not “very fine non Nazi people” who were there alongside them.

Yes, I agree that everything you are saying here is 100% correct.

[Snarky_Kong]

The TLDR of it is that he said it, he said it about Nazis, but then also condemned the Nazis by name so he could pretend to be against them and try to rewrite history later. This thread is evidence of his success.

[md-2000]

The other point to make is that he said it - “fine people” - about people protesting the removal of a statue commemorating a man who rebelled and lead an army against the government of the USA, stood for slavery based on race.

Not sure the history of this particular statue, but many of these displays were not installed at the end of the war, to commemortate fighters. They were often put up in the 1930’s through 1950’s to express support for the Confederate cause as a counter the growing demands for equal rights for all.

So basically, people who protest to support the celebration of someone who attacked the USA to preserve slavery - these are “fine people” by some definition?

Trump invokes Washington and Jefferson - yes, they owned slaves. Many of the richer elite of the day did so, and this is a sordid side of great people. But these were people who also fought to bring about the USA, “life, liberty (YMMV), and the pursuit of happiness” - so both good and flawed. It’s harder by comparison to see any balancing good in an insurrectionist whose cause was preserving slavery.

[kaylasdad99]

@Atamasama

But yes, when Trump talked about “very fine people on both sides”, during that exchange he did clarify he was not including white supremacists

Just curious; who on the Unite the Right side were “very fine people” (and not white supremacists)?

And who on the other side were “bad?” I mean said “both sides.” That implies only two sides.

@Atamasama

. I was confused on when that particular remark was made, and I didn’t realize it coincided with the clarification that he was denouncing Nazis and white supremacists in general.

That wasn’t so much a “clarification” as a “”lie.”

[md-2000]

@kaylasdad99

Just curious; who on the Unite the Right side were “very fine people” (and not white supremacists)?

As I posted, he said he meant the people peacefully protesting the removal of the statue of Robert E Lee who went to war against the US government to protect slavery.

And who on the other side were “bad?” I mean said “both sides.” That implies only two sides.

There were Antifa on the other side who would show up to these two-sided protests spoiling for a fight, supposedly “to defend”, dressed in black and wearing protective gear. Not a lot compared to the number of other protesters, but as I recall the news media it seemed would delight in singling them out too.

[Czarcasm]

@md-2000

As I posted, he said he meant the people peacefully protesting the removal of the statue of Robert E Lee who went to war against the US government to protect slavery.

He gave the answer he thought the people asking him about it would want.