# Donald Trump's 2016 General Election Campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 4, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901 "2016-05-04T02:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 109
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2162 "2016-07-02T18:31:35Z")
[Who else can he piss off? I know!](https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-tweets-apparently-anti-000000428.html) ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2163 "2016-07-02T19:05:09Z")
> [@Little\_Pig](#): > > [Who else can he piss off? I know!](https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trump-tweets-apparently-anti-000000428.html) That’s not a star of David. What a ridiculous thing to be outraged over. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2164 "2016-07-02T19:10:53Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > That’s not a star of David. What a ridiculous thing to be outraged over. And the emblem German Jews were forced to wear on their clothes wasn’t technically the _Magen David_ either. Do you think the people Trump is dog-whistling at give a damn? There’s literally no reason to use that specific shape (on a background of $100 bills, no less) unless the intent is to imply that Hillary is in bed with _You-Know-Who_, and the fact that Trump himself deleted the original tweet and replaced it with a circle proves that he _knows_ exactly what the use of that shape was implying. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2165 "2016-07-02T19:50:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > And the emblem German Jews were forced to wear on their clothes wasn’t technically the _Magen David_ either. > > Do you think the people Trump is dog-whistling at give a damn? There’s literally no reason to use that specific shape (on a background of $100 bills, no less) unless the intent is to imply that Hillary is in bed with _You-Know-Who_, and the fact that Trump himself deleted the original tweet and replaced it with a circle proves that he _knows_ exactly what the use of that shape was implying. Oh that is ridiculous. A Star of David is two triangles overlapping. The nazi badge did indeed have two overlapping triangles. “Why use any shape at all” is just stupid. It’s an advertising trick to draw attention. And the fact that he changed it immediately points more to the fact he wasn’t intending a “dog whistle” at all more than he meant that all along. I’m always amazed when Trump does so much to be outraged about but people still feel the need tonread imaginary tea leaves to find more stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2166 "2016-07-02T20:01:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > That’s not a star of David. > [@CarnalK](#): > > A Star of David is two triangles overlapping. The nazi badge did indeed have two overlapping triangles. How is that different than the shape Trump used here? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2167 "2016-07-02T20:06:41Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > It’s an advertising trick to draw attention. So you acknowledge that Trump was using that shape to draw attention, then. > [@](#): > > And the fact that he changed it immediately points more to the fact he wasn’t intending a “dog whistle” at all more than he meant that all along. Or it indicates that he didn’t expect his dog-whistling to get noticed by the people who, [according to him](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-jewish-summit), are great at negotiating and make the best deals. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2168 "2016-07-02T21:11:40Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Oh that is ridiculous. A Star of David is two triangles overlapping. The nazi badge did indeed have two overlapping triangles. “Why use any shape at all” is just stupid. It’s an advertising trick to draw attention. And the fact that he changed it immediately points more to the fact he wasn’t intending a “dog whistle” at all more than he meant that all along. > > I’m always amazed when Trump does so much to be outraged about but people still feel the need tonread imaginary tea leaves to find more stuff. Seriously? You think it’s a stretch (“imaginary tea leaves”) to associate a six pointed star of that shape (two overlapping equilateral triangles, whether solid or not) with Jewish imagery? I’m not Jewish myself, but that shape has only one meaning to me. I hardly think it takes a leap of imagination to read that star as the Star of David. Well, I guess it wasn’t yellow, at least… ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2169 "2016-07-02T21:17:42Z")
My first thought was “Sheriff Hillary!” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2170 "2016-07-02T22:32:20Z")
For sure I thought of the Star of David when I saw that. But then, when the lettering wasn’t that fake Hebrew font, I calmed down. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2171 "2016-07-02T22:41:18Z")
Trump’s following among white supremacists has been well reported. He’s refused to disavow the support of people like David Duke. He’s retweeted racist memes. He’s called for anti-Muslim policies and promised to build a wall to keep Mexicans out. He’s said Jews are great deal makers. Now maybe–maybe–the graphic on this image was just meant to be an attention grabber, and the resemblance to a Star of David was an unfortunate coincidence. But Donald Fucking Trump does not get the benefit of the doubt. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2172 "2016-07-02T22:42:29Z")
The infographic was likely created by an underling but it strains credulity to believe that this was not a dog whistle. That star is clearly associated as the Star of David and as the symbol for Jewish. I have _only_ seen it in political materials with that meaning intended. Placed against a background of raining money in the context of a campaign that is criticized for its appealing to groups like the KKK and for its attacks on various minority groups, its meaning is not innocent. If Trump was not using an anti-Semitic dog whistle then someone working for him was. No (((Echos))) in his tweets at least … That said, on the scale of everything that makes him despicable, an anti-Semitic dog whistle quickly taken down is relatively a jay-walking charge against Al Capone, or complaining that Heisenberg hadn’t finished grading some kid’s test. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2173 "2016-07-02T22:45:29Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > … or complaining that Heisenberg hadn’t finished grading some kid’s test. Well, he wasn’t quite sure… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2174 "2016-07-02T22:51:01Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I’m always amazed when Trump does so much to be outraged about but people still feel the need tonread imaginary tea leaves to find more stuff. For sure, man, but “those people” are prone to outrage, amirite? I’d be more specific about who I mean but they control the media so the post would probably get deleted. At least they’re great deal makers, though! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2175 "2016-07-02T22:54:38Z")
So, nobody noticed? Nobody? Nobody said anything like “Well, OK, if the graphic isn’t intended to imply anything, then why use it at all? Hey! Lets just use a circle or a square! Yeah!” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2176 "2016-07-02T22:57:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > My first thought was “Sheriff Hillary!” Sheriff badges have little balls on the tips. That’s what she said. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2177 "2016-07-02T23:22:00Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > For sure I thought of the Star of David when I saw that. But then, when the lettering wasn’t that fake Hebrew font, I calmed down. Yup, and so would most people, I would think. Six pointed star=star of David. If there was nothing wrong with it, why did he change it to a circle? That combined with the money in the background seemed pretty deliberate. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2178 "2016-07-02T23:28:01Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Sheriff badges have little balls on the tips. And seven points. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2179 "2016-07-02T23:37:06Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Yup, and so would most people, I would think. Six pointed star=star of David. If there was nothing wrong with it, why did he change it to a circle? That combined with the money in the background seemed pretty deliberate. Seems to me that Trump is getting what he paid for in the matter of helpers. In any case a small issue and not very important compared to other really ugly posts from Trump. As a sad coincidence when I looked at the Huffington post it was very unfortunate for Trump that right on top of that gaffe there is the news that Elie Wiesel has died. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2180 "2016-07-02T23:51:03Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Seriously? You think it’s a stretch (“imaginary tea leaves”) to associate a six pointed star of that shape (two overlapping equilateral triangles, whether solid or not) with Jewish imagery? I’m not Jewish myself, but that shape has only one meaning to me. I hardly think it takes a leap of imagination to read that star as the Star of David. Well, I guess it wasn’t yellow, at least… I _am_ a Jew and I loathe Trump. That said, it’s not remotely a Star of David. Not all 6 pointed stars are. If it was yellow? Yeah, I’d say there was something to it. If it was two overlapping triangle-outlines, yeah, something to it. Unless you think that [John Wayne in “Rio Bravo”](http://www.indianvillagemall.com/2013badges/johnwaynetxsheriff.jpg) [John Wayne in “True Grit”](http://www.indianvillagemall.com/2013badges/trudegrittbadge.jpg) [Roy Rodgers in “Sons of the Pioneers”](http://www.indianvillagemall.com/2013badges/royrogersbadge.jpg) and Ronald Reagan in “Law and Order” (can’t get the link to work) were all making some profound statement about Judaism. Look–Trump has made a number of anti-Semitic statements. Non-Jews deciding to throw themselves into tizzy of outrage over the one time he _didn’t_ do it isn’t helping. It diminishes real complaints against him. You wanna be angry on my people’s behalf? Get mad about him talking about [stuff like this (except point #4 about Wasserman-Shultz)](http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/326020/5-cringeworthy-things-donald-trump-has-said-about-the-jews/) rather than credit Donald with a subtlety he just doesn’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/2181 "2016-07-03T00:06:44Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > I _am_ a Jew and I loathe Trump. > > That said, it’s not remotely a Star of David. Aw come on. It’s more than remote. I agree it’s not worth making a big deal of, beside all the _overt_ things he’s said. But one can crank an eyebrow at it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=108) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=110)