# Donald Trump's 2016 General Election Campaign
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901
**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:** 243
### Author:  [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4843 "2016-08-20T15:16:58Z")
> [@OwnRules](#):
>
> Best part is the killer slogan he is going to hit them with:
>
> [**What the hell do you have to lose?**](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-african-american-vote-227218) :rolleyes:
“You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?”
Yeah, that oughta do it.
---
### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4844 "2016-08-20T15:17:21Z")
> [@OwnRules](#):
>
> Best part is the killer slogan he is going to hit them with:
>
> [**What the hell do you have to lose?**](http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-african-american-vote-227218) :rolleyes:
What’s interesting about that slogan is that minority populations in the US tend to be [more optimistic](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/the-surprising-optimism-of-african-americans-and-latinos/401054/) than whites:
> [@](#):
>
> Yet a recent poll finds that for all of the challenges they face, African Americans and Latinos are far more likely to be optimistic than their white counterparts, both about their personal station in life and the future of the country more broadly.
>
> …
>
> By contrast, 43 percent of African Americans and 36 percent of Latinos said The Dream is alive and well. The same two groups, along with Asian Americans, were also more likely to say that The Dream was still achievable for those who are willing to work for it, and they reported being more optimistic than white Americans about their own future. When it came to the state of the country, barely one in four whites believe the nation is on the right track, while nearly two-thirds of African Americans do. And the poll found a similar gap in perceptions about the country’s future: Less than half of white respondents said America’s “best days” were ahead of it, while fully 80 percent of African Americans said they were.
The endless doomsaying of modern conservatism had led many Republicans to embrace that the doom has arrived and it’s just terrible. “What have you got to lose?” might be a winning slogan for such people, but not for people who feel optimistic.
---
### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4845 "2016-08-20T15:23:48Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#):
>
> And the oath can be taken by signing a written form in the morning of the 20th…
Certainly, as no President since George Washington has ever done. Great idea!
---
### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4846 "2016-08-20T15:43:51Z")
> [@DonLogan](#):
>
> “You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?”
>
> Yeah, that oughta do it.
Trump’s entire RNC message was that America is a blighted hellscape of poverty and crime. He’s just doubling-down on the same message to attract black votes.
---
### Author:  [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4847 "2016-08-20T16:06:37Z")
> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> Trump’s entire RNC message was that America is a blighted hellscape of poverty and crime. He’s just doubling-down on the same message to attract black votes.
His entire RNC message was that America is a blighted hellscape of poverty and crime due to minorities. The reason he made that comment was not to attract black voters, it was to reinforce the rally-goers opinion of blacks. It’s the same as Romney’s 47% quote.
Can you imagine how it would go over if he walked into one of his all-white yahoo rallies and said directly to them, about them:
“You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed and on meth. What the hell do you have to lose?”
---
### Author:  [@computergeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/computergeek)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4848 "2016-08-20T16:18:04Z")
I don’t think this has been posted yet:
From the New York Times: Trump’s Empire: A Maze of Debts and Opaque Ties [Trump’s Empire: A Maze of Debts and Opaque Ties - The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/21/us/politics/donald-trump-debt.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0)
I don’t know much about finance, but it seems Trump either purposely tries to obscure his holdings and what he owes, or he’s a mess at running things. Maybe it’s how real estate companies do business to keep the whole company from going bankrupt I don’t know, but it seems clear the Times had trouble trying to figure out the various parts of Trump’s company. And it seems clear the financial declaration Trump gave to the FEC or whoever didn’t cover all that much. Good luck trying to figure how who all Trump is beholden to (besides a major Chinese bank as reported in the article).
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4849 "2016-08-20T16:23:14Z")
> [@soonerblue](#):
>
> Isn’t anybody going to say anything about the Play-Doh?
>
> [http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/donald-trump-goes-to-louisiana-flood-zone-spends-49-seconds-handing-out-play-doh-to-kids-leaves/25753/](http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/donald-trump-goes-to-louisiana-flood-zone-spends-49-seconds-handing-out-play-doh-to-kids-leaves/25753/)
It’s a useful building supply. You can use it to shore up dikes and rebuild foundations. And as a non-toxic, flour based substance, it makes a good, colorful emergency ration.
…I’ve got nothing.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4850 "2016-08-20T16:38:39Z")
> [@soonerblue](#):
>
> Isn’t anybody going to say anything about the Play-Doh?
>
> [http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/donald-trump-goes-to-louisiana-flood-zone-spends-49-seconds-handing-out-play-doh-to-kids-leaves/25753/](http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/donald-trump-goes-to-louisiana-flood-zone-spends-49-seconds-handing-out-play-doh-to-kids-leaves/25753/)
I wonder if some volunteer on the ground wasn’t just totally screwing with the Trump Campaign.
At any rate, this photo should be spread around much like Dukakis on the tank photo.
---
### Author:  [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4851 "2016-08-20T17:18:29Z")
> [@soonerblue](#):
>
> Isn’t anybody going to say anything about the Play-Doh?
>
> [http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/donald-trump-goes-to-louisiana-flood-zone-spends-49-seconds-handing-out-play-doh-to-kids-leaves/25753/](http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/donald-trump-goes-to-louisiana-flood-zone-spends-49-seconds-handing-out-play-doh-to-kids-leaves/25753/)
Over on another message board, pro-Trump, they’re defending this as the same thing as a policeman keeping a teddy bear in the car to give to children in traumatic situations. While I can see where they’re coming from…this is a much different scenario. Put that on top of the fact the Louisiana governor explicitly told him not to come for a photo shoot, makes it more harm than good.
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### Author:  [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4852 "2016-08-20T17:22:44Z")
You want to make a disaster relief coordinator (or the head of any aid-based charity) swear under his breath? Show up with an 18-wheeler full of shit. Now he has to devote his volunteers’ time to sorting it all, and most of it is usually crap someone wants to get rid of. (Play-Doh? Really?) He’ll never complain to your face, obviously–he’ll smile for the camera and thank you–but later, over beers, he’ll let it all out.
You want to help? Write a fucking check. That way the money can go to the most pressing need, and unless you’re in a unique position to get stuff cheap–say, you own the bottled water company–they can make the money go further than you can.
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### Author:  [@OwnRules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OwnRules)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4853 "2016-08-20T17:23:03Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#):
>
> …The endless doomsaying of modern conservatism had led many Republicans to embrace that the doom has arrived and it’s just terrible. “What have you got to lose?” might be a winning slogan for such people, but not for people who feel optimistic.
Right. But beyond that he is also explicitly calling them “losers” to begin with.
“Let me insult you and in exchange I’ll allow you to give me your vote”
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4854 "2016-08-20T17:33:55Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#):
>
> Over on another message board, pro-Trump, they’re defending this as the same thing as a policeman keeping a teddy bear in the car to give to children in traumatic situations. While I can see where they’re coming from…this is a much different scenario. Put that on top of the fact the Louisiana governor explicitly told him not to come for a photo shoot, makes it more harm than good.
The Governor told Trump he should volunteer, give money, or get out of the way.
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4855 "2016-08-20T18:22:14Z")
Trump on his re-election in 2020: [95% of African Americans will vote for me.](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-dimondale-michigan-african-american-voters-employment-jobs-crime-a7200576.html)
> [@](#):
>
> What have you got to lose? You’re living in poverty, you have no jobs, your schools are no good.
He said this in front of a white crowd, so I don’t know why he said it. One theory is that he’s giving cover to his racist voters. See? I can lip service the black community AND badmouth them at the same exact time! We aren’t racists at all.
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### Author:  [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4856 "2016-08-20T18:23:46Z")
If Trump is elected, in four years all non-white people will be dead, in jail, or emigrated out of the country, so he could be right.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4857 "2016-08-20T18:32:22Z")
> [@Biggirl](#):
>
> Trump on his re-election in 2020: [95% of African Americans will vote for me.](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-dimondale-michigan-african-american-voters-employment-jobs-crime-a7200576.html)
>
> He said this in front of a white crowd, so I don’t know why he said it. One theory is that he’s giving cover to his racist voters. See? I can lip service the black community AND badmouth them at the same exact time! We aren’t racists at all.
It’s the Heisenberg Racist Principle.
Sort of like how immigrants can be lazy slackers living off welfare, and at _the same time_, steal all of our jobs.
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### Author:  [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4858 "2016-08-20T18:43:00Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#):
>
> Over on another message board, pro-Trump, they’re defending this as the same thing as a policeman keeping a teddy bear in the car to give to children in traumatic situations. While I can see where they’re coming from…this is a much different scenario. Put that on top of the fact the Louisiana governor explicitly told him not to come for a photo shoot, makes it more harm than good.
I’ve seen similar. The right-wingers are insistent that Louisiana’s Governor is just covering for Obama. The American right is, for lack of a better term, mad.
---
### Author:  [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4859 "2016-08-20T18:55:43Z")
[ ](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160820/7424449a55b1e04eaa75c92b016af5b3.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
---
### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4860 "2016-08-20T19:14:55Z")
> [@Biffster](#):
>
> [http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160820/7424449a55b1e04eaa75c92b016af5b3.jpg](http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160820/7424449a55b1e04eaa75c92b016af5b3.jpg)
>
> Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Louisiana Republicans: “Keep your government hands off of my FEMA money!”
Note: Not an actual quote.
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### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4861 "2016-08-20T19:17:23Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#):
>
> You want to help? Write a fucking check.
LOL at Trump actually giving money.
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### Author:  [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/4862 "2016-08-20T20:33:25Z")
> [@Biggirl](#):
>
> Trump on his re-election in 2020: [95% of African Americans will vote for me.](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-dimondale-michigan-african-american-voters-employment-jobs-crime-a7200576.html)
>
> He said this in front of a white crowd, so I don’t know why he said it. One theory is that he’s giving cover to his racist voters. See? I can lip service the black community AND badmouth them at the same exact time! We aren’t racists at all.
His self-identity is dependent on the idea that everyone adores him. He honestly cannot conceive that black people won’t fall in love with him, once he’s proven that he’s a Winner. It doesn’t matter that he was addressing a room full of white folks. It doesn’t matter that he has no actual plan to provide black people with jobs, schools, or money.
His ego depends on his maintaining this illusion, so reality isn’t allowed to interfere.
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