# How far do you think a candidate openly campaigning with white supremacist beliefs could get today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 15, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682 "2019-08-15T02:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/1 "2019-08-15T02:31:18Z")
Just trying to get an idea of the current political climate. Feel free to define anything in any way you wish, including their location, office (still highest possible), and platform, as long as the candidate could be considered a white supremacist by most reasonable public measure. One reason I ask is that I wonder sometimes what the national Republican party would do if their members’ tactics, especially those in heavily red states, went to its logical conclusion. It further made me wonder if that was at all likely. Thus, this question. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/2 "2019-08-15T03:27:13Z")
They won’t care. The party is pretty much there as it is, what with Make America Great Again being a dogwhistle for those who believe America stopped being great when Obama got elected. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/3 "2019-08-15T04:14:34Z")
We already have the answer to this. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/4 "2019-08-15T04:36:22Z")
If the candidate is aesthetically appealing (never underestimate the appeal of fame, good looks, a good voice, height and such things,) has a knack for rolling out a dozen zingers in every speech that make for bumper-sticker quotes, plays the “whites are reverse-discriminated against” card effectively, is helped by outside factors such as the economy or Islamic terrorism, AND goes up against an inept, SJW, dislikable type of opponent, then I think he/she could go all the way. President-Elect of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/5 "2019-08-15T04:51:23Z")
In 2016, David Duke said “I’m overjoyed to see Donald Trump and most Americans embrace most of the issues that I’ve championed for years.” ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/6 "2019-08-15T05:07:28Z")
You can be anyone. Just tell people you’re rich over and over again, be loud, say what you want and dye your skin color to a new and truly dopey-Looking skin color which people seem to like for some odd reason. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/7 "2019-08-15T05:09:07Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > We already have the answer to this. Gimme a T, gimme a R… ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/8 "2019-08-15T05:15:19Z")
Yeah, we have Trump, but he still at least on the surface makes a token effort to pretend to care about minorities (at least to the point where his supporters pretend that he wants to do anything for them). When I said “openly,” I was thinking no dog whistles, no euphemisms or metaphors, just straight out 100% direct. Maybe not to genocide levels, but at the least to the “not afraid, perhaps even proud, to say it directly in public.” Same with the national party. They are still too afraid to say it straight out. They may get there eventually, but not now, IMO, so this again my interest in the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Unreconstructed\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/76d3ee/32.png) [@Unreconstructed\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unreconstructed_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/9 "2019-08-15T05:55:22Z")
An open racist wouldn’t get anywhere, because the people voting for him would necessarily have to admit to themselves that they’re also racist. And most racists don’t believe themselves to be racist. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/10 "2019-08-15T06:19:32Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Yeah, we have Trump, but he still at least on the surface makes a token effort to pretend to care about minorities (at least to the point where his supporters pretend that he wants to do anything for them). When I said “openly,” I was thinking no dog whistles, no euphemisms or metaphors, just straight out 100% direct. Maybe not to genocide levels, but at the least to the “not afraid, perhaps even proud, to say it directly in public.” An openly racist “I’m proud to be white supremacist” candidate might even do better than Trump at the ballot box. There’s a certain phenomenon (might have a name) whereby if you argue for Policy X halfheartedly, it will be unpopular, but if you full-out embrace Policy X full-bore, no apologies, it can be very popular - even if Policy X is a _ **horrible thing** _ - because people are naturally drawn towards confidence. If they see you showing genuine enthusiasm for something, then they figure there must be some validity and substance to it, otherwise why are you so confident and ardent for it? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/11 "2019-08-15T13:25:14Z")
I could see them actually getting pretty far if they focus on the “Pride” part of “White Pride”. Someone who rants about minorities and throws around racial epithets likely won’t get very far, because even the “I’m not racist, but…” crowd would shy away from them. But someone who just talks about how _great_ white people are? Who just talks about how great things would be if we didn’t _hold back_ white people? Who talks about letting the _best people_ reap the greatest rewards? That guy could win big. “He doesn’t hate minorities, he just loves his own race! What’s wrong with that?” Just play up every good thing white people have ever done, while ignoring everything bad they’ve ever done, and literally ignoring every non-white person out there would likely be a winning strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/12 "2019-08-15T13:31:12Z")
When did Trump ever pretend to care about minorities? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/13 "2019-08-15T13:36:45Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > You can be anyone. Just tell people you’re rich over and over again, be loud, say what you want and dye your skin color to a new and truly dopey-Looking skin color which people seem to like for some odd reason. That color is Magnificent Orange™️. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/14 "2019-08-15T14:09:15Z")
[Pantone 137 C](https://www.pantone.com/color-finder/137-C) > [@octopus](#): > > That color is Magnificent Orange™️. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/15 "2019-08-15T14:12:29Z")
Another aspect to consider is that if someone openly and proudly claims to be an “-ist” (racist, sexist, etc.), suddenly, accusing them of it becomes a toothless attack. The whole point of accusing someone of being racist is that they’re supposed to deny it, since being racist is a bad thing. But if someone proudly embraces that label, then you’re left with a “Uh…okay…so what now then” situation. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/16 "2019-08-15T14:17:30Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > We already have the answer to this. Yeppers. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/17 "2019-08-15T14:29:25Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > They won’t care. The party is pretty much there as it is, what with Make America Great Again being a dogwhistle for those who believe America stopped being great when Obama got elected. I believe it started when Clinton got elected. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/18 "2019-08-15T14:38:02Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > There’s a certain phenomenon (might have a name) whereby if you argue for Policy X halfheartedly, it will be unpopular, but if you full-out embrace Policy X full-bore, no apologies, it can be very popular - even if Policy X is a _ **horrible thing** _ - because people are naturally drawn towards confidence. If they see you showing genuine enthusiasm for something, then they figure there must be some validity and substance to it, otherwise why are you so confident and ardent for it? Why, oh why, do Democrats never pick up on this basic fact about human nature? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/19 "2019-08-15T15:22:37Z")
meh nvm ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682/20 "2019-08-15T15:33:44Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Another aspect to consider is that if someone openly and proudly claims to be an “-ist” (racist, sexist, etc.), suddenly, accusing them of it becomes a toothless attack. > > The whole point of accusing someone of being racist is that they’re supposed to deny it, since being racist is a bad thing. But if someone proudly embraces that label, then you’re left with a “Uh…okay…so what now then” situation. I have always felt that this is a vastly underused strategy. Whatever one is accused of, freely and openly admit to it, no matter how outrageous or false the accusation is. To a degree, our current occupant covertly uses this strategy. The underlying message being, “Yeah, so what are you going to do about it?” Which, as we have observed, leaves the opposition wringing their hands and furrowing their brows and being outraged and and and … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-think-a-candidate-openly-campaigning-with-white-supremacist-beliefs-could-get-today/838682.md?page=2)