# National Fraternal Order of Police endorses Trump - Mask isn't just slipping it's being thrown away **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 17, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176 "2016-09-17T17:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/21 "2016-09-18T21:08:40Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Don’t vote for the one corporate-overlord approved candidate and you must be racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, queer phobic, xenophobic, dog kicking, deplorable! I think it’s really “don’t vote for the candidate pushing racist conspiracy theories, saying racist things, and re-tweeting white supremacists regularly”, not necessarily that you have to vote for Clinton, to not be a supporter of racism/sexism/homophobia/etc (whether knowingly or unknowingly). ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/22 "2016-09-18T21:26:46Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > So in one fell swoop you’ve lumped the Police, and everyone who supports them, in with White Power groups No, they did that. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/23 "2016-09-18T21:34:49Z")
Relocating to Elections from IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/24 "2016-09-18T22:06:00Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > This whole, “if you disagree with me, you’re racist” tactic has gotten pretty old. It’s almost like it’s the flip-side to the “if you disagree with me, you’re anti-police and every police officer who dies in the line of duty means you have blood on your hands” argument. But it’s not like any serious-minded police union or organization official would ever resort to that kind of disingenuous, morally reprehensible kind of tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/25 "2016-09-18T22:14:35Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Wait… America isn’t safe right now? NO! You should be VERY frightened. Only a Strong Man Leader can save us now. We are being overrun by “them”. We must fight to keep “them” away from good people like us. Vote Strong Man Leader! Glorious Leader! ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/26 "2016-09-18T22:20:15Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > So in one fell swoop you’ve lumped the Police, and everyone who supports them, in with White Power groups. I’m sure radical feminist groups overwhelmingly support Hillary too. Absolutely meaningless (unless you like shooting fish in a barrel). > > I’m not thinking again. Police deal with criminals. The police are overwhelmingly decent, hardworking, underpaid, public servants and criminals are overwhelmingly lowlife scum who deserve everything that happens to them. Regardless of what color they are (in both cases)… Police are not underpaid. They make too much. They are able to retire very early and continue to drain the hapless taxpayer long after they stop harassing them. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/27 "2016-09-18T22:35:23Z")
> [@ganthet](#): > > It’s almost like it’s the flip-side to the “if you disagree with me, you’re anti-police and every police officer who dies in the line of duty means you have blood on your hands” argument. But it’s not like any serious-minded police union or organization official would ever resort to that kind of disingenuous, morally reprehensible kind of tactic. Two wrongs don’t make a right, mom used to say. It’s healthy you admit it’s disingenuous and morally reprehensible though. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/28 "2016-09-18T23:51:15Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > The FOP was always going to endorse Trump. In many ways, he is the essence of the FOP, which considers any criticism of policing to be “anti-police” and defends openly white supremacist cops as merely displaying [German-American](http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/09/02/fop-president-defends-officer-over-alleged-nazi-tattoos/)pride. > > There are some FOP lodges that are more reasonable. But many of them, like the main FOP lodges in Philly and NYC, use rhetoric is barely distinguishable from that of white supremacists. My God! A union is defending one of their members! I’m shocked! Shocked! Dude, that’s what public employees unions do. Hell, what all unions do. The thing to remember is that by their nature, and for good reason, unions will always have a somewhat adversarial relationship with management and their employers. In the case of public employees unions, we’re their employers. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/29 "2016-09-18T23:54:46Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Clinton has made anti-police statements. Whether she believes it or is pandering to her crowd I don’t know. It’s not too hard to figure out who they would endorse. What “anti-police statements” has Clinton made. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/30 "2016-09-19T00:28:55Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > My God! A union is defending one of their members! I’m shocked! Shocked! > > Dude, that’s what public employees unions do. Hell, what all unions do. > > The thing to remember is that by their nature, and for good reason, unions will always have a somewhat adversarial relationship with management and their employers. In the case of public employees unions, we’re their employers. I’m aware of what unions do. There are a hundred ways to defend a cop with a Nazi tattoo–mostly centering around the right to free speech so long as it doesn’t interfere with work. Instead, they chose the most racist way. They denied that a Nazi eagle with the word “Fatherland” in Nazi script was a Nazi reference–insisting he was merely showing German pride (which is very similar to what neo-Nazi groups say)–and then said it was basically the same thing as a panther tattoo, suggesting that a Black Panther tattoo would be the equivalent of a Nazi tattoo. There are police unions that are not racist reactionaries. They prove it’s possible to stand up for cops without being an asshole. But while it’s possible, the balance of FOP leadership doesn’t choose that path. And, as you note, police unions are just a teensy bit of a special case, given that they are already a paramilitary organization with unparalleled power in American society. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/31 "2016-09-19T00:49:18Z")
The town I live in just distributed “free of charge” political-lawn-sign type signs to all of the businesses in town which are basically I Support The Police Look At This Sign Bearing A Blue Stripe. Good luck being a business owner who may not feel like displaying such propaganda. I suppose it’s either a way to force a contrived sense of support, or a way to shame those who would rather not be told what to display. (Oh, I couldn’t help but notice that you aren’t displaying your sign…) There is a real sense that if one does not support the police 100%, no matter what, then one is anti-police. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/32 "2016-09-19T00:57:07Z")
Like during the Iraq invasion the public started having concerns about its legitimacy and suddenly “Support our Troops” bumper stickers started showing up everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/33 "2016-09-19T00:57:42Z")
This isn’t all that surprising. I don’t think Hillary Clinton herself has been particularly antagonistic toward the police, but democrats and left wing activists have protested police conduct in high profile cases. Of course they had a point, but the police, not eager to change their culture, have probably felt that the activists are taking the sides of victims and are less protective of law enforcement’s interests. It’s unfortunate, but I don’t see police departments, most of which are still accountable to the general public and public servants, getting toxic like Wayne Lapierre, I probably won’t lose too much sleep over this. It was clear early on that Trump was going to appeal to the police more than his leftist counterparts. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/34 "2016-09-19T01:56:43Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > What “anti-police statements” has Clinton made. For real. Occasionally in my profession we deal with teachers who abuse students verbally, physically, and/or sexually. When someone excoriates those teachers, my main problem is that they’re interrupting me excoriating them. There’s no goddamn way I want them in my profession. There is a terrible habit among police–#notallpolice–to act differently. I find that habit loathsome. If Clinton has actually made anti-police statements, not just excoriating police who act poorly, I’d be interested in hearing what those statements are. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/35 "2016-09-19T01:59:08Z")
Wait, does NOFP endorsing Trump prove that they’re racist or that Trump appeals to racists? I’m not sure it proves either, really. I do recognize both that police in the USA are very tolerant of white nationalism in their ranks, and that Trump has been race-baiting his way through the campaign. But if you don’t either already see both of those things as mostly true, and/or see one of them as a defining trait, I don’t expect this endorsement to convince you. > [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > So in one fell swoop you’ve lumped the Police, and everyone who supports them, in with White Power groups. I’m sure radical feminist groups overwhelmingly support Hillary too. Absolutely meaningless (unless you like shooting fish in a barrel). > > I’m not thinking again. Police deal with criminals. The police are overwhelmingly decent, hardworking, underpaid, public servants and criminals are overwhelmingly lowlife scum who deserve everything that happens to them. Regardless of what color they are (in both cases)… Uuuhhh…you’re being creepy in this post, **Hail Ants**. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/36 "2016-09-19T02:00:57Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I am not a woman, but I support women’s rights. I am not an incarcerated criminal, but I support penal reform. I am not a Muslim, but I support freedom of religion. Even though none of those promise to enhance my own personal convenience or fortune. > > I would like to think the police would support things that are good for the republic and the commonweal, and not just that which is good for their own private personal interests. Democracy serves a nation only insofar as the citizenry can look beyond ways in which the system can be manipulated for one’s own personal gain. Well said. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/37 "2016-09-19T02:08:03Z")
I’m very much anti-Trump, but this Op is total bullshit, equating supporting Trump to racist is really terrible. Most Police organizations have leaned Republican over the years anyway. The conclusion drawn by the Op cannot be supported by reality. Jim, who is looking forward to voting for our first Woman President over the media circus sideshow. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/38 "2016-09-19T02:30:09Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Clinton has made anti-police statements. She has? When? What did she say? ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/39 "2016-09-19T02:53:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > She has? When? What did she say? Don’t bother. That question has been asked three times in this thread with no response. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176/40 "2016-09-19T02:58:17Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I’m not thinking again. Police deal with criminals. The police are overwhelmingly decent, hardworking, underpaid, public servants and criminals are overwhelmingly lowlife scum who deserve everything that happens to them. Regardless of what color they are (in both cases)… 40% of police officers [abuse their families](http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/09/police-officers-who-hit-their-wives-or-girlfriends/380329/) (compared to 10% of the general public). And many people who are dealt with by the police are low level criminals. Traffic violators, drug users, the mentally ill, the homeless, people suspected of misdemeanors or non-violent felonies, etc. Very few people are serious, remorseless criminals. Life is not black and white. Cops are not all brave heroes fighting against sociopathic gang members. Reality is more murky. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump-mask-isnt-just-slipping-its-being-thrown-away/766176.md?page=3)