# Straight, Cisgendered, White Male here and I truly don't understand Alt Right and Trump supporters. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 15, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500 "2019-11-15T18:48:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/21 "2019-11-16T00:39:26Z")
This has nothing to do with policies, especially fiscal and taxation policies. They have no idea what policies are being pursued and whom they benefit. They have no idea what a qualified judiciary is or who is being appointed and why. The right’s support is purely based on identity politics and aggressive posturing. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/22 "2019-11-16T00:43:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Republicans want to hurt Democrats, and don’t care that doing so means hurting everyone. Democrats want to help everyone, and don’t care that doing so means helping Republicans. Interesting. It’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/23 "2019-11-16T01:36:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Other than the part about making liberals cry, I still don’t get how wanting those things makes it worth supporting such a complete ass Because who cares? If you worked at a company making a great salary (whatever that amount is) and had great benefits, would you care if the CEO was a gigantic ass? > [@](#): > > If Trump put good people on the bench They are good people, to a certain subset of Americans. > [@](#): > > implemented a rational environmental policy Many Americans don’t give a shit about the environment > [@](#): > > and successfully fought terrorism ISIS is defeated and there haven’t been any terrorist attacks on America. How is that not successful? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/24 "2019-11-16T01:39:56Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Truer words have not yet been written. Thanks. It’s been this way since November of 2016 and people still keep asking “Why do they support him???” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/25 "2019-11-16T01:42:57Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Because who cares? If you worked at a company making a great salary (whatever that amount is) and had great benefits, would you care if the CEO was a gigantic ass? > > They are good people, to a certain subset of Americans. > > Many Americans don’t give a shit about the environment > > ISIS is defeated and there haven’t been any terrorist attacks on America. How is that not successful? I was just trying to make the point that supporting someone like Trump just to get policies you like is a disdusting trade off If my CEO is a scumbag, so be it. If the Board doesn’t care, that’s a problem. I’m stuck for now with Trump in office, but I’m not going to wear a MAGA hat or respect Republicans who enable him. Trump would be gone tomorrow if Republicans gave a shit. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/26 "2019-11-16T02:01:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I was just trying to make the point that supporting someone like Trump just to get policies you like is a disdusting trade off > > If my CEO is a scumbag, so be it. If the Board doesn’t care, that’s a problem. I’m stuck for now with Trump in office, but I’m not going to wear a MAGA hat or respect Republicans who enable him. Trump would be gone tomorrow if Republicans gave a shit. That’s fine, as it’s your choice. But people are still claiming “I don’t understand” when the reasoning is clear. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/27 "2019-11-16T02:09:30Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > That’s fine, as it’s your choice. But people are still claiming “I don’t understand” when the reasoning is clear. I don’t understand how people can support such a disgusting, incompetent, and ignorant piece of shit just to get policies they favor. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/28 "2019-11-16T02:16:40Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/29 "2019-11-16T02:19:31Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I don’t understand how people can support such a disgusting, incompetent, and ignorant piece of shit just to get policies they favor. Perhaps it’s because many people consider the policies more important than the individual behavior of the President? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/30 "2019-11-16T02:26:51Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Perhaps it’s because many people consider the policies more important than the individual behavior of the President? That’s what I don’t understand. It’s not like he’s a _little odd_, he’s thoroughly reprehensible You can get good policies from lots of people, throwing away your soul for this scumbag makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/31 "2019-11-16T02:34:32Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > That’s what I don’t understand. It’s not like he’s a _little odd_, he’s thoroughly reprehensible You can get good policies from lots of people, throwing away your soul for this scumbag makes no sense. “reprehensible” seems a judgement call. Here’s an example that I frequently face from a debate partner of mine: President Obama ordered the drone killing of an American citizen. I personally find that reprehensible. Should I not be in favor of ObamaCare because I find the drone killing of an American citizen reprehensible? I don’t think so. Similarly, people who like the tax cuts and conservative judges aren’t going to stop liking that because President Trump said some moronic things. Hey, he hasn’t killed American citizens with a drone attack, has he? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/32 "2019-11-16T02:34:25Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Perhaps it’s because many people consider the policies more important than the individual behavior of the President? _Is_ there a line, though? Does it truly not matter in any way _who_ the POTUS is? As long as he/she gets favored policies enacted? ---
**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:** [November 16, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/33 "2019-11-16T02:37:49Z")
IANATV (I am not a Trump voter) but this thread smacks of many similar threads we’ve already had before: 1. “I don’t understand Trump voters” 2. Attribute some nonsensical or odd motives to Trump voters 3. “I don’t understand Trump voters” ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/34 "2019-11-16T02:41:24Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > _Is_ there a line, though? Does it truly not matter in any way _who_ the POTUS is? As long as he/she gets favored policies enacted? I’m sure it matters in some way. For example, imagine a President who enacted every single thing that you personally were in favor of. Then, it comes out the he/she was part of a dog fighting ring in their youth, and wore blackface while killing dogs. Would you stop supporting them? What if it came to light that your Presidential candidate told Ukraine - “If you help me get elected, I will get the US to solve your homeless problem and your human trafficking problem?” Would you continue to support that candidate? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/35 "2019-11-16T02:42:46Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > . > > Similarly, people who like the tax cuts and conservative judges aren’t going to stop liking that because President Trump said some moronic things. Hey, he hasn’t killed American citizens with a drone attack, has he? They can keep liking the policies they support without supporting Trump. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/36 "2019-11-16T02:44:37Z")
From what I sense from my acquaintances or friends who do support Trump: They feel that Republicans have “played nice” for too long with candidates like Bush, McCain or Romney and that it was time for a “street fighter” (in Dr. James Dobson’s words) who would use knuckles in the cultural war that was going on. They felt that liberals had been winning too much and it was time to make a stand. Concrete things like China, the economy, jobs, ISIS, taxes or guns may have mattered a bit, but nowhere as much as the cultural-war component. They felt outgunned by a liberal Hollywood, media, academia, and a Democratic Party that outnumbered the GOP by 22 million. (The desire to regain control over the Supreme Court was also a huge factor.) They felt that “playing nice” wasn’t getting it done. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/37 "2019-11-16T02:45:08Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > They can keep liking the policies they support without supporting Trump. Of course. But then the question becomes “Why can’t people admit when they are wrong?” which is a question that will never be answered. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/38 "2019-11-16T02:59:00Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I don’t understand how people can support such a disgusting, incompetent, and ignorant piece of shit just to get policies they favor. This is puzzling, to be sure. Trump got the R’s back into power, so they can be grateful to him for that, but they could have swiftly impeached him and get President Pence to do everything they want. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/39 "2019-11-16T02:59:41Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m sure it matters in some way. > > For example, imagine a President who enacted every single thing that you personally were in favor of. Then, it comes out the he/she was part of a dog fighting ring in their youth, and wore blackface while killing dogs. Would you stop supporting them? > > What if it came to light that your Presidential candidate told Ukraine - “If you help me get elected, I will get the US to solve your homeless problem and your human trafficking problem?” > > Would you continue to support that candidate? The question isn’t about where the line would be for _me_ as a voter, I’m asking you because you said it made perfect sense why Trump supporters continue to support him. When might it _not_ make sense, given these favorable policies continue to be enacted, to support him? ---
**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:** [November 16, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500/40 "2019-11-16T03:00:10Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Of course. But then the question becomes “Why can’t people admit when they are wrong?” which is a question that will never be answered. Face, pride, spite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-cisgendered-white-male-here-and-i-truly-dont-understand-alt-right-and-trump-supporters/843500.md?page=3)