# Trump's Republican primary campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 3, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828 "2015-09-03T18:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 191
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3805 "2016-04-19T12:55:54Z")
Perhaps so. But that’s not because it’s German per se, but just because of the way it sounds. ::shrug:: Since, as I say, so many American names are German, names from other parts of the world are \*more \*likely to run into this problem. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3806 "2016-04-19T12:55:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Because Americans think German names are HIGH-larious. Tee hee tee hee. See, he’s supposed to be ashamed that his family had such a German sounding name! Tee hee! Tee hee! Not so impressive now, are you, Mr. Germanlastname! Tee hee!!! Given that the #1 ancestry group in America is, in fact, German, I don’t really think this is it. > **[Ancestry of U.S. Population by Rank (2023 Update)](https://www.infoplease.com/us/race/ancestry-us-population-rank)** > > The United States is a melting pot of cultures and traditions, with people from all over the world calling it their home. Discover the top 20 U.S. ancestry groups! ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3807 "2016-04-19T12:59:04Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Perhaps so. But that’s not because it’s German per se, but just because of the way it sounds. It’s exactly the same thing as saying “Oh, those wacky Chinese with names that sound like they dropped the silverware! Ching Chong Ding Dong! Tee hee!” ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3808 "2016-04-19T13:04:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Given that the #1 ancestry group in America is, in fact, German, I don’t really think this is it. > > [Ancestry of U.S. Population by Rank (2023 Update) | Infoplease](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762137.html) You think that keeps people from mocking their wacky foreign names and thinking and saying they sound stupid? And then mocking the same people if they change their stupid sounding names? The mockery isn’t because it’s German. The mockery is that it sounds stupid and foreign and like a name a loser would have. _That is not improvement._ ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3809 "2016-04-19T13:18:53Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Perhaps so. But that’s not because it’s German per se, but just because of the way it sounds. ::shrug:: Since, as I say, so many American names are German, names from other parts of the world are \*more \*likely to run into this problem. Exactly. That’s why I find it offensive. Haha, look at the guy with the funny sounding foreign name! Isn’t it hilarious? They put "f"s after “p”/ in Germany, can you imagine that! Height of comedy right there. It’s also sinking to his level–this is stuff I’d expect from Trump and his supporters, not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3810 "2016-04-19T13:21:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > They put "f"s after “p”/ in Germany, can you imagine that! Height of comedy right there. That \*is \*pretty comedic. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3811 "2016-04-19T13:24:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Exactly. That’s why I find it offensive. Haha, look at the guy with the funny sounding foreign name! Isn’t it hilarious? They put "f"s after “p”/ in Germany, can you imagine that! Height of comedy right there. It’s also sinking to his level–this is stuff I’d expect from Trump and his supporters, not the other way around. Xenophobia. Not just for Republicans anymore! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3812 "2016-04-19T14:35:23Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Because Americans think German names are HIGH-larious. Tee hee tee hee. See, he’s supposed to be ashamed that his family had such a German sounding name! Tee hee! Tee hee! Not so impressive now, are you, Mr. Germanlastname! Tee hee!!! Maybe 20 years isn’t long enough, but I a have never seen or heard of an American making fun of a German last name. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3813 "2016-04-19T14:47:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Maybe 20 years isn’t long enough, but I a have never seen or heard of an American making fun of a German last name. What do you call making fun of “Drumpf”? And I bet you’ve heard people making fun of how ugly German sounds. And again, as someone who was born with a difficult to spell and pronounce German name, I’ve been on the receiving end of it. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3814 "2016-04-19T15:58:16Z")
I think the Drumpf gag has long run its course, but the purported humor IMO does not have anything to do with its German-ness or foreignness. Rather, it’s cacophonous and suggests the sound of something landing with a dull thud. It also resembles words like “dumb” and “chump.” All things that Donald Trump in particular would be personally horrified to be associated with. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3815 "2016-04-19T16:17:50Z")
[Rick Perlstein writes](http://www.salon.com/2016/04/19/donald_trumps_avenging_angels_how_the_orange_haired_monster_has_rewritten_the_history_of_american_conservatism/) about how growing up as a New Yorker of his time made Trump what he is. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3816 "2016-04-19T16:18:52Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I think the Drumpf gag has long run its course, but the purported humor IMO does not have anything to do with its German-ness or foreignness. Rather, it’s cacophonous and suggests the sound of something landing with a dull thud. It also resembles words like “dumb” and “chump.” All things that Donald Trump in particular would be personally horrified to be associated with. What it sounds like is a name Terry Pratchett would have given a Discworld dwarf. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3817 "2016-04-19T17:49:04Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > What do you call making fun of “Drumpf”? > > And I bet you’ve heard people making fun of how ugly German sounds. And again, as someone who was born with a difficult to spell and pronounce German name, I’ve been on the receiving end of it. I think you are missing Oliver’s main point. Trump gave Jon Stewart shit for changing his name to something less ethnic, when a few generations ago, Trump’s family had done the very same thing. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3818 "2016-04-19T18:06:10Z")
Did you watch Oliver’s bit? He made a point about how goofy Drumpf sounds, like a pigeon hitting a window. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3819 "2016-04-19T18:21:50Z")
> [@Pashnish\_Ewing](#): > > I think you are missing Oliver’s main point. Trump gave Jon Stewart shit for changing his name to something less ethnic, when a few generations ago, Trump’s family had done the very same thing. Trump’s family did it generations ago, for reasons of discrimination. Stewart did it himself in order to advance his career. And Trump just made a quip. Oliver and company are frantically trying to make Drumpf the next big thing. SlackerINC has even gone so far as to willingly segregate himself inside a techno - linguistic echo chamber constructed specifically for the purpose of hiding the powerful Trump brand from view. Every time I see someone trying to force the Drumpf thing it reminds me [Jeb and his hoodie](https://youtu.be/jBg6hU5zXDA)trying so futily to be hip and relevant. The one who should be referred to as Drumpf is the guy heading the desperate effort to make Drumpf a thing. Oliver Drumpf ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3820 "2016-04-19T18:36:51Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I think the Drumpf gag has long run its course, but the purported humor IMO does not have anything to do with its German-ness or foreignness. Rather, it’s cacophonous and suggests the sound of something landing with a dull thud. It also resembles words like “dumb” and “chump.” All things that Donald Trump in particular would be personally horrified to be associated with. And it’s sill just as stupid to mock someone for their the way their name sounds, whether it’s because it’s Germanic or “cacophonous.” It’s partly because of people like that that immigrants had to change their names. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3821 "2016-04-19T18:43:44Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > Trump’s family did it generations ago, for reasons of discrimination. Stewart did it himself in order to advance his career. Lots of performers take stage names. ---
**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:** [April 19, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3822 "2016-04-19T18:54:23Z")
> [@Pashnish\_Ewing](#): > > I think you are missing Oliver’s main point. Trump gave Jon Stewart shit for changing his name to something less ethnic, when a few generations ago, Trump’s family had done the very same thing. First, Donald Trump didn’t change his name. He has no control over what his family did. Right? We can all agree on that much? Second, Donald Trump’s standards of behavior are disgusting. I won’t emulate them. Third, just saying “Hey, your ancestors did this too” is one thing. Saying “And your name was stupid, tee hee, so let’s call you by that stupid name, because no one would ever vote for you if your name were still so gross and stupid” is something else. ---
**Author:** ![Hank\_Beecher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hank_beecher/32/7275_2.png) [@Hank\_Beecher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hank_Beecher)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3823 "2016-04-19T19:03:33Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Lots of performers take stage names. Sure, and I have no problem with it. And I have no problem with Trump mentioning it to remind potential voters that Stewart is first and foremost a clownish performer. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828/3824 "2016-04-19T19:08:52Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > Sure, and I have no problem with it. And I have no problem with Trump mentioning it to remind potential voters that Stewart is first and foremost a clownish performer. He’s only clownish if it’s your sacred ox being turned into lunchmeat. Unfortunately, Trump is also a clownish performer. Which is a horrible look for a possible Presidential candidate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=190) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-republican-primary-campaign/729828.md?page=192)