# Trump's Strategy of Pointing at Bernie for the Protests **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 13, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854 "2016-03-13T11:40:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [March 14, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/21 "2016-03-14T00:00:24Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > For fuck’s sake. Bullshit weasel words are not the same thing as factual support for an assertion. > Trump’s actual words: > > “Bernie Sanders is lying when he says his disruptors aren’t told to go to my events” > > Trump is explicitly saying that > > 1. The “disruptors” belong to Sanders > 2. Sanders’ “disruptors” were told to go disrupt Trump’s event > > If you want to try and argue that perhaps Trump meant that Sanders’ personal “disruptors” were taking orders from someone other than Sanders (or his campaign) then the onus is on you to provide actual evidence that Trump meant someone other than Sanders. No, you are the one falling into Trump’s trap and resorting to just a little bit of bullshit. Unfortunately for your argument, Trump is not explicitly saying anything untrue. What he is saying is BOTH: a) A reasonable description of what happened. People loyal to Sanders were instructed by organizations loyal to Sanders to disrupt the rally. and b) Easily misunderstood to mean that Sanders himself directly ordered the actions (the implausibility of that scenario not withstanding) If you assert that his message was crafted in such a way that b was included on purpose, and thus that he is being intentionally misleading, I will agree with you. But neither one of us have any proof of this. And it is the kind of plausibly deniable double-speak that people always forgive during political seasons, anyway, as long as it is their horse doing the galloping. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/22 "2016-03-14T00:03:57Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The first one isn’t wrong, but it doesn’t require him to be all that intelligent, so much as just having stumbled upon that strategy. > > The other is a video by a guy who is explicitly trying to sell his stuff on how to be confident and pick up women. He’s not the most reliable source. If anyone can stand to listen to such a guy, could you listen and extract his valid points? To sum it up, Trump uses simple very effective techniques that are based on how people make decisions. And he does it masterfully. It is a mistake to understand the simplicity and repetition of the message to be due to a lack of intelligence, preparation, or sophistication. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/23 "2016-03-14T00:13:40Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Sorry, **LHOD** , gotta say it: I called this. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19174538&postcount=159](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19174538&postcount=159) YAYYYYY! The trophy is still yours! Congratulations, man, we’re so proud of you! ---
**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:** [March 14, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/24 "2016-03-14T00:35:14Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > YAYYYYY! The trophy is still yours! Congratulations, man, we’re so proud of you! ::takes a bow:: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/25 "2016-03-14T01:23:49Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > So Trump is calling out Bernie for the protest disruptions. > > This positions Bernie as the person to vote for if you hate Trump. Untrue. It positions anyone but Trump to vote for if you hate him. Personally, I prefer Hillary. And oh do I hate that loudmouth ignorant pathological liar Trump. EDIT: I forgot racist, sexist, and extremely dangerous to the future history of America. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/26 "2016-03-14T07:33:19Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Trump is explicitly saying that > > 1. The “disruptors” belong to Sanders > 2. Sanders’ “disruptors” were told to go disrupt Trump’s event This is my take on it, for what it’s worth. What Trump said and how he wants it to be interpreted are two different things. Your recap above, correctly, does not specifically state that Sanders himself ordered supporters to disrupt the rally, but Trump is only too happy to be accused of saying it so he can successfully refute it and hold the upper hand. It’s a juvenile game of “Gotcha” that makes him look superior. The way to make him lose at it is to not fall for it. Fomenting hate against himself among his opponents seems to be as much a part of Trump’s game as fomenting hate among his followers against their perceived enemies. Nothing like a persecution complex to reinforce the hate they already have. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/27 "2016-03-14T11:36:42Z")
Trump can’t lay claim to being the next Hitler unless he blames a Jew for his problems. His supporters are so stupid they gladly slurp up every bit of bullshit that comes out of his mouth. He gets away with it because it really doesn’t matter what he says. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/28 "2016-03-14T12:35:51Z")
I don’t think blaming Sanders “because he’s a Jew” has anything to do with it. If Trump points at Bernie only, it keeps the pot a little bit more stirred for the Democrats - and I believe Trump does this consciously. I would not be surprised if Trump starts calling out Hillary for not being as strong as Bernie or some such drivel… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/29 "2016-03-14T12:42:49Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I don’t think blaming Sanders “because he’s a Jew” has anything to do with it. If Trump points at Bernie only, it keeps the pot a little bit more stirred for the Democrats - and I believe Trump does this consciously. > > I would not be surprised if Trump starts calling out Hillary for not being as strong as Bernie or some such drivel… Trump’s supporters already hate blacks, Mexicans, and Muslims. Certainly Trump gets some points with that crowd by tossing a bit of anti-Semitism in the mix. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/30 "2016-03-14T13:45:10Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Trump’s supporters already hate blacks, Mexicans, and Muslims. Certainly Trump gets some points with that crowd by tossing a bit of anti-Semitism in the mix. Yes, Trump panders to all kinds of hate - by ethnicity, religion, gender, etc. But if he acts like Bernie is the threat, he can draw attention away from Hillary and/or try to spin her as weaker than Bernie - that Hillary is a less-worthy opponent to Trump himself. Repositioning the campaign, again, to be about who is willing to take a stronger position about these protests and not about the issues. Trump being Trump - to keep misdirecting attention and keep his supporters roiled and entertained. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/31 "2016-03-14T13:51:47Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I am sure many are. But it is not like you can do an exit poll on protesters. > > I have come to look at everything Trump does has having near-term, reality-TV implications. With his skill set, he could point this issue any way he wanted to, and he is focused on Bernie. I am trying to think that through and see some of the angles. I think it’s pretty simple, really. Back in 1968, “Law and Order” wasn’t just about race, it was also about hippie-bashing. And here in this reality show that should be called _Son of '68_, hippie-bashing still plays quite well to his core demographic. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/32 "2016-03-14T14:29:22Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > This is my take on it, for what it’s worth. What Trump said and how he wants it to be interpreted are two different things. Your recap above, correctly, does not specifically state that Sanders himself ordered supporters to disrupt the rally, but Trump is only too happy to be accused of saying it so he can successfully refute it and hold the upper hand. It’s a juvenile game of “Gotcha” that makes him look superior. The way to make him lose at it is to not fall for it. This is, IMO, completely correct. Trump is smarter than people give him credit for. The guy knows how to persuade (or manipulate, if you will) people and speak in ways that may be able to give him an ‘out’. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/33 "2016-03-14T15:03:26Z")
> [@Hank\_Beecher](#): > > These are more realistic analyses: > > [Military Strategist Explains Why Donald Trump Leads—And How He Will Fail](http://thefederalist.com/2015/12/16/military-strategist-explains-why-donald-trump-leads-and-how-he-will-fail/) That’s an intriguing read. I don’t know if Trump is deliberately using that strategy or if it’s just the way he works by nature, but “40-second Trump” certainly describes his campaign so far. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854/34 "2016-03-14T15:16:27Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > The guy knows how to persuade (or manipulate, if you will) people and speak in ways that may be able to give him an ‘out’. The Dark Art of the Deal, no less. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-strategy-of-pointing-at-bernie-for-the-protests/748854.md?page=1)