It is Sunday, February 21st, 2016, and Donald Trump is basking in the afterglow of another Republican primary victory, this time it’s South Carolina. Mr. Trump seems to be building a head of steam and potentially unstoppable momentum toward the Republication Presidential nomination – and the ‘establishment’ of the Republican party is in an uproar. The Republican establishment is now asking the question, “what do we do if this guy (Trump) wins enough delegates to carry the nomination?”
Our current presidential election process demonstrates the power of our media – in particular, the historical and lingering power of Television.
Of course, Donald Trump has been in the glare of the media spotlight for a long, long time – bursting onto the scene with his first book, the blockbuster bestseller, Trump – The Art of the Deal, in 1987.
But, Mr. Trump’s media representation was a mixed bag at best, subject to both adulation and vilification between 1988 and 2003 – UNTIL the genre of reality TV via Network TV paved the way for his recent political ascendancy.
Because, between 2004 and 2015, we repeatedly invited Donald Trump into the bosom of our homes, via the still-running NBC series, The Apprentice – another successful Mark Burnett production. This long-standing invitation into our living rooms and bedrooms has created a trust factor with Donald Trump that seems to have taken some folks by surprise… This trust factor should not come as a surprise at all, as many people AND products have won American hearts through the Madison Avenue marketing marvel of advertising – TELEVISION, in particular…
The real surprise to me IS NOT the support and/or trust of Trump’s ‘redneck’ constituency, nor with other hyper-patriots – it is his trust factor among a cross-section of EVANGELICALS, including some tongue-talking folk, black and white, who you think would know better…
I guess their support also speaks to the pervasiveness of TV…
Why? Because the Word of God IS NOT in Donald Trump’s mouth…
So, WHAT IS IN Donald Trump’s mouth? Besides the blatant bombastic blaring, and xenophobic statements designed to resonate with the overwhelmingly white, patriotic heartland of America?
Some would even compare Donald Trump to the likes of a Winston Churchill, who answered the call during England’s darkest hour during World War II… Two major differences: (1) America is not actively fighting an enemy attempting to bomb us into oblivion, and (2) Donald Trump is no Winston Churchill!
The so-called ‘silent majority’ has remained silent. This silence created a vacuum that provided the perfect chasm for a voice to powerfully echo in this chasm- a mouth such as Donald Trump’s. Essentially, the ‘silent majority’ has ABDICATED their God-given authority in this country – to SOMEONE that they believe is either expressing their interests or is going to have their best interests at heart (to be continued)…
Tagged: Donald Trump Political Campaigns Republican Party
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