Violence Against Donald Trump Will Help Him to Win the Election

by Duane Campbell

Although well meaning, the violent protests against Trump this weekend  for his racism will help him to get elected. We know.  They served to help elect Ronald Reagan and to re-elect Governor Pete Wilson.

We need to recognize that  bold racism can win elections in California, as it did

in 1994 ( Proposition 187), 1996 ( Proposition 209) and 1998 ( Prop 227).  They even re-elected a weak, inarticulate Governor Wilson in 1994, how much more dangerous are they in 2016 with a flamboyant, energetic, pseudo populist like Trump.

We need to recognize the potential advantage  for Republican candidates of racist scapegoating as revealed in the Wilson-promoted Proposition 187 initiative passed by 2/3 of California voters in 1994. The campaign produced a large turnout of right wing voters.  It banned over 600,000 immigrants from receiving needed food stamps, medical care.  

Components of Prop. 187 became national law in 1996 as a part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation act of 1996, and the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. They are Public Law 104-208.

 In that election, the voters of California  voted 62% to 38% in favor of Proposition 187,  then called the Save Our State initiative to restrict illegal immigration.  A number of groups including FAIR, the Republican Party, and the Perot organization worked together to qualify the initiative.  Today, the anti-immigrant groups include the  Tea Party, Minutemen and various militia organizations.

In 1994, California had a population that was  56.3 % White, 26.3 % Latino, 9.4% Asian, 7.4 % African American, and 0.6% other.  However, according to exit polls, the voters in this election were 80% white, 9% Latino, 7 % African American, and 4 % Asian. Exit polls show that Latinos voted against Prop. 187 by 3 to 1, African Americans split their vote 50-50, and the Anglo electorate passed the proposition by over 60%. The large turnout of white voters for this divisive initiative gave a substantial electoral victory for Governor Wilson in his re-election campaign.  This white vote is the vote Trump and the other Republicans are seeking.

The purpose of Trump’s intolerant bombasts are not to develop a policy -- it is to capture and exploit the anxiety and emotion of a particular sub-set of voters: xenophobic Republicans and the hard Tea Party Right.   Like George Wallace’s and former California Governor Pete Wilson’s actions, this is a punch to the gut ! Not to the head.

We need to recognize that  bold racism can win elections in California, as it did

in 1994 ( Proposition 187), 1996 ( Proposition 209) and 1998 ( Prop 227).  They even re-elected a weak, inarticulate Governor Wilson in 1994, how much more dangerous are they in 2016 with a flamboyant, energetic, pseudo populist like Trump.

So, what can we do?

We should insist that demonstrations against Trump remain non violent.  There are groups who wish to promote the violence.  They see this as bold and radical. It is not.  It is politically immature.  Violence will help  to elect Trump. We should refuse to cooperate with such groups, and refuse to join in demonstrations in the area where violence is being promoted.
Protest Trump and his agenda, but maintain discipline.  We don't want to help elect him.