Donald Trump has turned a corner, rebooting a campaign that had struggled for weeks, and is evolving into a more polished and promising Republican Nominee. I am seeing people who were once hardened against Trump, soften and even allow themselves moments of enthusiastic optimism regarding a Trump Presidency.
That said, for Trump to win, we are going to need 95% of Republicans behind him. To achieve this, overzealous Trump Supporters on Social Media will have to cease and desist their rowdy behavior directed toward the Republican Party, toward supporters of other Republican candidates, and toward anyone they believe is somehow fundamentally less “American” than themselves.
Despite the polls, Donald Trump could win this election. His greatest obstacle is no longer his own bombast and pomp, but rather the bombast and pomposity of his die hard and enthusiastic supporters, especially on Twitter and Facebook. Despite appearances, Donald Trump won the Republican Nomination and is now competing with Democrat Nominee, Secretary Hillary Clinton, not Ted Cruz, or Glenn Beck, or Bill Kristol. Behavior on Twitter and Facebook may seem trivial, but a respectable number of Americans are engaging in social media and are affected by what they see there.
These incessant attacks against Trump’s detractors in the Republican Party is simply an ineffective strategy.
Millions of Republicans, such as myself, who did not support Donald Trump in the primary, but who will vote for Donald Trump in November are constantly placed in the position of being mercilessly attacked by Trump Supporters for not being enthusiastic enough. These attacks threaten to make enemies out of friends, which is not only unnecessary, but utterly detrimental to Trump’s candidacy.
While there is nothing an ardent Trump supporter can say to me, regardless of its’ level of cruelty, to get me to support anyone other than the Republican Nominee, there are millions of Americans looking for reasons to vote for Donald Trump while Trump’s supporters continue giving them reasons not to.
Trump’s newly evolved campaign is the stuff of victory. Every Trump supporter should be focused on strategic means of ensuring his election. There are dozens of opportunities across Virginia to volunteer and network on behalf of Trump. This means, strategically, that Trump Supporters should be trying to get people to like their candidate and their candidates supporters.
I know that the Never Trump crowd has made many a Trump Supporter grouchy, but when your candidate wins the nomination of his or her’s political party, these kinds of sensitivities simply are not helpful. Trump supporters should stay focused on the positive and focus on beating Hillary Clinton. No one ever changed their mind because they were ruthlessly berated on Facebook or Twitter.
Mark Lloyd and Trumps’ Virginia leadership team have been quite clear and very wise on this matter; and yet, many of Donald’s supporters refuse to heed the advice of their leaders. I am not writing this to be critical of Trump’s supporters. I am simply explaining that Trump’s supporters are behaving in ways detrimental to the success of their candidate. Ardent Trump supporters should be looking for ways to set an example of graciousness and enthusiasm. Graciousness and enthusiasm are catching.
If we are to win in November, we must win together. There are so many positive things people can do as an ardent Trump Supporter. Volunteering for events, door knocking, organizing car pools for the elderly on election day are but a few examples.
This is especially true in Virginia, where Donald Trump has a lot of ground to recapture. Donald Trump hasn’t given up on the commonwealth. We’ve seen in the 1st District that everyone has set the primary aside and moved on to the general election. However, as we gaze across social media, Trump’s supporters have been recklessly and needlessly burning bridges. At the rallies we see so many positive people, so many great attitudes, great smiles, and optimistic hope for the future. Why should Social Media be a sewer of viciousness?
Do you want to get Donald Trump more votes? Then you need to think strategically. Trump Supporters need to be as positive and inclusive as possible. Trump supporters need to be building bridges for Trumps’ detractors to cross over. I have absolutely no doubt that Donald Trump can win in Virginia if we set aside the past and focus on the future.
18 comments
Oh what a bunch of B.S. Never Trumpers are every bit as nasty, rude, dirty. At least Trump people support and love this country.
In the five occasions for our comments to cross, I’ve avoided making any personal criticisms and have focused entirely on issues. Your comments characterize me as “a POS” in one post, who you invite to “FO” in another. In a third, you state I haven’t earned your respect. In a fourth, you sarcastically ask if I am “Mr. Nice Guy.” Finally, you urge me to mind my own business because my position didn’t match yours. I think you won the nastiness race by a mile. And though my status as a veteran isn’t any wort of qualifier for discussion, I believe it checks the box for love of country.
While avoiding a value judgement about you since I’m confident you love our country, your writing style with me has been one entirely made up of personal attacks and insults, and your claim of superior patriotism is baseless. This article is all about you.
Oh no sensibilities might be hurt. bs in the first degree!
Jonathan, please go back and read Mr. Ticker’s article.
I’m ok with hurt feelings. It’s not about feelings. It’s about winning.
It’s this simple, do you want Trump to win or not? If you do, you need to stop insulting and berating people who might vote for him. Get it?
Thank you, Steven! This needs to be said OVER and OVER because it doesn’t seem to be getting through to a lot of Trump supporters. I have gotten to the point of supporting Donald Trump many times since the Convention but bullying and coercion only made me more reluctant and dubious. When Republicans and/or conservatives act like SEIU GOONS,that’s NOT a ‘Movement’ of which I am comfortable being a part. When people foolishly say things like “We don’t need __(fill in the blank)__!” I assume they have some mystical path to VICTORY, don’t understand math, or to put the shoe on the other foot, “Just want Hillary to win!”
Just when I think maybe, just maybe, I could get behind Trump, I am berated, insulted and told they don’t need or want my support. Like you, I do not understand their magical path to victory without Republican votes. But I will take them at their word, they don’t want or need me in electing Trump.
That’s exactly right and there are so many people that feel the way you do. Enough to matter on election day.
Good advice. But let’s not be so one-sided in extolling people to behave. Or do the #NeverTrumps get a pass just because? You may want to tell some nasty #NeverTrumpers that calling Trump supporters “Branch Trumpidians” is not helpful either. Being accused – by other Republicans (who’re #NeverTrumps) – of being like a criminal, nutty cult whose leader engaged in child rape does a little bit more than make us Trump supporters “grouchy”. I have never seen such uglyiness – even in liberals – as I have in a few of those #NeverTrumps. And what was even more shamefull and distressing is how most all the other Republican #NeverTrumps who were aware of this stood by silently, in tacit acceptance of that cruelty lobed at us Trump supporters.
Respect is a two-way street. Trump never draws first blood; nor do I. But when we’re attacked – watch out!
I think about how when the Palestenians bomb Israel, liberals – and other Jew-haters – want Israel to just meekly take it without defending themselves.
EVERYBODY needs to behave; not just the Trump supporters.
Continue has you have been and your guy loses, but that is the Trumpsters choice.
Right there, just can’t help but stick your mouth and say something stupid. Truly, we have no problem writing people like you off, no one is going to beg you and that seems to be what you want.
Your response disturbs me. You call him “your guy”. He won the nomination, and he is our guy. It’s not going to change and in agreement with the RPV Party Plan, I fully support him.
While Stephen’s article is very well written and I agree that we need to take the high road on both sides and talk issues, it fails to address a pervasive condescension of a very vocal portion of the #NeverTrump crowd towards voters (and party members) who enthusiastically embrace our candidate. I have heard Trumpsters; Trumpeteers; “you’re not a Republican”; “not my candidate”; “tRumpers”; fascist; on and on. I have watched #NeverTrump gleeful post/share miscues, missed steps from Trump and his campaign – whether or not it is valid – just taking a sound byte and run with it. How does this show mutual respect or get us any closer to defeating Hillary?
When my kids were growing up, I taught them that respect is about treating someone the way you would like to be treated. I think both sides need to step back, breath and listen to each other.
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Trump people are some of the best people I have ever met, the haters have never been to a rally, never watched any of his speeches, read his site, or any of the rest. They just whine, bitch and moan, the majority are NOVA’ans.
This needed to be said. Thank you. Because the Trump supporters have been so nasty and mean spirited, I do not want to be identified as a Republican or a Trump supporter. It’s embarrassing to be seen as one of those angry, mean spirited, people who are still focused on attacking Ted Cruz and anyone who may have supported him. They need to stop. Now.
Calling the kettle black, you ain’t no sweeheart, You are every bit as nasty, spiteful, sarcastic and whiney as any of those you claim to dislike. If I remember you claim to be an American and yet are going to run off to Europe because you have no dog in this fight? YOU NEED to STOP NOW w/your incessant WHINING.
I am coming to your little shindig, can’t wait to meet the Queen of Whine.
I saw a lot of nasty, mean-spirited rhetoric from supposed “Christian” Republicans at the county committee meetings long before Trump. Don’t want any part of Republicans anymore.
Such good advice. Thank you, Mr Tucker.