Letter: ‘The Donald’ and ‘The Governor’

The presidential candidate calls himself an outsider. His entertaining speeches center on law and order, patriotism, a liberal Supreme Court, and the sorry state of America. He panders to angry-white-male, blue collar workers in places like Ohio and Indiana. He talks tough, often in violent terms. He claims that a weak Democratic administration is directly responsible for American deaths on foreign soil.

His critics call him a dangerous, divisive demagogue and a fear-mongering bigot.

Donald Trump? No, George Wallace in 1968. Remember him? “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!” Wallace was the political poster child for racism in America.

“The Donald” and “The Governor” are kindred spirits separated only by time, circumstance and their overt ethnic targets.

The theme of Trump’s campaign is eerily similar to Wallace’s. That is not to say that Trump is a Wallace clone. Indeed, Wallace was intelligent, articulate, complex and politically astute with a history of public service. Trump is none of that. However, there is one, undeniable commonality — the demographic core of their support, whether it be the KKK or the alt-right.

Many loyal Republicans are struggling mightily with the concept of a Trump presidency. For anyone still feeling obliged to adorn your vehicle with a Trump endorsement, may I offer a frugal suggestion? Before spending your hard-earned money on a new Trump bumper sticker, look around for an old Wallace “Stand Up For America” sticker. It will work just as well and sends the same message.

This story was originally published September 14, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Letter: ‘The Donald’ and ‘The Governor’."