By Joey Kennedy
Alabama Political Reporter
I’m getting some crap on Facebook because I made the following post:
“Anybody who puts a Trump sign in their yard is saying: “I’m a bigot.” That’s what they’re saying. They’re welcome to do that, but they must understand that if they have a Trump sign in their yard, they’re bigots. Live with it.”
OK. I knew that post would bring on a storm. People don’t like to think of themselves as bigots. But that doesn’t make it false.
Trump has time and again shown his bigotry: To immigrants. To Muslims. To women. To just about every group but Angry White Men.
That’s why he’s doing so well with the Angry White Man vote.
But make no mistake: Trump is a bigot. Intentionally. He knows the hot buttons to press in this crazy, strange day we find ourselves in concerning U.S. politics. U.S. presidential politics, of all things.
Trump is a bigot, no question. And anybody who supports him has to support his bigotry. That makes them bigots as well.
And that’s fine if they accept and acknowledge their bigotry. There are bigots out there. Still. Many of them. But they get very defensive when they’re labeled bigots.
Why? Do they believe they’re enlightened, but still support Trump? That’s impossible. No progressive can support Trump, and none that I know do. They’re disgusted by him, by his hate, by his fly-by-the-seat-of-his-bigoted-pants rants.
Former state Rep. Mark Gaines had this to say: “Joey, come on. Actually, I’m not a Trump supporter, but you’ve been around the track enough to distinguish between media and reporting and real life.”
Huh? If this isn’t real life – the future of our nation riding on whom we select as president – what is? Dude, why aren’t you supporting Trump? Maybe because he’s a bigot and you’re not?
Ronnie Ray Stewart had this to say about my post: “That is one of the most bigoted statements I’ve ever read. But that is typical of a liberal, the most intolerant people on Earth.”
Fine. I’ll own my bigotry. I’m a bigot against bigots. But not against immigrants, or women, or gays, or black folks. I’m not a bigot against Muslims or atheists. Or against Fox News anchors. OK, maybe against Fox News anchors.
Says Sherry Hassell: “This is a matter of opinion. Just like my opinion that if you put a Hillary sticker on your car, you are supporting the Clinton crime family!”
No, Sherry, it’s not an opinion. It’s a fact. Trump is a bigot. You can’t walk outside on a clear day, look up and say “In my opinion, the sky is fuchsia.” It’s not. It’s blue, and that’s the fact. And there is no Clinton crime family. My God, you went so Mafia on that one. Like the Godfather movies a little too much?
Some folks, too many of them, in fact, have a problem with, well, facts.
Nancy Weart offered this: “I am not a bigot in any sense. I have great friends of all races.”
Yeah, I know. My best friend is black, right?
I was visiting a close relative last year. A Fox News-loving relative. She and her husband sit and watch Fox News, interact with the commentators like they are in their living room, drink the Kool-Aid. It’s creepy.
During my visit, a clip of President Barack Obama appeared with him carrying golf clubs.
“There he goes, on vacation again,” my Fox News-loving relative said.
I pointed out to her that Obama has taken less vacation at this point in his term that either Bill Clinton or George W. Bush.
“That’s your opinion,” she said.
No. It’s not my opinion. It’s a fact. These things are documented. But facts scare some people. Too many people. Facts like: Obama isn’t a Muslim. Obama is a U.S. citizen. Obama saved this country from the worst financial crisis in our generation.
And just as the fact that if you support Donald Trump, you’re supporting a bigot. Plain and simple. And that’s OK.
I just ask that you own your bigotry. Be proud, if you’re a bigot. Like David Duke. Like the KKK. If you support Trump, you’re a bigot. Don’t be defensive. Own it. And please understand that the sky is never fuchsia.
Joey Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize winner, writes a column every Wednesday for Alabama Political Reporter. Email him at [email protected].
