David Duke, The KKK and Donald Trump
Politics –
David Duke, The KKK and
Donald Trump
Is Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in bed with former Grand Dragon David Duke of the Ku Klux Klan? After refusing to distance himself from the avowed racist, it sure does look like it.
Politics
During a Sunday appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” moderator Jake Tapper asked Trump if he would disavow David Duke and other white supremacist groups that are supporting his campaign.
“Just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke, OK?” Trump claimed, appearing caught off guard by the question.  However, Tapper was unrelenting and pressed Trump 3 times on whether he’d distance himself from David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan.
“I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists,” he said. “So I don’t know. I don’t know — did he endorse me, or what’s going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke; I know nothing about white supremacists.”
Each time, Trump attempted to dodge the question while appearing flustered.
“I have to look at the group. I mean, I don’t know what group you’re talking about,” Trump said. “You wouldn’t want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I’d have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them and certainly I would disavow if I thought there was something wrong. You may have groups in there that are totally fine — it would be very unfair. So give me a list of the groups and I’ll let you know.”
Tapper responded: “OK. I’m just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here.”
Yet again, Trump stumbled: “Honestly, I don’t know David Duke. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. I’m pretty sure I didn’t meet him. And I just don’t know anything about him.”
Well, David Duke knows all about Donald Trump and is in fact a staunch supporter.
Outlining his support for Trump in a Facebook post last Thursday, Duke said: “I think he deserves a close look by those who believe the era of political correctness needs to come to an end.” He then went on to tout Trump’s strength on immigration, breaking up “Jewish dominated lobbies and super PACS that are corrupting and controlling American politics,” preventing war with Russia, exposing media “lies” and ensuring “that White-Americans are allowed to preserve and promote their heritage and interests just as all other groups are allowed to do.”
Politics
For Donald Trump to pretend he’s never heard of David Duke or the Ku Klux Klan is laughable. In 2000, Trump cited Duke, Pat Buchanan and Lenora Fulani in a statement explaining why he ended his brief support of a Reform Party presidential campaign.
“The Reform Party now includes a Klansman, Mr. Duke, a neo-Nazi, Mr. Buchanan, and a communist, Ms. Fulani. This is not company I wish to keep,” Trump said in a statement reported then by The New York Times.
So much for Trump’s selective memory.
In an incredibly weak response as to why he refused to disavow the support of David Duke and the KKK, Trump blamed a “bad earpiece” as his scapegoat.
“I was sitting in a house in Florida, with a bad earpiece,” Trump told NBC’s “Today” show on Monday. “I could hardly hear what he’s saying. I hear various groups. I don’t mind disavowing anyone.”
Yeah, right!
Since Trump’s apparent welcome of David Duke and the KKK, several Republicans immediately went after the likely GOP nominee.
“We cannot be the party that nominates someone who refuses to condemn white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan,” Sen. Marco Rubio said during a rally in Virginia. “By the way, not only is that wrong, it makes him unelectable. How are we going to grow our party with a nominee that refuses to condemn the Ku Klux Klan?” he added. “Don’t tell me he doesn’t know what the Ku Klux Klan is. This is serious.”
Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican and one of two African-American senators, also blasted Trump.
“Any candidate who cannot immediately condemn a hate group like the KKK does not represent the Republican Party, and will not unite it. If Donald Trump can’t take a stand against the KKK, we cannot trust him to stand up for America against Putin, Iran or ISIS.”
Sen. Ted Cruz hit Trump on Twitter, saying, “Really sad. @realDonaldTrump you’re better than this. We should all agree, racism is wrong, KKK is abhorrent.”
Democratic presidential contender and Sen. Bernie Sanders also lashed out at Trump, tweeting: “America’s first black president cannot and will not be succeeded by a hatemonger who refuses to condemn the KKK.” The Anti-Defamation League echoed Sanders by calling on Trump to repudiate the support of the former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, as well as all white supremacist groups.
With Super Tuesday voting beginning today, Donald Trump recognizes that his CNN appearance was an embarrassment and a public relations disaster.  However, despite all the criticism, Trump’s band of racist, misogynistic, gun-toting supporters aren’t the least bit offended by the support of David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan.  In fact, they’re probably welcoming of it!
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However, despite all the criticism, Trump’s band of racist, misogynistic, gun-toting supporters aren’t the least bit offended by the support of David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan. In fact, they’re probably welcoming of it! […] You got that right DJ. And therein lies the main reason Trump feigned ignorance about David Duke and the KKK. He can't disavow Duke or the KKK (not with any real conviction anyway.) while seeking the Repub nomination. Trump knows his base – many…if not most…of his supporters are White supremacists/White seperatists and bigots. Trump is nothing if not absolutely craven and cynical. He knows that speaking out against Duke and others of that ilk would demoralize a significant portion of his voting base. What does all this mean for the Republican party? It speaks Volumes. I would posit that the GOP's slow descend into Trumpism began circa 1964 with their embrace Nixon's *Southern… Read more »