When Time magazine goes to name their person of the year eight months from now, the publication should award the title to “Trump voters.”
The legions of loyal, energized, grass-roots stalwarts who rose up to be counted during the presidential election made their mark — and simultaneously confounded the Democratic Party, pollsters, pundits and the liberal media. They never saw the Trump force coming — and have been in ferocious panic mode ever since the White House went to President Trump just over 11 weeks ago.
Yes, the Trump voters are on the radar in a very big way. There is also change afoot. Caught unaware, national pollsters are now tweaking their surveys to gauge the mindset and beliefs of the new Trump demographic. Democrats are huddling with strategists, trying to craft ways to undermine Mr. Trump and lure his followers to the progressive mindset.
The media previously offered dismissive coverage of this heartland force. That too is beginning to change. Consider a surprising op-ed by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who is now urging his Democratic readers to “be nice to Trump voters,” advising irate followers of Hillary Clinton to study the victorious group.
Mr. Kristof writes that “one problem with Democratic anger is that it stereotypes a vast and contradictory group of 63 million people. Sure, there were racists and misogynists in their ranks, but that doesn’t mean that every Trump voter was a white supremacist.” Mr. Kristof also cautions that “we simply can’t write off 46 percent of the electorate,” and that hatred of Trump voters “leaves the Democratic Party more removed from working-class pain.”
Mr. Kristof has penned a canny, cautionary tale here, which does have positive points. But it’s also an indicator that Trump foes are beginning to eye his die-hard supporters with great appetite. The Democrats, essentially, are figuring out ways to woo Trump voters. And those voters should be wary of the trend.
“So by all means stand up to Trump, point out that he’s a charlatan and resist his initiatives,” Mr. Kristof advises Democrats. “But remember that social progress means winning over voters in flyover country, and that it’s difficult to recruit voters whom you’re simultaneously castigating as despicable, bigoted imbeciles.”
DAYS OF YORE
“Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever.”
— William Howard Taft, president from 1909 to 1913 and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1921 to 1930, when he retired due to ill health. He died shortly thereafter at age 72.
GOVERNOR TRUMP IN THE MAKING
“Donald Trump Jr. wants to run for political office, telling members of an elite gun club that he could set his sights on becoming governor of New York,” reports Emily Smith, a New York Post columnist, who says the younger Mr. Trump revealed his aspirations when speaking to members of the F6 Labs gun club in Hicksville, New York.
He’s got his eye more on governor of New York than mayor of New York City or Congress, and has not forgotten the intense campaigning with his father, Ms. Smith reports.
“Do I want to be behind the scenes and be a mouthpiece and fight back against crazy liberal media? Maybe,” the younger Mr. Trump told his audience. “Going back to doing deals is boring after 18 months. The politics bug bit me.”
THE KASICH AND ROMNEY FACTOR
An interesting alliance: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former presidential hopeful. The man who played the Terminator, in fact, has already endorsed Mr. Kasich for the next White House derby.
“He should run in 2020. Kasich is an extraordinary guy. He’s a man of substance. He’s worked in Washington, he’s worked in local government, he’s worked in statewide government. He has the experience. He can see things. He has vision,” Mr. Schwarzenegger told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday.
Mr. Kasich has all the traits of a guy pining to get back in the arena. He still has an active campaign site. The governor also has a new book titled “Two Paths: America Divided or United,” which arrives April 25. He intends to “reclaim the America we love and hold so dear,” and plans on delivering “a clarion call to reason and purpose and a clear path toward a more promising tomorrow.”
The first stop on Mr. Kasich’s book tour? New Hampshire, of course. There must be something in the air, though. According to a new report from McKay Coppins, a political analyst for Atlantic magazine, none other than Mitt Romney is actively exploring a return to national politics, this time via a U.S. Senate seat in Utah.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
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POLL DU JOUR
• 62 percent of Americans say the news media favors one political party over the other.
• 77 percent of Republicans and 44 percent of Democrats agree.
• 64 percent of those who say the media favors one party think it’s toward the Democrats; 88 percent of Republicans and 43 percent of Democrats agree.
• 22 percent of those who say the media favors one party think it’s toward the Republicans; Republican response not released; 40 percent of Democrats agree.
• 55 percent of Americans overall say news organizations are “often inaccurate.”
• 36 percent say they get their facts straight.
Source: A Gallup Poll of 789 U.S. adults conducted March 9-29
• Yays, yeas, nays and neighs to jharper@washingtontimes.com Folow her on Twitter @HarperBulletin
INVEST IN THE FIGHT AGAINST MAINSTREAM MEDIA BIAS
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