Considering you've gotten this far, you're probably curious to hear what a Bernie Sanders supporter can possibly be thankful for in regards to Donald Trump. These two are complete opposites in terms of their core message and strategy to connect with voters. While they both capitalize on the struggles of the working class and the influence of money in politics, one does so with complete respect and humility while the other practices extravagance, arrogance, and plain racist bigotry; I'm sure you know which one is which.
Truth is, it's Trump's successful use of racism, sexism, fear-mongering, bigotry and the like that makes me thankful for him.
Woah, woah, woah. Don't jump to conclusions now. I'm not in favor of any of these practices and don't look for such in any person I plan on voting or even associating with. (I'm Mexican, if you're still not convinced.) The reason why I'm glad Trump is finding so much success in this strategy is because it has finally revealed the ugly, disgusting, but truly present side of the Republican party that for so long, similar to institutional racism, people have been conscious of but nevertheless ignored and overlooked.
Let me also be clear in saying that I do not believe that all Republicans are racists. I know plenty of great people, including some of my best friends, who are Republican. What I'm getting at is for the past couple of decades Republicans, while obviously catering more towards white folk by ignoring the concerns and needs of minorities, constantly "reassured" us that it was not because of racism; it was simply because that is what they believed was best for the country. However, Trump has shown that this isn't entirely so, with success that has shocked both sides of the aisle.
As Josh Barro outlines it in Business Insider , and as his article is directly titled, "Republicans Would Be Screwed Without Racist Voters." Having read said article, I don't entirely agree with Barro's claim that the same generation that voted for "big government" under FDR are the same people who are voting against it now because it favors the poor, and most likely colored population. However, I just don't agree with the same generation part. I do agree that there is a significant portion of the right that, as we have seen, seem to like current public services as long as they don't serve those who aren't of the fairer skin.
If you listen to Trump's position on Social Security, he actually contrasts with essentially all of the GOP in believing that it should be kept at the same levels it is at and if not, even expanded upon. This is entirely different from the typical conservative position of privatising Social Security. This shows that, at least most, Trump supporters aren't against public services; they're just against the ideas of universal healthcare, tuition-free college and the like because they will most likely be used by those who need it most: Blacks and Latinos. Funny, because they obviously don't understand that these services are, as they imply, public and universal, meaning they can and will be used by everyone, including themselves who are obviously struggling in their current situation.
Trump is either a genius, or accidentally hit a gold mine when he made the racist remarks he did. He either knew that this chunk of the Republican party hadn't been fully tapped in decades and that, if he fully engaged with it, he could launch a campaign that many had thought impossible to succeed with; or he simply made his remarks against Mexicans and Muslims as a publicity stunt.
Either way, what I find most disturbing is, and the party knows this, that the Grand Ole Party needs the racist vote to win elections. They've subtly capitalized on it forever, blaming illegal immigrants for the lack of jobs and calling welfare users "takers;" they knew exactly who their base pictured when they mentioned those who used such services. Any party who relies on such hatred to succeed and advance their agenda is a party not worth existing. I sincerely hope that the 2016 US Presidential Election is between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. Trump would be decisively annihilated, and such a contest would arguably lead to the downfall of the Republican Party.
Quick side note: If Donald Trump, after winning the Republican nomination, immediately gave a concession speech along the lines of, "You people are a bunch of morons. All I did was spew racism and stupidity and you guys completely bought it. This was just a huge joke," Trump would immediately become my hero.
