Kamala Harris effectively baited Donald Trump during the debate, drawing out his insecure white masculinity.
Kamala Harris effectively baited Donald Trump during the debate, drawing out his insecure white masculinity.
Trump’s display during the debate shows that his white male insecurity is a liability to his candidacy − and a threat to the country.
The way she spoke to multiple audiences in the same answer was masterful. She would start by addressing the camera and the American people about something substantive, then turn directly to Trump and bait him with something she knows he won’t be able to ignore, by looking straight at him and saying stuff like “military leaders who worked for you have told me that you are a disgrace.” So. Damn. Good. And he refused to make eye contact with her, which says a lot.
I’m not sure if people realize how hard it is to pull something like that off, especially to a person who leans on racist/misogynistic/violent rhetoric.
68Yeah, I realized pretty quickly she was speaking to as large an audience as she could. It’s why she didn’t get specific on some things I would have liked. But that didn’t matter because I can read and was able to look it up, and her policy is nuanced and effective. She expressed things in a way that was accessible to those who “aren’t political” or are undecided. That was the correct target audience.
33It’s almost like she was a prosecutor who is used to handling all kinds of dark characters.
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I don't know what white has to do with his ego. A lot of white people can't relate to him. I'm not white, just the headline wants to bait you.
14Damn she's doing it again!
2
I thought we were past this type of rhetoric?
13No, you will categorize people by color.
If you refuse, you are raci... Wait...
9Are you kidding? We are one more headline away from saving the fucking world bro
3
What the fuck is this racist bullshit? Trump is a racist, but we teach 2 year olds that two wrongs doesn’t make a right.
16Is it racist to identify the elevated white male privilege, compounded by spoiled child syndrome? I don't think so. I'm a white male and don't find this in any way racist against me. Hits the mark in my opinion on why many of my fellow white male men are duped into maga bullshit.
Communication scholar Paul Elliott Johnson argues that Trump’s brand of demagoguery is “defined by a reliance on victimized, White, toxic masculinity.” Some scholars have focused on how this rhetorical strategy appeals to men who are “secretly insecure about their manhood,” as The Washington Post reported in 2018.
Trump’s own white masculine insecurity was on clear display throughout his debate against Harris. It was a different type of pathological masculinity than the aggressive and aggrieved toxic masculinity Trump perfected as MAGA stagecraft.
Trump’s performance in the debate illustrates why insecure white masculinity should be disqualifying for a presidential candidate. When triggered, it short circuits the candidate’s strategic thinking and elicits demagogic and dehumanizing arguments.
9Also a white man. While I don’t find this wording racist, I do think it makes an implicit association between white masculinity and negative character traits. This is effective when used as a critical lens by which to examine people like trump and the maga movement, because in those instances, the association is accurate. That being said, I do find that this kind of discourse on a broader scope is unproductive and I can certainly understand why one would perceive it as inflammatory. If we as white men are serious about defeating toxic masculinity, increased toxicity is unlikely to be an effective strategy. I believe it would be far more effective for us to focus our energy on reclaiming the concept of masculinity by endorsing and promoting white men who use their power in society to stand up for those less privileged than themselves. We also can’t rely on media outlets to do it for us, it’s a thing we need to own.
7Academics are different than reality, and the reality is that using this kind rhetoric is going to incite people to come out and fight for people like trump -- this is fuel on the fire. Do you want the world to burn down so you can be right or do you want to accept that things aren't perfect but the world still functions?
4
20She played his ass like neon orange ten cent kazoo. With a giant button on top labeled "Insecurity Complex". Little wonder that he's chickening out of further debates now. Though, I expect he'll make a lot of noise about doing a debate on Fox. Or Newsmax. Or maybe on RT, live from Moscow.
Sucks to suck Donnie.
19*his insecure orange masculinity.
18she didn't bait him, she criticized him. Something republican media doesn't do.
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