I don’t like Donald Trump. It’s pretty easy not to; the guy is a xenophobic, classist egomaniac. The only thing more obscene than the things he says is the height of his wispy, golden mane — which I’m convinced grows in direct proportion to the amount of attention he receives. Yet what scares me the most about Trump isn’t his call to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., nor is it his proposed $8 billion wall along the border of Mexico: It’s his sensationalism and what it means for the future of American politics.
American political discourse has regressed significantly over time. I’ve only been alive for five elections, but it seems with each one the speeches get simpler, the slogans get punchier and complex issues — which require time and delicacy to discuss — get boiled down to quick soundbites.
Politicians nowadays spend just as much time describing their humble upbringing or religious values as they do elaborating on what they actually plan to do once elected. True, charisma and “likeability” have always been key characteristics of a presidential candidate. Yet the relative importance of those characteristics in determining a candidate’s success has grown to the point where the average debate response holds about as much depth as the long-answer portion of a Miss USA pageant.
Despite the increasingly superficial nature of politics, I still expected some level of tact when it came to how candidates spoke and conducted themselves during their campaigns. Then came Trump. Trump, who referred to Planned Parenthood buildings as “abortion factories.” Trump, who dismissed Latin American reporter Jorge Ramos with, “You haven’t been called. Go back to Univision.” Trump, whose proposed solution for the Islamic State group in Syria is to “bomb the s--- out of them.” It’s bad enough a candidate who speaks this way exists at all, but the fact that Trump is the Republican frontrunner is downright terrifying.
Don’t get me wrong: I know Trump isn’t the first politician to say ridiculous things. We all remember Mitt Romney’s casual dismissal of the poor with his “47 percent” comment in 2012, or Sarah Palin’s comment that resulted in a parody of her saying “I can see Russia from my house” in 2008. The difference is both were very clearly missteps that ultimately hurt the campaign of the person saying them. Trump, in contrast, is purposefully making outrageous remarks — and being rewarded for it.
The content of these remarks is often ignorant and hateful, but I would have an easier time stomaching it if he at least presented it with the eloquence I expect from a presidential candidate. Instead, he spews sensational garbage that many Americans perceive as “candor” or “authenticity.” In reality, it’s quite the opposite. It’s an attention-grabbing ploy Trump knows will sate America’s thirst for entertainment and originality in the tired world of politics, and it’s quickly reducing the presidential race into a dog and pony show.
It’s only to be expected, considering his background in reality television. Donald Trump is running for president, the leadership role with the highest level of executive power and responsibility, and he’s treating it like a season of “The Apprentice.” If this is the kind of irreverent behavior we accept and support from candidates now, what hope is there for the future? At this rate, Kanye West in 2020 doesn’t seem so crazy after all.
Namwan Leavell is a UF economics senior. Her column appears on Fridays.
