Donald Trump has given people permission to speak their minds. At first, when most of us meet someone who is extremely outspoken and very combative, like Trump, we tend to reject that person.
Trump’s political journey over the past 11 months has been the kind of uprising we’ll likely never see again in our lifetimes. For about a third of the country, Donald Trump was saying exactly what they thought and were afraid to say. For many, his style was deeply offensive. For others, what he was saying was both shocking and disturbing.
Trump refused to change himself to fit a political narrative or capitulate to political activists. The political establishment rarely faces a candidate who refuses to conform. Trump, therefore, posed an existential threat to their political existence. Much of the visceral behavior associated with the Republican primary was a battle between political rebels, voters, and the establishment. Unfortunately, much of it became associated with Trump the person.
As we review the last 11 months, we begin to see something I’ve been writing and talking about on the radio since Trump entered the race. Authentic people who act with determination, confidence, and an open mind almost always win. After a very tough primary, Trump showed incredible humility in addressing some of his most recent rivals: Senator Lindsey Graham, House Speaker Paul Ryan, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Dr. Ben Carson, and many others.
One by one, Donald Trump has reunited the Republican Party. Those who say Donald Trump is a narcissist seem to overlook the fact that he is now acting with the greatest humility in victory. It takes a lot of leadership to be able to reach someone like Lindsey Graham. Graham said electing Donald Trump as president would be like choosing between a bullet in the head and drinking poison. He added, “I also cannot in good conscience support Donald Trump because I do not believe he is a reliable Republican conservative, nor has he demonstrated the judgment and temperament to serve as commander in chief.”
Lindsey Graham corrected her comments on CNN on Friday: ‘Well, my criticism was broad and deep, but we had a good conversation. [Trump and I]. He asked good questions and I think he put some thought into what to do in Syria. I don’t know if Hillary Clinton – what would Hillary Clinton do differently than President Obama? President Obama doesn’t have a strategy to destroy ISIS… It’s uncomfortable to say that someone is not qualified. [Trump] who defeated you. In conclusion, Americans must choose wisely. What will Hillary Clinton do differently than Barack Obama?”
While still far from an endorsement, it is a far cry from Graham’s negative comments less than a month ago. My criticism of Lindsey Graham has been extensive, having lived in South Carolina for 17 years. I was never a fan. But the evolution of Graham’s commentary in the wake of the phone call between him and Trump is extraordinary. In fact, it shows the kind of insight, intelligence, and persuasiveness I have been writing about all along. I applaud both Graham and Trump for their efforts to repair the damage.
There is a lot of angst and anger in this country. For many, Trump was either the voice of that anger or the fuel. Either way, his campaign represented a cleansing of pent-up emotional trauma. Unpopular comments that are deeply felt in the hearts and minds of Americans have now been openly expressed for months as part of the political debate. It is as if we have all gone to confession and, for the first time, all have been heard. Hard debate can lead to lasting unity through the cleansing of trauma.
A shockingly vast number of #nevertrumps in the Republican Party are rallying around Donald Trump. While Democrats are in disarray as state leaders receive dozens of death threats and Bernie Sanders refuses to budge, Republicans are starting to rally around Trump. National polls now show Trump leading Hillary Clinton and winning Ohio.
Even the far-left liberal media is making jaw-dropping statements. On Friday, Chris Matthews said this shortly after the National Rifle Association endorsed Donald Trump: “I think this is a cowboy country in spirit, self-sufficiency, driving your own car, people don’t like mass transit. They drive their own cars with their wife, husband or girlfriend and they like to be on the road and rely on those weapons. I don’t have that instinct. I know it exists and it’s a very important part of our history. It just is. It’s in the Constitution and it’s in our history. We are uniquely pro-gun as a country, not like the Japanese, the Chinese, the English, the French or the Germans. This country is unique! We’re going to see Donald Trump point that out today.” Hearing those words on MSNBC (especially from Matthews) is an example of the influence Donald Trump has on our political conversation. At least the lithe of reality is shining again.
Republicans have a long way to go until November and face a Clinton machine that is willing to do anything criminal, immoral or unethical to win. This represents a unsafe lack of moral compass for our nation.
This election is not about the Republican or Democratic Party for the American people. It is about cleaning up the bloodbath that the political establishment in both parties has created. The noiseless majority sat silently while political fools destroyed our nation. Trump simply brought us a huge reality check. He also brought us political redemption.
