Trump’s attack on Harris’ ancestry was clumsy … but there’s an issue worth noting
President Trump recently attacked Vice President Harris for race flip-flopping. He called her out for claiming to be Black at times and Indian at other times. While his manner in raising the issues was clumsy, off the mark and needlessly controversial, he may have touched upon a touchy but legitimate issue.
It is not a matter of Harris’ genetic background – or even how she refers to herself. The valid political issue is how voters view Harris – especially Black voters to whom she is attempting to appeal on a racial basis.
Before examining the political ramifications of Harris’ claims, let us look at what she IS biologically, ethnically, or genetically. Let us start with the basic facts. Harris’ mother is Indian. That makes Harris one-half Indian and an Asian according to the map. Harris’ father is a Black Jamaican – although most Black Jamaicans (such as my daughter) have some Caucasian ancestry.
While Harris has Negro ancestry, she is not specifically African American within the greater Black community. Most White folks are not familiar with the cultural divide in the Black community between African Blacks and Islander Blacks. It often rises to the level of disdain for each other. Many islander Blacks resent being called African Americans.
(On a personal note, a Black female friend of the family – of African ancestry – would occasionally refer to my Jamaican Black daughter derisively as “that island girl.”)
Like my daughter, Harris’ paternal ancestors may have come from Africa as part of the slave trade, but that was hundreds of years. Their genetic and cultural ties to Africa have given way to unique assimilation as Jamaicans over those many years.
There is also a cultural and social difference between oppressed Blacks in the urban segregated ghettos and establishment Blacks raised in the comfort and advantages of America’s greater opportunity society. While privileged Blacks often talk about a monolithic Black experience, a lot of those successful Blacks you see on the news programs have little common experience with those trapped in the ghettoes.
Trump is not entirely wrong in questioning Harris’ appeal to the greater Black community –especially the African Black community. But he misses the real issue by focusing on Harris herself. The real issue is how some Blacks may view Harris.
Several days before Trump brought up the issue in his typical maladroit manner, I wrote this concerning Harris’ potential outreach for Black voters.
“Some argue that she will “bring home” Black voters who are now shifting to Trump. That may not be the case. Harris is not as popular among African American Blacks as one might think. First of all, she is half Indian – and tends to accentuate that part of her ancestry with frequent public statements about her mother.
Harris has a white husband. While it is not something we hear about in open conversation, there are a lot of folks in the Black community who do not like mixed marriages. They see that as a form of racial rejection.
White liberals—without much direct experience in the Black community – see everyone with dark skin as one culture, that is not how the various cultures see themselves. In fact, there is also a cultural divide between the so-called African Blacks and the Caribbean “islanders.”
Many Black voters are critical of Harris’ days as California Attorney General, when she was very aggressive in sending young Black men to prison. This is significant since it is the young Black male voters she would have to win back.
Interestingly, CNN interviewed a number of Black men – asking if they considered Harris’ to be Black in the traditional sense. Every one of them said, “no.”
Conversely, Harris says she self-identifies as Black in the traditional meaning of that description based on her life experience. She is Black because she was raised in the Black lane. Harris says her mother raised her to be Black. She attended an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) institution. That may give her some legitimacy for the claim, but it may not satisfy those Black voters who do not see her as one of them.
I assume that Trump was attempting to respond to the fact that a lot of Black voters are not enamored with Harris, and who do not view her as a “sister” in the colloquial sense. If so, he did not handle the issue very well – to say the least.
“Black” and “people of color” are political terms used to manipulate populations. They have no basis in biology, genetics or ethnicity. They are arbitrarily applied by politicians, academicians, social planners and individuals themselves. It Is based on something as simple as how dark you look – or conversely the existence of some ancestor, no matter how you look.
(I can relate to the latter since my DNA shows Nigerian blood. That may explain why my Austrian dad had black curly hair. But I digress.)
We are often told not to judge a person by the color of their skin – and for the most part, we Americans do not. But the one exception is voting – and such ethnic solidarity is largely (though not exclusively) found in the Black community. Those are the folks to whom Harris is attempting to appeal. But even in the greater Black community, there are subcultures that limit Harris’ appeal. That is the issue political strategists have to examine.
Harris is what she Is in terms of genetics and socialization. The political issue is how various voters might respond to what she is – and that cuts both ways.
So, there ‘tis.
Color as a determinant of race only matters if you deem race pertinent to the office.
Harris appeals to minorities because she has grown up as one. They know the injustice of being treated as second=class citizens by whites, whether overtly or by subtle actions. Nobody can bring more awareness to the issue of civil rights and women’s rights than a woman of color. Felon Trump is literally attacking her because she’s a woman and a minority.
How black does Harris have to be to pass your muster? Does she have to speak with a clearly black dialect, or eat collard greens and watermelon? Live on welfare, have a half-dozen kids in a trailer park in Mississippi and work a “black job” like cleaning houses to be considered black? Who are you to accuse her of being octoroon or quintroon to minimize her blackness? It’s not your fucking business, and nobody should question what she calls herself in different circumstances.
What Felon Trump is doing (and you too) is trying to use race as a dog-whistle to say that Harris is a DEI hire. When asked, Felon Trump couldn’t even say what DEI stood for, but he knew it was a potent attack on a black woman. The two of you are saying that she isn’t “black enough” to call herself black, while at the same time saying she only got where she is because she’s a black woman. You use examples of “some black men” or “many black voters” or “she has a white husband” to call her legitimacy into question, when you have no idea what blacks think about her – but she has been wildly popular wherever she’s campaigned, so apparently women and black voters, as well as young people and white men and women don’t see “not black enough” as an issue.
I don’t recall you or anyone else calling Biden’s Irish ancestry into question, nor have you said anything about Felon Trump’s German heritage (while pretending to be Swedish), or his dozens of failed business ventures despite starting out 40 years ago with $400M from his father, or his lack of public service during his career, or his continual grifting of cash from his supporters.
Why don’t you try sticking to experience and issues? Harris has more experience in public service and government than even failure ex-President twice-impeached nepo-baby business fraud tax cheat rapist criminal Felon Trump. She is on the correct (and most popular) side of all the issues. She picked a VP running mate who has a lifetime of service too, and is actually an asset to her campaign. Trump is just a mean little failure of a man.
All very well said JSB! This Independent agrees with you. For some reason, as I read the article I seemed to get the feeling that Larry hopes this kind of racism will happen and benefit Trump! It almost seemed to suggest that the Black community can be divided and conquered to benefit Trump.
The only reason Trump mentions race so much is right now its his only way to get back into the news cycle! And Larry is following Trump by using the notion of possible racism as a way to be relevant.
JSB; they don’t care about her race; they want to measure how much of her race as if size matters. Crowd size, how long the service, stomach size, and how black are you? Cuz it’s not about being black, it’s are you black enough. Not living in the hood lightens you. Not marrying a black guy lightens you. Having an education lightens you.
This from a guy that demands assimilation to be a true American. How many pieces on that. Amazing.
Felon rapist Trumplicants have some weird ideas but this one may he even further out there.
Trump seems old, slow, not even sane as he waxes on about Biden’s imminent return and seeks support like this for his racist attacks. He’s having troubles with words and ideas indulging in stream of consciousness incomplete sentences and ideas. This dog has always chased the same cars since the 70’s. It’s getting weirder as hecslows down and gaps.
YES! When will media start reporting on his slurs and poor speech??!!! When will they discuss his racial comments??!!! When will they discuss the wealthy donors and those in Congress GOP abandoning Trump??!!! When will they discuss both sides of Trump like the like to discuss both sides of Harris??!!!
Man, it was a nice piece, but block today —– for the second time.
Not doing the test this time Joe; you have just restricted my tome for some reason. There is no doubt your system has restrictions.
Nice piece??? What? Did you get laid? Who was the lucky guy?
Your wife……. but she made me do it. personally, I wouldn’t touch her with your equipment which apparently is pretty fucking skippy to her.
“Harris has a white husband. ”
Douglas Craig Emhoff …. (is) the son of Jewish parents, Barbara (née Kanzer) and Michael Emhoff (from Wikipedia).
There are a number of Jews who call for the destruction of “the White race” including Susan Sontag and the late Noel Ignatiev. The fact that Jews call themselves a ‘”race” would indicate that they do not consider themselves “White”. Emhoff identifies as a “Jew”. Therefore, it would appear that Harris does not have a “white husband”.
So Murder , Raping Biden says he went to Black Churches and Identifies with Blacks.
So I guess that made him Black?
He take Chicken to a Black house hold because he is ” One for the People “?
You all under estimate the intelligence of the Black community!
Only some of the women will let their vote sway, because not for the sakes
of a Black woman, but for a Women in general.
Non of what Kamala does will fool the people.
Only the ones pulling her strings, after all they did such a good job with
Murdering Biden!
Right!
Darren,
Who did Biden murder? Who did Biden rape?
Unlike the felon rapist king, Biden has never been found guilty, never been held liable, never fined or punished.
Why do you make up shit about your President?
Darren,
Seriously consider therapy and if you are on any SSRI’s make sure you take them as prescribed. if you are not on SSRI’s, please get some!!! You are becoming delusional. You have super-imposed Trump’s social record on Biden, a sign of mental illness.
Now, you are correct when you say, “None of what Kamala does will fool the people.” This is because what the Harris/Walz ticket will do for the people will actually help the people, unlike Trump. So there is no reason to try to fool the people. This is a Trump strategy to fool the people. Trump is the one that thinks Americans are stupid, and has said so. Trump is the one that said, “I don’t care about you, just give me your vote” at his AZ rally. (PS, the word is “none”, not non). As an example, Covid Relief Funding for Farmers; total of 26 billion dollars. Only 0.1 percent went to Black farmers. The bulk of the pot went to White farmers. Trump tried to cut Social Security. Trump tried to eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Trump never cared to replace the ACA. Trump did not build the factories in Ohio that he said he would. Trump did not do much of anything for infrastructure that we all need. Trump took away Row v Wade and now women struggle for abortions for medical reasons.
Again, please take your SSRI’s as prescribed!!!
This article gets an Stop The Steal (STS) rating of STS-3. Here is why:
1) The article is mostly theoretical without any backing of statistics or credible research articles, not even a reference to a news article. The article uses a lot of weasel words in trying to imply that Harris will have a problem – which if you read Pew and other sources, they say that politically its all a mixed bag and no real indicators of any race based / discrimination based political preference between American born Blacks and Immigrant born Blacks. In some ways, as I read the article, it seemed to my like Larry actually hopes this form of American Black discrimination against Immigrant Blacks will happen and favor Trump. Shame on Larry for this. Larry needs to listen to Niki Halley when she says that racist comments (and hopeful commentaries) is a loser – discuss real issues. And when the real issues are discussed, this is where Blacks will unite as a large voting block no matter where they were born – and Trump will lose.
2) African American born and between the ages of 18 – 29 tend to not agree with the division between black Americans and Black immigrants that Larry mentions. Pew Research supports the fact that being black is more important than where they were born.
3) According to Pew Research, about four-in-ten Black adults in the U.S. (41%) say they feel their fates are strongly linked to Black people around the world, with 36% indicating that some things that happen to Black people around the world affect what happens in their own lives. Black women are more concerned about the issue being a women’s issue than they are about being American Black or immigrant Black.
4) If you look at the Pew Research, there is strong evidence that Larry’s statements are not as true as he thinks. While the overwhelming percentage of American Blacks are six generations are culturally removed from Africa, these same American Blacks feels strongly that what happens to Blacks around the world happens to them as well, thus there is more social and political unity among the diverse Black population than Larry is willing to acknowledge in this article. See *https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2022/04/14/race-is-central-to-identity-for-black-americans-and-affects-how-they-connect-with-each-other/* for stats on Blacks.
5) Trump has been told by his campaign managers to get off of the racial issues, its a loser. Right now, Trump’s drilling down on Harris’s racial bio is actually uniting voting Blacks because of what I mentioned in item 4 (above). Larry seemed to forget mentioning this!!!
6) While Larry is not incorrect that some immigrant Blacks from Caribbean countries do feel discrimination from American born blacks, there are no reliable statistics that indicate any of this will make a difference in the way they vote! What there are statistics on is in my first sentence in item #3 (above) – which if this is true, it will not be good for Trump.
MY PREDICTION based on Pew, Brookings, and several independent articles is that any discrimination at the personal level by American born Blacks towards Immigrant born blacks will disappear when it comes to voting. Most articles and stats say that Blacks are in unison that they are discriminated against worldwide and that they are denied opportunities as well as being unfairly treated by the system. Caribbean Blacks feel good towards American born Blacks – so in the end, American born Blacks will unite with immigrant born blacks that are now citizens or green card holders to become a large voting block that will vote for the candidate that will most improve their Black communities and opportunities at home and world wide. This will be Harris. Blacks will find out that Trump and his adopted Project 2025 will try to cancel the very laws that give Blacks the opportunity to sue the system and businesses that discriminate against them in court – these are called the “Disparate Impact Laws”, “Equal Opportunity Laws”, “Affirmative Action Laws”, “Abortion Laws” etc. And many Latinos and African born immigrants will join them. This will be a problem for Trump, not for Harris.
And there ’tis – now you have the full truth with references. Go forth and vote intelligently.
“The valid political issue is how voters view Harris – especially Black voters to whom she is attempting to appeal on a racial basis.” It’s only valid if you make race valid. Like this story validates the so-called importance of race to the author. There is a pretense it’s the voter’s perspective; it is also the author’s.
“let us look at what she IS biologically, ethnically, or genetically.” Yes, because the founders finding all men are created equal needed to asses exactly what race, what gender, what religion are you fucking trying to force us to make equal…… We need gender, race, and religion metrics so we can measure how much of each the candidate is. Science to prove the unscientific importance of race, religion, and gender.
“Harris’ mother is Indian. That makes Harris one-half Indian and an Asian according to the map.” Except, is Harris’ mother 100% Indian? Did you measure? And what race is an Indian, from India? Turns out, there are at least four races found in India: the Negritos, the Proto-Australoids, the Proto-Australoids, the Mongoloids, and the Mediterraneans. If race is important, shouldn’t we be specific? Do we need Presidential candidates to get DNA tests —- might Don have some Black. Remember, the mug shot? Mug shots are a black thing. Previously, fried chicken was a black thing. We have those scientific “measurements” too. Because race, gender, religion are salient to being President, to some.
“While Harris has Negro ancestry, she is not specifically African American within the greater Black community. Most White folks are not familiar with the cultural divide in the Black community between African Blacks and Islander Blacks. It often rises to the level of disdain for each other. Many islander Blacks resent being called African Americans.” OK, IF color and origin are so damned important, how many American Blacks are 100% African? Any? Who born in America is not already a mut? My mother may have been one of the last pure Slovakians. My Irish side blended around 1900. In college, a roomie and mentor was Russian Orthodox who married another Russian Orthodox. It was a big deal because the entire congregation thought it might be the last time that happened in the entire Baltimore community.
Do we need to bring back blood purity tests? Some people seem to think we need to know specifics.
“(On a personal note, a Black female friend of the family – of African ancestry – would occasionally refer to my Jamaican Black daughter derisively as “that island girl.”)” And since color is SO important, she is still a friend? Did you not speak out? Or did you smile that smile of tacit acceptance as you deferred to racism for the sake of having a friend?
“There is also a cultural and social difference between oppressed Blacks in the urban segregated ghettos and establishment Blacks raised in the comfort and advantages of America’s greater opportunity society. While privileged Blacks often talk about a monolithic Black experience, a lot of those successful Blacks you see on the news programs have little common experience with those trapped in the ghettoes.” You got any actual statistics on this garbage? I mean I was born in an urban segregated ghetto, grew up with comfortable Blacks, and shit —— I never put so much effort into color and the classification of such. Sure, heritage was important, we always talked about being Irish, Slovakian, Jewish and such —- but we didn’t demand you fill out a form to prove it. We just were interested and that’s where it dropped.
Perhaps it’s because I am 50% Slovakian and had to bear the brunt of stupid Polak jokes growing up. Being Czech and being denigrated as Polish was even worse. I felt the need of measurement, of a sign indicating I was not Polish, I am Czech! After the Velvet Revolution, and some genealogy, turns out I am Slovakian which really pointed out the stupidity of measuring this shit as being important to who the person really is. Maybe we should measure character instead.
“Trump is not entirely wrong in questioning Harris’ appeal to the greater Black community –especially the African Black community.” Yes, he is. It’s not important.
And if Harris is using “black” to gain “black’ votes, tough shit. You’re white, you can’t change that, it gives you a false advantage that you did not earn. But you can change how blacks view you based on actions and words. And a blackness test will not help anyone or anything.
“Some argue that she will “bring home” Black voters who are now shifting to Trump. That may not be the case. Harris is not as popular among African American Blacks as one might think. First of all, she is half Indian – and tends to accentuate that part of her ancestry with frequent public statements about her mother.
Harris has a white husband. While it is not something we hear about in open conversation, there are a lot of folks in the Black community who do not like mixed marriages. They see that as a form of racial rejection.
White liberals—without much direct experience in the Black community – see everyone with dark skin as one culture, that is not how the various cultures see themselves. In fact, there is also a cultural divide between the so-called African Blacks and the Caribbean “islanders.”
Many Black voters are critical of Harris’ days as California Attorney General, when she was very aggressive in sending young Black men to prison. This is significant since it is the young Black male voters she would have to win back.”
Oh the horror of it all. How many drops of blood are needed to quench your thirst. Harris’ husband white — that’s not important. Some blacks hate mixed marriages — who cares. Some black hate a whiter shade of pale, so what? Gee, white democrats have not learned that all blacks, all Latinos, all Catholics, are not the same, may have different opinions. Think that was exposed in 2016 or earlier……. Everyone knows that voting blocs can have different opinion segments within.
Trust me, if you be one shade off white, you are black. And if you are black, you probably know what it means to be black. And the fact that all blacks are not created equal, and that all blacks view other blacks as individuals liking some ethnicity, rejecting others; while most whites see most blacks as looking the same is just an artifact of our reptilian brains. We whites do the same for Asians.
The point is our leaders should not measure a man based on race, creed, or religion except to say that all are created equal under the law. We the readers should attempt to do the same. Color and race are only important if you force them to be. They don’t create their own importance. Black assimilation in America continues, it’s amazing that it takes this long, but racism is a stubborn illness. Horist alludes to “da hood” stating news-commentator-blacks are not “da hood” black. During the St, Lois riots, Ferguson, I remember remarking to my wife: “look, the folks on the street sound “normal,” they have lost the urban-speak of the 1970’s that was so “cool.” While not scientific, or true, I blame TV for language assimilation that has broken some barriers. Yes, Horist, often blacks sound white today —- even the dreaded city-blacks. So get ready for more of this shit coming your way. That’s right, women trying for better jobs and sounding good. Blacks taking white jobs oh no, and sounding good.
At some point, we may even recognize talent, experience, and results over race, religion, and gender. And these stories will have no place, none at all then, because it’s just not important.
Frank Stetson …. A very long rant demonstrating that you have had very little experience in or knowledge of the Black community. And as usual, you grossly misrepresent what I say — once again talking about your imaginary Larry Horist. However, we seem to agree that race designations area not specific and should be eliminated. We should stop categorizing people as Black or White — especially when they are genetically more than one. Most Hispanics are White so why are they people of color. Those are political designations. The Census Bureau is a primary reason people are forced into broad racial categories that are not accurate. The current system is racist. It retards assimilation (mixed marriages) which I fully support. The current system enables and empowers segregation. Woodrow Wilson introduced photos with federal job applications to avoid hiring Black folks. We should stop asking the race question on various government and non-government forms and surveys. I wonder how we would analyze politics if pollsters did not as the racial question? We could know voting by election jurisdictions, but not by race. Politicians could no longer pander to race one way or the other. I am a strong advocate of assimilation. Artificial political racial grouping retards it. We cannot move to a post-racial society as long as we officially make arbitrary and locked-in racial categorization a primary focus. As I often write, the American people are not culturally racist in their day to day lives, but racism is imposed by government institutions… unintentionally or intentionally. The American people would be happy to live in a nonracial, assimilated integrated society. It is government policy that stands as the greatest obstacle.
Herd
Nope, I think I pretty much nailed it and described exactly what you said. And I am glad you reached inside my mind to determine my black experience or lack thereof. And again, if I misinterpret you, show me. Just repetitious generalizations don’t cut it.
Somehow, bringing Wilson back as your factual retort seems weird. You say the current system is racist, enables and empowers segregation, retards assimilation (mixed marriages)? I don’t have a clue what this weirdness means? Are not the folks in the city able to move? If this is a Democrat problem, as you normally say, can’t they pick up and move to Florida as easy as Floridians can get an abortion above the Mason-Dixon.
Frank Stetson … YOU may self-determine that YOU “nailed it,” but that is far from the truth. You and Tom are the king of self determination and self-glorification. And you seem to think that what you think about me or my writing is accurate. That is the first definition of arrogance. LOL
And I see like the parrot you have picked up on — and can repeat –the Democrat word of the day…weird. And as far as you not having a clue, I have sensed that for a long time. No, those trapped in the segregated ghettoes cannot just move. The fact that you suggest that they can simply move is exactly why I believe you have no understanding of how the institutional racist system works or what life in the inner city is all about. I am not reading your mind. I am reading what you write — and it is prime facie ignorance.
Horist: I based my “nailing it” on your lack of proof otherwise. All of your “arguments” and lack of facts in your last tasty tidbit included.
Good of you to double down though.
This time you slimed me with:
king of self determination and self-glorification.
That is the first definition of arrogance. LOL
like the parrot
prime facie ignorance.
Sweet mother of all facts in defense of your claims……
I never said they can simply move, I said “Are not the folks in the city able to move?” It’s a question Mr. Horist, even punctuated correctly. But I added, just to keep it topical and local to you that: “If this is a Democrat problem, as you normally say, can’t they pick up and move to Florida as easy as Floridians can get an abortion above the Mason-Dixon.”
So, which is harder —– to move out of the inner city OR to move out of Florida to get an abortion? I mean you say getting to an abortion from Florida is ezpz, so why isn’t the converse true if you want to escape the horrors of living in a Democratic city? I mean you’re poor and living in squalor, not like you need a huge moving van……
Seems that one trip is ez, the other hard, and both sets of folks probably are often in a similar economic class. But that’s on you. Yes, I posed the question as a question to question the premise of how good it is in Republican cities. Apparently it’s not good enough to hitch hike to Miami to avoid. And frankly, because I can be Frank like no one else, IF Republican cities were so undemocratic in policy and attitudes —— they would fucking move. IF they really believed Republicans offered a better life, if they really could see that Republicans offer better schools, higher pay, less racism, they would move. IF you could fucking show them, they would move.
I tried to set up bussing to Miami from Newark but could find no takers. Turns out Miami has higher poverty rate than Newark. Much higher crime rate too. But I do love the stone crabs……
Please stop calling me names; you just don’t need to lower yourself to make your points.
Both sides of this argument ( not a real debate with questions asked) are an interesting read. It’s not for me to determine which side is in the lead at this point. Not until true experience understanding is received from our nation’s minority non-white population. Does PBP a white dominated website, draw in non-white readers who are brave enough and willingly forthcoming with their opinions?
It’s that essential factor in this multifactorial equation which determines the accuracy of equation’s answer. Older white men delving into issues on race as that relates to voting in general and candidate selection is as accurate as old cowboys excitedly pointing their 6-shooters at the moon and firing off all 6 rounds. The probability of any of the rounds hitting the moon is zero.
Argue about Harris’ drawing votes from Trump until you’ll exhaust yourselves in futility. No one will know until the election’s statistics are published.
Although race at this time and with this election cycle appears relevant for political pundits’ talking points. As it’s a hot topic in mainstream media because Harris’ race being non-white.
Assuming race is on the voters’ mind and that is the sole determining factor fo how they vote, seems unrealistic. One’s decision to actually go out and vote or vote absentee requires a prior decision for one candidate for President first and then each vote down ballot and with those decisions made, physically placing their vote or dropping their ballot in a mailbox delivers personal satisfaction.
A feel good sensation one receives from casting their ballot provides individual motivation the voter, hopefully, will recall each time the opportunity day comes.
Unfortunately, statistics from past elections show the disappointing fact that 25% or more Americans eligible to vote fail and don’t register, 33% at least, fail and don’t vote.
I often have heard it said about those who choose the option of failing to vote, should not be allowed a voice when others’ are discussing election results and consequences predicted/projected pro and con. In theory denying one a voice after failing to vote seems just. However, denying anyone the opportunity to speak their opinion fails the First Amendment test. Free Speech is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. The vote, too, is guaranteed under that same document. Individual Choice comes into play in both instances. One has the right of the vote or the right of not voting. Likewise, individual choice whether or not one exercises their Freedom of Speech option is their choice.
That what one says is critical of something or someone may and in many cases will receive criticism. Depending on the situation criticisms may be made.
Yet, again depending on the situation, criticisms have limits and measures for appropriateness. There are names and words considered beyond those standards recognized for appropriate use while communicating by post on a publicly available site.
PBP, as it happens, appears to have a broader view of appropriateness in regard to free speech. Which is their prerogative as owners. Still PBP must in its work commenting on national and world events want to be viewed as serious writers among their peers and valued among their readers.
When Trump repeatedly stated he does not need any more votes for a win and votes from people not loyal to his cause are not needed. Is PBP of that same mind that PBP does not need nor want readers’ comments that are not conservative compliant? It then is merely another advertising arm of the GOP, not serious contributors to
the sum of objective facts in media, not an unbiased information resource.
Cynical of Americans mental aptitude and our ability to
distinguish half truths and open falsehoods from real fact and well resourced and documented straight commentary. I know FOX News is Entertainment and not a resource for true facts and serious commentary. Serious scholarly commentary does not come with ridiculously high multi million dollar salaries. That’s how FOX compensates its stars. Apparently the public craves nonsensical biased entertainment actors for their “news” commentary and the basis for their opinions. No wonder conspiracy theories grow and thrive in America’s political right. The dumbing down of America is a growth industry for PBP.