An earnest attempt to persuade Trump supporters that Trump is dishonest
December 14, 2017To me, it seems obvious that Donald Trump says whatever he WANTS to be true, rather than what IS true.
Lots of Americans agree with me, but lots don’t. One recent poll says that 36% of Americans do consider him honest.
Is there any way I can convince some part of the 36% that this guy is not worthy of their trust? I feel compelled to take my best shot.
First of all, here’s what I’m NOT going to do. I’m not going to cite some favorite examples (or a comprehensive list) of Trump saying incorrect things, coupled with links to credible sources saying the opposite. I don’t think this “fact-checking” approach is convincing to most Trump supporters. They may think, with some justification, “Everybody twists the facts. Who’s to say that Trump’s lies are any worse than those told by Hillary Clinton, or by Obama?”
That question has an answer, to be sure, but the answer is not completely straightforward. Rating the frequency and severity of lies can be tricky and subjective.
Instead, I want to offer a simpler argument based on three premises that I think most people can accept.
Here are the three premises:
(1) Everybody says things that are wrong.
(2) People of integrity admit their mistakes.
(3) If Trump were to admit a mistake, it would be well-covered by the media.
Anyone who follows the news regularly knows that the media essentially never post stories about Trump admitting mistakes. Therefore it’s safe to say that Trump essentially never does this. And since everybody is wrong sometimes (premise #1), it’s equally safe to say that Trump is making mistakes but not admitting them.
So, Trump supporters, do you really want to trust a guy who never admits to being wrong about anything?
To me, the overall behavior pattern is far more sinister than any individual fib. Once again, we all get things wrong, but our character is revealed by our handling of these flubs.
Some Trump sympathizers will say, “Well, the media are just as bad because they are biased in their coverage of Trump!”
To that, I have two responses.
(1) Yes, OF COURSE the media are biased! How can you blame them? Who among us would not be “biased” against someone who treats us as an enemy to be maligned and mocked at every opportunity?
(2) Biased or not, the media DO admit their mistakes ALL THE TIME. All decent newspapers have standard, well-established mechanisms for reporting and correcting their errors (e.g., at the bottom of online articles).
If you’re still unsure whom to believe in Trump’s feud with the media, I urge you — I beg you — to trust the side that has the integrity to own their errors.
* * * * * * *
UPDATE: I had an interesting exchange about this on Facebook with my friend Jeremie Perry. I am posting that exchange here with his permission.
My Track Record 
Not bad, son. Dad
If reason prevailed, you’d have a captive audience. Well put : ). But I ask to what extent is a political leaning logical and to what extent is it emotional? What can each of us do to understand AND feel another’s side?
Your 2nd question is a good one. While I aim to be respectful and fair in posts like the one above, even that post probably betrays that I’m often more interested in talking than listening.
It’s the nature of a blog to first speak…and then listen. As evidenced by the thoughtful responses, you do a good job of listening my friend.