Trump’s open racism is turning off voters, but SD politicians lack the decency to reject his hatred

We really did not require further proof of Donald Trump’s virulent racism.

But there it was, on full display once again. The former president and three-time Republican presidential nominee spewed hate and ignorance during a discussion with three women journalists at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago. Trump (seen above in a public domain photo posted on wikimedia commons) decided this was a good setting to question Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity.

“Is she Indian or is she Black?” he asked. “I respect either one, but she obviously doesn’t. Because she was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she went, she became a Black person. I think somebody should look into that.”

Harris has been open about her mixed race background.

Her father, Donald Harris, 85, is an emeritus professor of economics at Stanford University. He was born in Jamaica.

Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a scientist dedicated to battling breast cancer. Gopalan, who died in 2009, was from India.

While Kamala Harris is of both Indian and Black heritage, she has identified as a Black woman. She attended Howard University, a historically black college, and was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a black sorority.

Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus during her time in the U.S. Senate. She has done nothing to hide her background, but Trump decided to focus on it, apparently as part of a misguided effort to call her a phony.

While he was at it, Trump attacked ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott, who asked him why Black voters should trust him with his long record of racism and hate.

“First of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner, a first question. You don’t even say, ‘Hello, how are you,’” he said. “Are you with ABC, because I think they’re a fake news network, a terrible network.”

Cornered by his naked bigotry, Trump expressed his love for “the Black population,” and made the wild claim that he had been the best president for the Black population since Abraham Lincoln.

“Better than President (Lyndon) Johnson, who signed the Voting Rights Act?” Scott asked.

It went downhill from there, if that’s possible. Finally, Trump’s team cut the interview short before he did further damage.

On Tuesday, he said Harris “doesn’t like Jewish people,” which must come as a surprise to her husband, Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish. When Trump-worshipping radio host Sid Rosenberg said Emhoff, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, was a “crappy Jew,” Trump agreed with him.

Trump also said Jews who support Democrats are “fools” who “should have their head examined.”

This is the gutter level of the man Republicans have supported for president for three straight elections. It’s the kind of talk you’d hear from your crazy uncle at Thanksgiving before walking out of the house, or from some drooling drunk at the bar.

But this is a former president who aspires to return to the most powerful office in the world. And millions of people are fine with that, willing to ignore his racism and antisemitism.

Harris took the high road in response to Trump questioning her heritage.

“The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth. A leader who doesn’t respond with hostility and anger when presented with the facts,” she said at the annual gathering of the historically Black sorority Sigma Gamma Rho. “We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us. They are an essential source of our strength.”

It would be encouraging to see more Republicans stand up against him and try to seize back control of their party. Former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, retiring Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and a few others have expressed their disgust with him. Others are urging him to avoid such inflammatory language.

But far too many Republicans who privately loathe Trump are refusing to step out of the shadows and denounce his hateful rhetoric. Yes, that includes you, Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds and Rep. Dusty Johnson.

Even when he was convicted of 34 felonies, they chose to ignore his crimes and stick to partisan politics. They’re not exactly displaying profiles in courage.

However, voters and donors are watching. Polls show Harris has taken the lead nationally and is ahead, tied or close in the vital swing states.

She has raised money at an astonishing rate since President Joe Biden accepted the reality that most Americans and a sizable number of Democrats wanted him to retire.

Harris announced she raised $310 million in July and had $377 million in cash. Trump raised just $138.7 million in the same period and had $327 million on hand.

The tide has clearly turned. Harris, who officially clinched the nomination on Friday, is being met with enthusiastic crowds at every appearance and is relishing the spotlight, comfortable with the increased attention and the opportunity to take on Trump.

He seems old, angry and unsure, grasping at an effective way to attack her. Trump and his minions planned to attack Biden as old and ineffective despite his many successes as president. Biden’s slow gait and fumbling performance at the June 27 debate with Trump bolstered their confidence that this was a winning strategy.

Instead, they are facing an energetic, experienced, eloquent woman who is two decades younger than Trump. Now he is the old guy who stumbles when he speaks and struggles to master a ramp.

So he turns to his usual routine of racism and lies. It’s been one of his go-to moves for decades. The media has been lambasting him for it, and voters are not pleased, either.

Well, decent, intelligent voters, anyway. Trump’s base will lap up any sour milk he spills.

It would be encouraging to see more Republicans reject his bigoted appeal for support and his willingness to attack and defame people for personal gain. But after almost a decade of it, we have to expect most — like John, Mike and Dusty — don’t have the guts or decency to do so.

Fourth-generation South Dakotan Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states and contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The London Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Republish with permission.