Do you believe that Donald Trump is racist?

[AGA]

Donald Trump has been referred to as a racist many times, but is he actually one? I am not taking any side here, I would just like to see what the arguments are for and against the claim.

[Devout Centrist]

A racist? Not really. Definitely a xenophobe.

[Bojack Horseman]

Nah, he's just an actor, like Ted Cruz. Cruz isn't as stupid as the people he panders to, but Donald Trump panders to people who are scum beneath dog s**t.

[RINO Tom]

Nah, he's just an actor, like Ted Cruz. Cruz isn't as stupid as the people he panders to, but Donald Trump panders to people who are scum beneath dog s**t.

LOL, if only those people could be more like the kind, open minded GENIUS we at Atlas know as Wolverine22.

Anyway, I think it's clear that he is, honestly.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

If it talks like one and walks like one, then it probably is one. And if it's not, it doesn't matter because it walks like one and talks like one.

[TomC]

Yes, I do. Some of what he does is an act, but his racism and sexism seems grounded in something real. Contrast it with his comments about LGBTQ people which he seems to have genuine concern for.

[KingSweden]

Yes, I do. Some of what he does is an act, but his racism and sexism seems grounded in something real. Contrast it with his comments about LGBTQ people which he seems to have genuine concern for.

^^ I actually think Trump is fairly sympathetic to gays and lesbians (and, from what I've gleaned, transgender)

[Mr. Reactionary]

Being a craggly old man + Speaking without lots of planning + Refusing to use post-2007 SJW Lingo =/= Racist.

[Figueira]

He has a history of racism long before he got into politics.

[TomC]

Being a craggly old man + Speaking without lots of planning + Refusing to use post-2007 SJW Lingo =/= Racist.

Blurting racist statements = racist

[Green Line]

I don't know.  I can not read minds.

[Ebowed]

Pretty much the only thing you can trust about Donald Trump is that he is a bigot.  The rest of his act seems to depend on which way the wind is blowing.  But rain or shine, his heart is filled with hate.

[Maxwell]

If Donald Trump isn't a racist, than neither is George Wallace, whose whole get up was a very concerted act.

[Figueira]

Being a craggly old man + Speaking without lots of planning + Refusing to use post-2007 SJW Lingo =/= Racist.

Blurting racist statements = racist

Exactly. Non-racist people who don't plan what they say don't accidentally say racist things all the time.

[Likely Voter]

Like with everything Trump, it is impossible to figure out what is truly in his heart. But in a way, it doesn't matter. We can only look at the kind of messages he is sending out, the campaign he is running and who is trying to appeal to.

[ProudModerate2]

Pretty much the only thing you can trust about Donald Trump is that he is a bigot.  The rest of his act seems to depend on which way the wind is blowing.  But rain or shine, his heart is filled with hate.

[Mr. Smith]

If Donald Trump isn't a racist, than neither is George Wallace, whose whole get up was a very concerted act.

Given Wallace's first run for Governor and his final term as Governor this is true.

[Wells]

No, he's just a D********* p****.

[Human]

He has a history of racism long before he got into politics.

^^^

Let's dispel with this fiction that Donald Trump was completely non-racist before running for president and is only pretending to be racist to appeal to the GOP base. That is completely false. He has said and done very racist things well before he got into politics.

Just because he was a Democrat doesn't mean that he can't be racist. Many people have this weird misconception that white Democrats can't be racist. Believe it or not, there are plenty of white Democrats who hold racist views.

[Wells]

He has a history of racism long before he got into politics.

^^^

Let's dispel with this fiction that Donald Trump was completely non-racist before running for president and is only pretending to be racist to appeal to the GOP base. That is completely false. He has said and done very racist things well before he got into politics.

Just because he was a Democrat doesn't mean that he can't be racist. Many people have this weird misconception that white Democrats can't be racist. Believe it or not, there are plenty of white Democrats who hold racist views.

Can you give me an example of this racism?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Pretty much the only thing you can trust about Donald Trump is that he is a bigot.  The rest of his act seems to depend on which way the wind is blowing.  But rain or shine, his heart is filled with hate.

If it talks like one and walks like one, then it probably is one. And if it's not, it doesn't matter because it walks like one and talks like one.

Basically these ^^.  I think a lot of us underestimate exactly how smart Trump is when it comes to manipulating people and appealing to select audiences.  Does he actually harbor racist views?  Maybe, maybe not.  When it came to making money, he surely wasn't too racist or xenophobic to make a buck.  Sociopaths are difficult to categorize this way.

To borrow a great Elie Wiesel quote, "The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference."  That pretty much defines Trump's life.

[Hermit For Peace]

I don't think he has any beliefs. I think all he does is USE whatever angle or trick he feels will work in getting his ugly mug in the spotlight.

Unfortunately all the negative stuff he uses works real well for that purpose.

I think he's more opportunistic than racist, but if racism sells, then he'll use it. If sexism sells then he'll use that. Whatever works.

Sad, really.

[Xing]

It could just be an act, but he obviously says racist things, an appeals to racists.

[DrScholl]

He wanted to have a season of the Apprentice that was divided by race and there are numerous racist statements he made before that, like calling blacks lazy. There is also the fact that his company was sued for not renting to Blacks and Hispanics. He is definitely a racist.

[Mr. Smith]

Really, he's more a narcissistic and opportunistic misanthrope. These three blanket terms describe enough and there's little need to oversimplify and thus paradoxically complicate the matter.