The ‘Deplorables’ Are among Us

Several days ago, Hillary Clinton asserted that “half of Trump’s supporters” were part of what she termed “a basket of deplorables…the racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic – you name it.” Trump replied by accusing Clinton of having insulted “hardworking Americans” and used the moment to make a televised speech directed against his opponent.

So far, everything looks normal. Clinton made a political error, and Trump took advantage of the misstep. Nowadays, scandals of this type are unfailingly predictable with “political correctness” always at the top of everyone’s minds, being invoked either to offend others or to claim offense. In the end, Clinton asked to be pardoned for having used the word “half.”

The issue is not that she erred for being too cautious [in her pronouncements] but rather for being too unguarded. Well over half of Trump supporters – 76 percent – according to polls, believe that Muslims should be prevented from entering the country. A full 81 percent report feeling “resentment” when confronted with concrete questions concerning race and individuals of a different skin color. Going further, still, at least 30 percent [of Trump supporters] believe that African Americans are less intelligent than Caucasians, while 40 percent believe they are more dangerous and 47 percent believe African Americans are more apt to commit crimes. Likewise, more than 80 percent agreed with Trump’s use of the word “rapists” to describe Mexican immigrants. And the list goes on.

Most Europeans won’t find it difficult to believe these assertions to be true. Yet, when a similar case [took place in Europe] not that long ago, Europeans found it much more difficult to believe that [such dynamics] were occurring in the context of the European public debate. I’m referring to Brexit. In the immediate post-referendum period, whoever mentioned the prevalence of racism or xenophobia among voters favoring an EU exit was frequently confronted with the response: “You’re not trying to tell me that 52 percent of British people are racist, are you?” So, what if I am? Nearly half of this same 52 percent demographic would agree with the statement. A large degree of racial and xenophobic resentment, thus, has been shown to be capable of shifting the politics of entire continents for the worst; denying it only makes things worse.

There exists a certain discomfort within democracy in admitting that a large portion of the public possesses repugnant ideas or feelings. It’s equally difficult to admit that a portion of the working class – supporters of Trump and Brexit – could be racist. Yet, this discomfort is wrong and not democratic. Being democratic does not mean having to believe that the majority is always correct, that it always makes decisions in the best possible way or that the majority has a greater legitimacy to make political decisions (but not judicial or medical ones, for example). Being on the left of the political spectrum does not mean believing the working class to be exempt from having racist feelings. Being progressive also does mean having to remain silent when those who are “globalism’s losers” are espousing the most reactionary ideas.

We have a certain difficulty in admitting that nice, hardworking people can also be racist or sexist. If this weren’t the case, certain politicians would never have the level of votes that they now enjoy. Nor would apartheid and the Inquisition have lasted as long as they did. Good people don’t only believe in good things.

It’s the duty for anyone who is a lover of humanity to always remember that deplorable people are among us, they are like us and, often times, we ourselves are the “deplorables.” Who would you prefer them to be?