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Donald Trump and the fall of the Republican Party

Posted October. 11, 2016 07:46,   

Updated October. 11, 2016 07:50

한국어

You cannot change the channel while you are watching a soap opera no matter how annoying the show is. People want to see what is happening and wait for the end of the show, expecting shocking twists. The same thing is happening in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is not like any normal candidates people have seen, while his absurd comments and behaviors, and controversies over his qualifications grab the headlines all over the world. In the meantime, many people feel sorry for the U.S. politics to see the politicians got involved in such a soap opera. The most interesting point of the second presidential TV debate was the explanation of Trump who was in crisis after the release of the embarrassing footage with lewd comments.

Although he apologized for his remarks, he insisted that it was “locker room talk," meaning his comments were nothing more than small talk that takes place in locker room without restraint. Then, he accused Hillary Clinton of enabling Bill Clinton by saying, “So you can say any way you want to say it, but Bill Clinton was abusive to women.” Likewise, he revealed the past scandal of Bill Clinton. Clinton channeled Michelle Obama, by saying, “When I hear something like that, I am reminded of what my friend, Michelle Obama, advised us all: When they go low, you go high.” It seemed that she thought would not get anything from getting involved in the muddling game considering the sexual scandal of her husband.

The two candidates had also a different opinion on former President Abraham Lincoln for his efforts to persuade congress to pass the 13th amendment to abolish the slave system. Clinton commended that Lincoln's argument was one of the best examples to display him as a great leader, while Trump said, “Honest Abe never lied. That’s the difference between you and him.” Trump’s intent was to blame Clinton’s lie on the e-mail scandal. It is doubtful if Trump is eligible to cite Lincoln, the symbol of honesty and the Republican party.

Although Trump did well this time comparing to the first debate, things are not going his way as key politicians of his party, who were severely shocked by his lewd comments, withdrew their support or called for his resignation. He did not hesitate to act against traditional Republican values such as small government, free trade, integration and maintenance of country, church, family community. Trump is now becoming a disaster not only to the Republican Party, who worries a falling Donald Trump tide, but also to Republican camp of the U.S.



한기흥기자 eligius@donga.com