My travels around the country provide continuing exposure to how the country is responding to our new president. Included in this learning is information about how average Americans are coping with the dramatic new production, “The Donald Comes to Washington”.
On second thought, “dramatic” may be too understated an adjective. Rarely has America witnessed such a radical turnabout in such a brief period of time. Yet even at this early stage, one can discern how various factions are coming together, or falling apart, in response to the Trump era. These five emerging constituencies are numerous and subtle and require further analysis.
First in line are the “haters” — foot soldiers of the “resistance” – ready and willing to show up at a moment’s notice at any flavor of Trump protest. They are the “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore” crowd. Some (most) continue in a state of electoral semi-denial. They understand Trump won but just can’t bring themselves to accept all of the new realities (real or imagined) they must confront. A fair percentage of this group lives in liberal enclaves along the coasts. Many of them do not know anyone who voted for Trump. Note that more than a few had no love lost for Hillary Clinton. These true believers were bothered by the Clintonian propensity to bend and parse the truth. Most would have preferred Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.
This hardcore opposition manifests an abiding animosity toward the new president. They have a deep dislike of “Trump the person” surpassed only by their disdain for “Trump the politician.” A few even long for the days of “W” – and they really hated him. The piece-by-piece dismantling of Obama’s progressive machinery will make the next four years difficult indeed.
The next group in the queue is rather small by comparison. There is no apparent leader and they do not draw the type of media attention reserved for the haters. These are the disappointed (but not transfixed) Clinton liberals hoping for an accommodation with Trump on issues of common concern (trade, child care, border tax, infrastructure improvements, no entitlement reform). Most are bothered by the illiberal shouting down of alternative voices on campus. They know that real liberals do not countenance such anti-speech behavior. Members of this group came of age during the great protest movements of the 1960s; such antics remain antithetical to their core beliefs.
Next in line are the “Never Trumpers.” Yes, they are still around, if diminished. Included herein are some elements of what used to be known as the “Republican Establishment” – before it was run over by Trump’s “movement.” Similar to group one, members herein are still dazed by Trump’s modus operandi and victory. Its members continue to profess embarrassment over the president’s ad hoc actions and willingness to engage petty beefs. But they also see a framework of conservative policies much to their liking. Not so long ago, members of this group could never envision a pro-life, pro-gun, tax cutting regulatory reformer in the person of a billionaire real estate mogul who willingly and notoriously contributed big dollars to liberal Democrats and made no effort to hide or apologize for such behavior while running for president on the GOP ticket.
Constituency number four is larger and less angst-ridden. These are the generally conservative Republicans who had supported one of the seventeen other candidates during the Republican primaries before “coming home” as the general election approached. Some arrived in the Trump camp ready to work; others steered clear of the celebrity candidate until the potential reality of another Clinton presidency kick-started them onto the Trump bandwagon. These folks are generally happy with the Trump Cabinet and early policy initiatives but are driven to distraction by the constant tweets that (sometimes) take the president far off message. The most cited advice I receive from this crowd: “Can’t you just get him to stop taking the bait – or better yet stop the tweets?!” My questioners are displeased but not surprised by my negative response.
Finally, we come to what will be the most over-analyzed sub-grouping of the lot – the “true believers.” They are the working class folks who early on fell in love with Trump’s heated populism – and unabashed nationalism. Many are frustrated Democrats who have long found themselves out of sync with their party’s leftward drift. Some are conservatives moved by the thought of a pro-business president. You know, somebody who has signed the front of a payroll check. Others are libertarians pleased by the administration’s lack of interest in most social issues. Taken together, they constitute approximately 40-45 percent of the country. They live in (mostly) red states. They put up with Trump’s often uncouth manner; they love his lack of political correctness. It is they who will have a major say in whether Donald J. Trump is “fired” or given another four-year contract.
Gov. Robert Ehrlich is a Washington Examiner columnist, partner at King & Spalding and author of three books, including the recently released Turning Point. He was governor of Maryland from 2003 – 2007.
