Wall Street Journal's conservative journalist Bret Stephens published a dialogue with himself to explain why as a conservative he is supporting the election of Hillary Clinton. It's not because of ideology but because of who Donald Trump is, he says. Here are some highlights that I have lifted, which make good talking points. The winning arguments he makes to himself are in red.
1. Donald Trump is anti-conservative, un-American, immoral and dangerous.
2. My fundamental objection to Mr. Trump is that he is unfit, as a person, to be president.
3. What Mr. Trump has achieved isn’t success. It’s notoriety.
4. He isn’t just rough around the edges. He’s rotten to the core.
5. Mrs. Clinton lies tactically to protect herself politically. Mr. Trump lies compulsively to aggrandize himself or belittle vulnerable people.
6. [All those crazy things he says he will do?] That's not just "spouting off." It's an insight into Mr. Trump’s mind.
7. [Trump praises Putin because he's strong and respected by his people.] Putin isn’t respected. He’s feared. Any thoughtful conservative would sooner have an incompetent democratic government than an efficiently autocratic one.
8. What isn’t normal is the sudden taste for buffoonish leaders preaching drastic remedies. It’s one thing for the Philippines to elect a character like Rodrigo Duterte. It’s another for his American equivalent to become leader of the free world.
9. [Look, with Hillary I know what I’m getting and it’s a disaster. With Trump, there’s a chance he’ll keep his promises and grow in office.] The man you see as nominee is the man you’ll get as president, only with more vanity and vastly more power.
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That, folks, is a conservative politico talking. Listen to him. Vote.
Ralph
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