For those expressing surprise at the Republican establishment’s embrace of Donald Trump, let’s look at the recent history of the Republican Party.
Starting with the moment the Tea Party emerged from the angry sewers of the Republican Party. Though tinged with racism, Republicans embrace the Tea Party believing they can control the movement and harness that energy for electoral gain.
Rather than being controlled, the Birther Movement spews forth from the angry sewers of the Tea Party. Though fairly obviously racially motivated, Republicans embrace Birthers (without embracing Birtherism) believing they can control the movement and harness that energy for electoral gain.
Rather than being controlled, Donald Trump slithered forth from the angry sewers of the Birther Movement. Though overtly racist, Paul Ryan and other Republican “leaders” endorse his run for President. Ryan offers, as justification:
I feel confident he would help us turn the ideas in this agenda into laws to help improve people’s lives.
Put another way: Ryan is confident Republicans can control President Trump and harness the energy of his supporters for electoral gain.
There is no evidence to support this belief. All evidence, in fact, very much support the conclusion that something even uglier will eventually be disgorged from the angry sewers from which Trump draws his support.
But, of course, the other cornerstone of the modern-day Republican Party is firmly believing in things for which there is no evidence and denying inconvenient facts for which there is overwhelming evidence.
All of which is to say that anyone expressing surprise that Paul Ryan, or any Republican, is endorsing Donald Trump simply has not been paying attention.
