Political Correctness and Plain Rudeness

Judging by the levels of support for the insurgent campaigns of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, many voters on the right and the left are totally disgusted with the two political parties and their candidates. Americans want to punish the political establishment, both red and blue, for their multiple failures and are looking for someone, anyone, to be a battering ram through politics as usual. As someone said, trying to explain Trump’s popularity, “He’s giving voice to what millions of Americans are yelling at the TV’s every night.”

As a conservative, I must admit I was initially intrigued by Trump. I share the widespread frustration with the political culture, especially the disconnect between elite politicians and ordinary people, and the ever-rising taxes and living costs for the squeezed middle-class. I too long for an outsider to come in and shake things up. I’m fed up with the Republicans’ cowardly surrenders to the slightest media criticism, and admire Trump’s disregard for what mainstream journalists think of him. Like Trump, I’m sick of all the promises that never seem to produce any action, and I’m angry at the use of political correctness to silence debate and sideline Christian views.

Trump Troubles
Was I troubled about Trump’s three marriages, his multiple casinos, his bullying arrogance, his Clinton donations, his anti-Mexican rhetoric, and his support of single payer health care (despite his remarks at the debate, he clearly knows nothing about Scottish healthcare)? Sure; I was and am deeply concerned about all that. Even one of these problems would have sunk him in the polls in the past. In the past; but not now, apparently.

Surely it demonstrates the level of animosity towards the political class and system that someone with so many fatal flaws has become so popular with a large section of the electorate.

Like many, I doubt I could ever ultimately vote for him as President, but he’s been a useful way of registering a protest and disgust at so many of the politicians, judges, and journalists who are so out of touch with, and even hostile to, ordinary Americans and their everyday concerns.

Many who would ordinarily have been turned off by Trump’s many inconsistencies and glaring weaknesses have said they would vote for him, perhaps with the hope that his business skills would get the economy moving again, or maybe just to exact vengeance on the political classes and commentators.

Trump Damaged
Until now that is. Trump’s debate performance was extremely disappointing, with little substance or coherence to his answers. And then came his appalling post-debate comments about Megyn Kelly.

If that doesn’t fatally damage him, then nothing will. If he survives this, the Republican establishment will have to face up to the fact that people are even more disgusted with them than with one of the most vulgar and crude individuals in public life.

Trump initially tried to defend his comments about Kelly, other women, Mexicans, and other targets of his vicious tongue, by using the “anti-political-correctness” defense, another indicator of his skillful political instincts. He knows that many Americans are infuriated at the way the left has used political correctness to shame, sideline, shut-down, silence, and even prosecute voices and views that dissent from liberal dogma. We’re glad to have a champion who will just say what he thinks and “tell it as it is” regardless of what the media and the political establishment think.

Plain Rudeness
However we must not use our opposition to political correctness to justify plain rudeness. There are Christians and even some pastors I know who also use “the Donald defense” to excuse their lack of kindness, tact, and gentleness in witnessing, preaching, and pastoring.

But there’s a difference between fighting for free speech and using filthy speech. There’s a difference between telling the truth and simply insulting opponents. There’s a difference between ridiculing policies and ridiculing people. There’s a difference between breaking liberal control of politics and losing all self-control in the process. There’s a difference between highlighting bias and resenting any challenge to explain ourselves. There’s a difference between bravery and bluster. There’s a difference between being fearless and being foolish.

 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:29-32)