How Trump is The Right

It’s not about the size of government.

In Europe, the political Right vs. Left distinction developed around royal vs. parliamentary power. As time went on, “class” became the distinction within parliaments: landowners vs. the property-less, then owners of capital vs. workers.

In the United States, the Right-Left distinction came about only in the 20th century; everyone believed in a republican form of government, and few called themselves “conservative” until the 1950’s. And into the 1990’s, there were liberals, moderates, and conservatives in both parties.

It’s often thought that the “Right” wants small government. That was never really true, in either Europe or the States. Those are matters of policy. Left/Right has more to do with traditions.

But what is that American “right-wing” tradition, if not small government?

It’s the dominance of white Christianity, and the belief it should continue. 100 years ago, the belief was narrower than that: America is for Protestants of northern European ancestry. In this thinking, non-whites and non-Protestants should feel grateful they’re here, and the more they embrace the “Americanism” of white Christians, the better off everyone will be.

This explains Trump’s infamous Tweets of July 14:

It sounds over-the-top and offensive to compare Trump’s tweets, and rhetoric relating to people such as Colin Kaepernick, to the the 1920’s version of the Ku Klux Klan. But that incarnation of the Klan was largely an anti-immigration movement that spread throughout the United States and even into Canada. They feared immigration from southern and eastern Europe by people who won’t be able to assimilate. Like those fearful of Sharia law today, they feared that the Pope will take over.

What did that KKK stand for?

• The Bible and evangelical Christianity.
• Allegiance to the American Flag.
• American exceptionalism.
• “ Patriotism, uniformity, common language, common religion, respect for the government, and common tradition as well as history.”
• Belief that “aliens… seek to destroy Americanism.”
• Rejection of the “refuse populations of other lands” and that the rights of the American-born are superior to the rights of foreigners.
• Bible readings in public schools.

The Klan quickly fizzled after a scandal, immigration from European Catholic countries continued, those immigrants assimilated, and today’s “right” include many Catholics who have joined in being fearful of new immigrants.

The Right holds that some degree of racial and religious preservation must take place for America to be American, and immigration controls, especially from Latin American and Muslim lands, is crucial to that purpose. Sure, they might prefer, say, low taxes as well, but someone who likes low taxes shouldn’t assume that puts them on the Right. The real Right, as reflected by Trump, would sacrifice economic freedom for their nationalism.

The further “left” you are, the more you’re inclined to view the United States as a place for all people, regardless of race, nationality, or religion. The “identity politics” of the so-called Left is a reaction against laws and practices imposed by the dominant, right-wing white Christian culture.

But because of this identity politics, white Christians feel under attack. Trump is their champion.

That’s why it hardly matters to them if Trump racks up obscene budget deficits, breaks his promises about a realist foreign policy, or has a lifetime of personal behaviors not traditionally associated with Christian piety. He’s beating back the “Left” and is fighting to keep America white and Christian. At least that’s how his followers perceive him.

As one who’s on the far left, who places individuality over both group identity and nationality, I’m surprised it took me until this week to understand the real nature of the American Right. It has nothing to do with money, markets, federalism, or the size of government.

It’s about maintaining racial and religious supremacy. And I find nothing agreeable about it.

James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. He is the author of Ron Paul is a Nut (And So am I). Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Support through Paypal is greatly appreciated. Permission to reprint is granted with attribution.