Donald Trump:
America's Jean-Marie Le Pen? (Le Figaro, France)
"If we
stick to the attitude of the two men, which is characterized by provocative,
offensive language and a refusal to observe political correctness, there are similarities.
Trump has made outrageous statements about women, about illegal immigrants, and
about Mexico knowingly sending murderers into the United States, and has even
criticized the status of Senator McCain as a hero, which is recognized on the
right as it is on the left."
Le Figaro: As
expected, Donald Trump guaranteed a good show with his provocations in the
first televised Republican debate. The billionaire had particularly harsh words
for Mexican immigrants. What do you think of the comparison between Trump and Jean-Marie Le Pen?
Anne Deysine: To attempt a comparison, one needs to set
aside the specific French
context of Holocaust denial [Le Pen has been found guilty of violating
French Law for minimizing the significance of the Holocaust, which he called,
among other things, a "detail of history."] However, if we stick to
the attitude of the two men, which is characterized by provocative, offensive
language and a refusal to observe political correctness, there are similarities.
Trump has made outrageous statements about women, about illegal immigrants, and
about Mexico knowingly sending murderers into the United States, and has even
criticized the status of Senator McCain as a hero, which is recognized on the
right as it is on the left.
Le Figaro: What explains
his success in media and the polls?
Anne Deysine: The American people are fed up with the political
and economic situation. They do not feel the effects of the recovery in their
daily lives. Trump has the great advantage of being able to embody the violent exasperation
of the average American and middle class. His accusations in every direction allow
frustrated voters to think or hope that a candidate has finally heard and
understood them.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Le Figaro: In
your view, will the craze for Trump last? Does he have a real chance of
winning?
Anne Deysine: Trump is a good connoisseur of media – of reality
TV – and this explains why he has been propelled to first place in the polls. Yet
while one shouldn't take this phenomenon lightly, it is fair to think that his
candidacy is doomed to failure since he has failed to offer any specific answers
to the problems of the country. But we mustn't underestimate his destructive
capacity. If he doesn't win the Republican nomination, he has threatened to run
as an independent candidate. Under this hypothesis, he will assure a defeat of
the Republicans.
Le Figaro: If not
Trump, who is the real favorite of the [GOP] primaries?
Anne Deysine: When there are 17 candidates it's hard to
identify a favorite; and depending on the state and the issues, it is one candidate
or another that appears to emerge. If there is a candidate who wasn't the
favorite because he's perceived as too moderate and too centrist, it is Jeb
Bush. The question is whether he will be able to win the primaries and get the
Republican nomination - because only he has a chance of winning against Hillary
Clinton.
