If you've spent any time on planet Earth, you've probably heard the "I can't be racist because I have friends who are (insert group they just did or said something racist about here)."
It's downright predictable.
But that doesn't stop people from still trying to use it to explain away racist words or actions.
The latest to raise the "some of my best friends..." defense is #1 son, Donald Trump Jr. in his new book.
In this instance, though, Jr. is making a case that current President Donald Trump Sr. can't be racist despite repeated examples of racist language or actions throughout his father's life.
The get out of racism free card Trump Jr. is playing?
When singer Michael Jackson owned property in Trump Tower, Don Sr. let Jr. play video games with him.
Although not everyone reported the news with quite the same... neutrality.
Anyway...
Case closed!
That's the clearest, clear cut case of "not a racist" ever, in the history of the world.
Bigly.
Jr.—or someone—wrote:
"Oh, and by the way, given all the things my father has been called, particularly a 'racist,' it sure sounds odd that he'd let his son vacation with a black man or hang out with Michael Jackson, doesn't it? If he's a racist, he's sure not very good at it."
Apparently dad improved his racism skills when he was cited for race based housing discrimination, made racist statements about Native Americans in congressional testimony, took out full page ads calling for the death penalty for innocent young men of color then refused to admit he was wrong after the Central Park Five were exonerated, made false claims about Muslims in New Jersey on 9/11, made false claims about Mexicans and Central and South American immigrants, told women of color in Congress to go back to their own countries, inspired more than one White nationalist to commit, plan or promote violence...etc....
Yes, no matter what his record says or what he's said or done, Donald Trump Sr. is clearly not very good at racism. 🙄
Oddly, not everyone is buying what Jr. is selling even though Trump has used the "I know a famous Black person!" defense more than once.
Twitter user Nepotist 45 (@Nepotism45) pointed out you can treat a whole group of people badly while treating individuals in that group well by asking:
"QUESTION: How can a serial killer be a serial killer if he has friends that are alive?"
Don Jr.'s argument—and book—aren't quite getting the response he hoped for among people who don't own anything with MAGA printed on it.
People had alternate explanations for why Don Sr. was friendly with Michael Jackson.
Don Jr.'s book with a long name designed to pander to his father's support base was released on November 5, 2019.
Also released on 11-5-2019 was Figgered: My Dad is Bigger Than Your Dad, available here.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram