1. SAMUEL A.J. JOLLY, BA (HONS)
FRIDAY 4TH
MARCH 2016.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
Page 1 of 7
Donald Trump as Presidential Candidate?
Trump constantly makes news headlines for racially charged statements, including
offenses towards African Americans, Mexicans, Muslims and other social groups
(Younge, 2015). This Document Response supports the notion that Trump should not
be President based on the theme of racism.
In Measuring Donald Trump’s Supporters for Intolerance Lynn Vavreck writes
to spread awareness about the Americans voting for Donald Trump in the 2016
Presidential election. Not too shocking considering his string of offensive comments.
This poll data gathered information on each of the Republican presidential candidates
(Vavreck, 2016). More importantly, the poll data from YouGov and the Public Policy
Polling (Vavreck, 2016) suggests that Trump has a large following of bigots including
a proportion of white supremacists. (Wilkies, 2016). Statistics from within the state of
Carolina show 74% of Trump supporters are in favour of Trump’s proposal to ban all
Muslims immigrating to the country (Vavreck, 2016) and that one in five of them
disagree with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation (YouGov in Vavreck,
2016). There were more statistics considered disturbing, both in offensiveness and in
percentage. These percentages demonstrate that Trump’s accumulation of votes largely
comprise of voters responsiveness to his offensive comments. This raises the question
of whether someone of this appeal should be President. The article synergises with the
liberal stance of the New York Times (Okrent, 2004), confirmed by former Public
Editor, Daniel Okrent, who informed readers of this. Vavreck’s article impacts the way
readers consume information as more accurate because of the statistics used. Vavreck
writes directly to a widely intended audience, referencing primary research from polling

2. SAMUEL A.J. JOLLY, BA (HONS)
FRIDAY 4TH
MARCH 2016.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
Page 2 of 7
websites in order to make points. The written format ensures readers are able to read
over and absorb the information effectively and the ramifications Trump, as President,
may provide. Trump’s more recent offenses are not among the first of occasions Trump
has expressed racial intolerance.
Yusef Salaam narrates the documentary video Central Park Five member recall
Trump: 'He has not changed'. Salaam, identifies as anti-Trump. Salaam’s grudge is
definitely personal, labelling Trump ‘Firestarter’ (Mathieu-Léger, 2016, 2.45-3.00m.)
in the Central Park Five’s accusal of rape, giving mention to a controversial
advertisement by Trump. It was published by the New York Times on 1st
May 1989.
Similar to Salaam, Trump’s intentions were to persuade his audience. Trump wished to
gain support for his purpose made clear in the title THE RETURN OF THE DEATH
PENALTY! Salaam informs viewers that, at that time, and arguably today among a
proportion of Trump’s support, a group of black youths assaulting a white women is
‘the worst thing that anyone could have ever done' (Mathieu-Léger, 2016, 1:39-44m.).
Salaam highlights Trump’s comments as racist and encouraging bigotry; hence, how
‘he has not changed’. Trump’s advertisement could have served as the catalyst
provoking a death sentence, rather than a custodial one resulting in justice thirteen years
(Gonzalez & Torres, 2012, p.271) after their executions. Mathieu-Léger’s documentary
is effective because Salaam’s face enables viewers to better empathise with the ordeal
of the Central Park Five. It also stirs controversy by returning the favour of slander to
Trump at such a pivotal time. The documentary also relays liberal views, focusing on
inequality and societal issues intending to assert the ramifications Trump, as President,
may produce. Indeed, this would be a ‘scary thing’ (Mathieu-Léger, 2016)!

3. SAMUEL A.J. JOLLY, BA (HONS)
FRIDAY 4TH
MARCH 2016.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
Page 3 of 7
Some may question what makes it so scary? A podcast that focuses on
Vavreck’s article and her findings explains, where Vavreck fails to. The statistics used
are based on the same poll data from Vavreck’s article that suggested one or more forms
of racist ideology among Republicans, the majority of Trump supporters. The statistical
intelligence within Vavreck’s article is debated among a FiveThirtyEight panel, which
includes public writers and an editor. FiveThirtyEight is under the ownership of ESPN
and was previously a feature on the New York Times Online (ESPN, 2013). Based on
re-occurring statistics some listeners would assume all Republicans as representative of
these figures – a consequence of the newspaper headlines resulting in response to these
figures, including Vavreck’s own. However, the panels’ presentation of the statistics
encourage a more comprehensive awareness of Republicans and state that Trump gives
Republicans a bad image, rather than labelling Republicans as racially intolerant.
(Silver, 2016, 20.20-40m.). “I think some people are losing the refined point of banning
Syrian refugees versus banning all Muslim immigrants” (Malone in Silver, 2016,
11.05m.-12.05m.). Clearly, with reference to Malone’s statement, Trump does so by
‘providing a voice and an amplification for this demagoguery’ (Silver, 2016, 17.44-
49m.) representative within the many offensive comments that he has made and the
demographic responding. FiveThirtyEight also advocate liberal views, similar to the
Guardian and New York Times. The panelists confirm their aim to spread awareness
among their listeners with the quote: ‘Trump is the candidate who confirms every
liberal’s worst stereotypes of the Republican Party… and that they are not all that much
conservative.’ (Silver, 18.43-19.12m.). Secondary research from Vavreck’s article and
the debate-style of the podcast reinforce the resolute opinions to be accurate because

4. SAMUEL A.J. JOLLY, BA (HONS)
FRIDAY 4TH
MARCH 2016.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
Page 4 of 7
they have been ratified between the four panelists, who are open-minded to different
views, despite all representing the same liberal stance, as well as the same news source.
Additionally, Trump confirming these negative Republican stereotypes adds to why he
should not be president.
Since media began in America, newspapers from pioneers have proved
overtly biased towards minority groups (Daly, 2012, p.19, 21). These editors’ literary
work similarly express the intolerance Trump has towards minorities such as Benjamin
Harris’s Publick Occurences both Forreign and Domestic and John Campbell’s
periodic Boston News-Letter, both published prior to liberalism as a political doctrine
after the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Vavreck’s article and FiveThirtyEight’s
podcast go hand-in-hand because they both revolve around the same poll data, whereas
Mathieu-Léger’s documentary is somewhat a biographical account of a Central Park
Five member. However, the documentary, similar to FiveThirtyEight, encourages
readers to consider what a win from Trump would result in. Vavreck’s article remains
very much unbiased, but all documents reinforce caution for Trump as President: firstly
because the voters he appeals to represent some shocking statistics, secondly because
of Trump’s uncandidly offensive views, and thirdly because of the negative affect
Trump may have on the Republican Party. These points support the thesis of Trump as
an unfit president and questioning his candidacy. Moreover, Trump threatens liberalism
in politics through prolific demagoguery. As a result, Trump has offended several social
groups, both American and beyond (Byers, 2016), and has also severed ties with some
media outlets (Greenslade, 2016). Trump has even been compared to dictators like
Hitler and Mussolini (Time, 2015).

5. SAMUEL A.J. JOLLY, BA (HONS)
FRIDAY 4TH
MARCH 2016.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
Page 5 of 7
Bibliography
Primary Sources:
Mathieu-Léger, L (2016).
Central Park Five member recalls Trump: 'He has not changed'.
The Guardian (Documentary video).
Documentary Video. Source visited on 18/02/2016:
http://www.theguardian.com/usnews/2016/feb/17/central-park-five-donald-trump-
jogger-rape-case-newyork?CMP=fb_gu/
Silver, N. (2016).
Elections Podcast: Racism among Trump’s Supporters. FiveThirtyEight
via ESPN (Podcast).
Visited on 27th February 2016: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/elections-
podcastracism-among-trumps-supporters/
Vavreck, L. (2016)
Measuring Donald Trump’s Supporters for Intolerance. New
York Times (Article).
Visited 26/02/2016: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/upshot/measuring-
donaldtrumps-supporters-for-intolerance.html?_r=1
Additional Reading.
Articles:
Anonymous (2013).
Nate Silver Joins ESPN in Multifaceted Role.
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.
Source visited on 19/02/2016: http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/9499752/nate-
silverjoins-espn-multifaceted-role
Byers, D. (2016)
Huffington Post blasts Trump as 'racist, sexist demagogue'.
Cable News Network.
Source visited on 21/03/2016:
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/02/09/politics/huffingtonpost-donald-trump-racist/
Davidson, A. (2014).
Donald Trump and the Central Park Five.
The New Yorker.

6. SAMUEL A.J. JOLLY, BA (HONS)
FRIDAY 4TH
MARCH 2016.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
Page 6 of 7
Visited on 22/02/2016: http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/donaldtrump-
and-the-central-park-five/
Greenslade, R. (2016).
Media outlets dare to call Donald Trump a liar, racist and misogynist.
The Guardian. Visited on 19/02/2016:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/feb/01/media-outlets-dare-
tocall-donald-trump-a-liar-racist-and-misogynist/
Mazza, E. (2016).
Donald Trump Tells Bill O'Reilly It's 'An Eye For An Eye' In War With Fox News.
Source visited on 23/02/2016: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-
trumpfox-news-eye-for-an-eye_us_56a9790fe4b0016489225a54
Okrent, D. (2004).
THE PUBLIC EDITOR; is the New York Times a Liberal Newspaper?
New York Times.
Source visited on 20/02/2016:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/25/opinion/thepublic-editor-is-the-new-york-times-
a-liberal-newspaper.html/
Stahl, J. (2015).
Here Are All the Racist Comments That Got Donald Trump Fired From NBC.
Source Visited on 22/02/2016:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/29/donald_trump_fired_from_nbc_ce
lebrity_apprentice_star_and_republican_presidential.html/
Trump, D. (2014).
Donald Trump: Central Park Five settlement is a 'disgrace'.
New York Daily News.
Visited on 23/02/2016: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-
crime/donaldtrump-central-park-settlement-disgrace-article-1.1838467/
Wilkie, C. (2016).
White Supremacists Mobilize for Donald Trump: They're using robocalls and
volunteers to drum up support.
Huffington Post.
Visited on 26/02/2016: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-
whitesupremacist-sec-primary_us_56cf4437e4b0bf0dab31222f/
Younge, G. (2015).
Donald Trump shows hate speech is now out and proud in the mainstream.
Source visited on 22/02/2016:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/08/scale-of-donald-
trumpsdiscrimination-debases-currency-of-democracy.

7. SAMUEL A.J. JOLLY, BA (HONS)
FRIDAY 4TH
MARCH 2016.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY.
Page 7 of 7
Books:
Daly, C. B. (2012).
Covering America: A Narrative History of a Nation’s Journalism. University
of Massachusetts Press.
Gonzales, J. & Torres, J (2012).
News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media. Verso:
London & New York.