Trump’s “Divide and Conquer” Strategy May Have Reached Its Limits

Donald Trump is unarguably the most powerfully divisive figure ever to stir the cauldron of U.S. politics; never in our history have so many families and friendships been torn asunder by heartfelt differences in our views on environmental responsibility, fairness, justice, equal opportunity, rule of law, and civil rights. 

But perhaps last night’s election in Alabama to fill its vacant senate seat was a watershed event in all this; it may have been a moment when we Americans had finally seen enough.  When the votes were tallied, we learned that Trump’s political ideology is too hateful and ignorant—not only for America as a whole—but for the people of Alabama.

What to make of that?  Well, let’s look at a profile of Alabama. She ranks 47th in the nation in both education and healthcare, but more than counterbalances those inadequacies with the sheer volume and intensity of hate crime.

A powerhouse in lynchings from 1882 – 1968, Alabama ranked #5 nationally, edged out only by Texas, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana.  In the modern era, the number of hate groups in Alabama has increased for the third straight year and is at its highest since 2012, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The “Year in Hate and Extremism 2016” report noted that hate groups from Alabama increased from 23 in 2013 to 27 last year. The KKK currently has 11 active groups in the state, up from five in 2014, bucking a nationwide trend that has seen a significant decrease in the number of KKK affiliated groups.

Again, maybe this is a telling moment the in trajectory of white supremacy, Islamophobia, radical gun rights, right-wing Evangelical Christianity, homophobia and misogyny.  Perhaps the high water mark of all this garbage is behind us.  The take-away from the election could be precisely this: If our president’s political sensibilities are too hateful and ignorant for Alabama, he’s pretty much out of places to go.