The Public Integrity Alliance (PIA) is a non-profit group that’s tackled corruption in the Republican ranks and now it’s setting its sights on The Donald by releasing a parody music video. Much to PIA’s surprise, Trump supporters love it! This begs the question: is election 2016 America’s newest reality TV show?
One has to question Donald Trump as a viable presidential candidate when conservatives are working to keep the man from winning the GOP presidential nomination. The Public Integrity Alliance (PIA) is a non-profit group that’s tackled corruption in the Republican ranks and now it’s setting its sights on The Donald by releasing a parody music video. Much to PIA’s surprise, Trump supporters love it! This begs the question: is election 2016 America’s newest reality TV show?
The video, “Make America Great Again,” is a country-rock parody masterpiece, starring comedian Brian Nissen, who plays “Dwain,” an exaggerated redneck character. Nissen showcases some of Trump’s most bizarre ideas and glaring insults, all with a catchy tune and skits that, if this weren’t a parody, would be downright offensive.
Tyler Montague, PIA’s founder and president, got a big surprise after the video was released. He said, “I’ve noticed that some of the Trump fans loved it. They’re like, ‘Yeah, this is everything Trump is about, this is dead on.’ We’re like, ‘You’re kidding us, right?’”
Mr. Montague plays the “redneck buddy” in the video. He said the idea for the parody came from Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. ban Muslims. “When he said the stuff about Muslims, we were like, we’ve got to call that out and make fun of the absurdity of that.”
In fact, Mr. Montague believes that Trump’s platform is anti-conservative and un-American. He said, “I don’t want to overstate it, but [Trump’s] kind of a fascist. It’s the closest thing to fascism that America’s had, at least in our lifetime.”
The PIA is a 501(c)(4) group. It is not required to report donors but must not have as its primary goal the influencing of elections. As an aside to Mr. Montague and friends, I applaud your choice of organizational name. The acronym lends itself perfectly to your cause.
I share Mr. Montague’s surprise. The video clearly shows The Donald’s platform and behavior as flat-out ridiculous. Yet, Trump supporters love it. Think about that for a moment. Over the course of his candidacy, Trump has stated that he supports:
- Banning Muslims
- Creating a registry for Muslims
- Sealing the U.S./Mexico border
- Mocking disabled Americans
- Misogyny
…and the list goes on. In 2015, almost 2016, the fact that a significant number of Americans support these ideas, too is nothing short of terrifying. Trump supporters say they love him because he says things others are afraid to say, but are thinking nonetheless.
These divisive, racist and misogynist views hearken back to an America that most of us hoped was almost gone, replaced by a “kinder, gentler” America. Like it or not, we are part of a global society. Isolationism simply isn’t a viable idea; the U.S. economy relies on this global society. Withdrawing from it would only cause greater problems than those we already face.
The fact that there are so many who still harbor the discriminatory feelings of the past and who vociferously support a candidate whose platform is based on such things are proof that we haven’t moved beyond those unpleasant times after all. If, by some bizarre stroke of fate we end up with President Trump, I shudder to think of what will become of our country. Even if he loses, his candidacy has put a spotlight on the fact that race, religion and gender discrimination is far more entrenched than most expected.
I can’t help but feel that Election 2016 really is some poorly produced reality TV show and that is a great cause for concern. We aren’t “voting someone off the Island,” we’re electing the leader of our country. The more outrageous and inflammatory Trump gets, the more popular he becomes. It’s almost as if people can’t wait for the next “episode.”
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