Why does he refuse to condemn them?

[*PhilHos*]

(10-07-2020, 10:27 AM)GMDino Wrote: Isn't that the issue though?  One speech does not happen in a vacuum.  Maybe Trump meant EXACTLY what he said when he said it but when taken with other things he has said an inference can be made.  People can call that "Twisting" but I'd more akin it to adding substance and perspective to the words he said.

It depends on what people claim about the speech. If people said that "Trump said Minnesotans have good genes but based on his previous speeches, he's either lying or dumb or etc. etc. etc." that's not the same as saying "Trump thinks white people are genetically superior" based on the same quote.

(10-07-2020, 10:27 AM)GMDino Wrote: If a national leader gave speech after speech about the "bad" people in a country.  Blamed all the problems on one group, said they were doing bad things and should be forced to leave but then gave a speech to supporters saying "we have a wonderful country filled with good people like you" we would know he meant the people in front of him were good but not the ones he was talking about before.

That's not what's happening here, though. People originally claimed that Trump is openly saying white people are genetically superior because of his Minnesotans have good genes comment. That's twisting his words to the nth degree.

Look at this thread topic. Trump has routinely denounced white supremacy. I saw a video yesterday where it showed 19 (19!) times Trump has denounced white supremacy in the last 4 years. Yet, look at the thread title. And, again, saying he doesn't MEAN it is different than saying he hasn't DONE it.