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Kiss Me. I’m Incredibly Stupid
Trump’s boneheaded St. Paddy’s Day promotion hits new low
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more insane with Donald Trump’s reelection bid, they have. I refer, of course, to the newest offerings on Trump Store America: green and four-leaf clover emblazoned “Kiss Me, I’m For Trump” buttons, bumper stickers, and t-shirts, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Even better, the buttons come in a two-pack, and they’re on sale!
Ordinarily, this sort of thing would not be remarkable. It’s downright hackneyed. “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” buttons have been sold around this time of year for generations. In the past, there have also been “Kiss Me, I’m a Democrat” and “Kiss Me, I’m a Republican” products. So, what makes these Trump products so, well, deplorable? Two things: the #MeToo movement and the coronavirus.
It’s bad enough that a person with Trump’s record with women is urging his followers to solicit smooches on his behalf, but we are in the midst of a severe health crisis. Doctors everywhere are encouraging handwashing and discouraging handshakes.
Meanwhile, the ever-tone-deaf Trump campaign is urging supporters to solicit public displays of affection in the form of a big fat viral kiss. Not only is this a bad idea because of the coronavirus, it’s a bad idea period.
I suspect the buttons are on sale because Trump supporters with even a fraction of brain activity realize that wearing them is as likely to get them a punch in the kisser as they are to get them a kiss. I suspect you’ll still see some at the next rally, though. As the Irish would say, “Foolish love is blind.”
©2020, Denise Shelton. All rights reserved.
