Donald Trump values loyalty above all else – even it seems integrity.
When it comes to his supporters, no one has more loyal supporters than Trump. Believe me.
And that’s not fake news.
It’s difficult to explain the sheer strength of staunch loyalty these Americans show for the President, no matter how feckless or reckless he may be.
Join the Un-Switchables
His multiple failings seem to be ignored or forgotten particularly by people of faith who are abnormally faithful to him.
The Religious Right, the once-upon-a-time very definition of “family values” have clearly chosen to overlook his personal failings and salacious, scandalous history in return for his backing on key social issues. Despite the daily foibles, mishaps and embarrassments, these Donald Devotees have dug in their heels. Hush money to a porn star? Pshaw… that storm will pass.
In fact it seems, they’d rather fight than switch.
Tareyton Cigarettes- Aggressive Loyalty
Their stubborn and slavish loyalty reminds me of the very successful vintage ad campaign for Tareyton cigarettes that had a successful run in the 1960’s through the 1970’s. The target of the long running print and TV ad campaign was to create loyalty among smokers of Tareyton.
Like Trump, Tareyton – a brand of cigarettes produced by the American Tobacco Company – was a dark horse in the tobacco industry race hoping to challenge industry giants Phillip Morris’ Marlboro and R.J. Reynold’s Winston for the brass ring of more devoted customers.
Thanks to the catchy phrase, “ Us Tareyton smokers would rather fight than switch” and the distinctive ads featuring close ups of smiling models all sporting a black eye, Tareyton developed a fierce loyalty. And the memorable tag line became part of popular culture.
The slogan was so popular it even entered politics briefly with another Republican conservative when it was adopted by supporters of Barry Goldwater during the 1964 Presidential campaign for presidency. Perky Goldwater girls went to Goldwater’s opponents events wearing bandages and sporting signs saying “We’d rather fight than switch.”
Don’t Be a Dummy
Like Tareyton cigarettes, Trump inspires aggressive loyalty.
But loyalty has its price.
Most Trump loyalists who have left the administration have done so sporting their own black eye, their reputations and careers tarnished, by association with the Trump White House.
And like the blissfully unaware smoker loyal to something that would ultimately be dangerous to their health, so the blind Trump supporter acts against their own self interest. You don’t need a surgeon general’s warning to see the impending danger of Trump.
Sadly, his supporters will watch their American Dream go up in smoke.
© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2018.
Envisioning The American Dream 
A bruising essay. Once again you have unearthed a fascinating thread to mid-century culture.
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It was simply irresistable
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Always thought-provoking posts Sally.
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Yes. Loyalty has a price. I wonder how much Republicans & the poor working class are willing to pay.
These Americans didn’t read the fine print to see what they were buying. And because of that, we’re all going to pay for this mess. In the end, it’s just a pyrrhic victory. [a Pyrrhic victory is a battlefield triumph that comes at so great a cost that it proves to be more ruinous for the victor.] 😦
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You are quite spot on
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Obviously a Hillary Supporter LMAO You would look good as a Black eyed, Tareyton model Sally! 😀
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The only people tarnishing our reputations are liberals jumping to conclusions about our beliefs, without even considering facts or context. So yes, I would rather keep my morals than my reputation.
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