A lot of pundits tweeting about Trump’s diagnosis have no experience or desire to evaluate ableism in news media.
Many more have an active hand in perpetuating it. I am begging you all to listen to disabled people on how this would be used.
Thread 🧵
Many more have an active hand in perpetuating it. I am begging you all to listen to disabled people on how this would be used.
Thread 🧵
Let’s assume that all of the conspiracy theories as to why his diagnosis could have been faked don’t matter and that without a shadow of a doubt, he is 100% confirmed and believed to have COVID.
Here are 3 scenarios regarding his ailment and how it will play out in media.
Here are 3 scenarios regarding his ailment and how it will play out in media.
1. He recovers fully and downplays the effects of the virus. His supporters continue to gaslight the public about the veracity of the virus and they make him into a folk hero for “overcoming” his diagnosis. They will effectively erase his record as president and substitute in
A “beating covid” storyline. They won’t bring up anything else he’s done and that will be the entirety of what they talk about.
2. He “doesn’t come back” from the virus and they blame Dems for the effects the virus had on him. They break out into violence because “the Dems”
2. He “doesn’t come back” from the virus and they blame Dems for the effects the virus had on him. They break out into violence because “the Dems”
Did it to him and were in a conspiracy all along to perpetuate biological warfare. They enact domestic terrorism in retaliation.
3. He becomes disabled in which there are two scenarios:
A. The overcoming narrative still applies and people in INCREASING NUMBERS rally around him
3. He becomes disabled in which there are two scenarios:
A. The overcoming narrative still applies and people in INCREASING NUMBERS rally around him
Because of the inspirational narrative of him “governing with a disability” and “understanding humanity now that he’s lived through such a terrible ordeal.” Dems are again demonized for bringing up his actual record and he wins the election in a landslide.
B. His governance
B. His governance
Shows marked evidence of sliding because of disability even to his supporters and the GOP tries to find an alternative candidate at the last minute to “let him live the rest of his days in peace.”
All three of these scenarios are the exact reason why his diagnosis needs to
All three of these scenarios are the exact reason why his diagnosis needs to
Be relentlessly tied to his Own actions/inaction. Use this as an opening to the rest of his record.
Also continue to talk about the rallies and donors who were exposed because of his carelessness. Ruin those relationships.
You have to be very careful about how you talk about
Also continue to talk about the rallies and donors who were exposed because of his carelessness. Ruin those relationships.
You have to be very careful about how you talk about
This because resorting to ableism usually comes back to haunt you.
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