Focus: Donald Trump - Mar 13, 2016

I think Bernie Sanders should refrain from calling Trump names like evil, fascist, racist, bigot, etc. Although Trump's words are hash, extreme, sometimes offensive, criticizing his views on the issues should not equal to insulting him. This means waging a positive campaign and not indulging in personal attacks. We must avoid to debase the political debate to a brawl. 

Trump's political positions should be criticized for what they really are and not distorted. For instance he said that the worst criminal elements of the Mexican society cross the border to enter U.S.. This statement is wrong but does not necessarily mean that Trump is anti-Mexican. He said that he would "temporarily" block all Muslim to enter U.S. due to the spread of the Islamic State. This measure is wrong but it does not necessarily mean that he is anti-Muslim. Finally, contrary to the hawkish attitude of Republican opponents and Hillary Clinton, Trump's foreign policy towards Russia, Syria, Libya and Ukraine is remarkably dovish, advocating against violent regime change which is at the root of the current world crisis.

Trump's supporters are mostly low income people who, in the future, may support Sanders' policies directed at addressing social reforms and economic inequality, i.e. the scandalous accumulation of wealth in the hands of the rich at the expense of the whole nation. Insulting Trump is perceived as insulting his supporters and may generate sympathy towards him. Sanders should not endorse or justify the Chicago protest that forced Trump to cancel the rally over security concerns when protesters clashed with his supporters inside an arena where he was to speak. "We came in here and we wanted to shut this down”, said a protester. Trump and his supporters must be allowed to freely speech and assemble with no threats.

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