Way to go, Trump
 

I'd venture that the scumbag assailants weren't too fond of Hispanics long before before Trump opened his yap. He gets his support from those who hold such views. He doesn't create those views.

That said, Trump is indeed a blowhard @sshole and a gift to Democrats.

I'm sure you are right about them holding that view long before they heard it from Trump. But, hearing it from a presidential candidate legitimizes it..... In a sense, giving them permission to take action.

In their own twisted minds perhaps. It won't keep them out of jail though.

Agreed.

^^This^^

Trump makes the racists feel a sense of empowerment and liberation. It isn't just Trump, of course, but he's the one currently out in front on this racially based nativism.

"Some of my supporters are passionate" Trump says in response. Horribly irresponsible. Such excusing reads as a wink and a 'go get 'em' to the passionate folk in question.

Agreed horrible response.

Agreed.

Although what these morons have done is deplorable and they deserve serious jail time. I don't blame trump. Trump is an idiot and a blowhard, but these Muppets actions are there own. They're just looking for an excuse and would have probably done it anyway.

I know a lot of people who have been saying what Trump has vocalised for years and as stupid and racist as they are they still never attacked anyone.

To be clear. Trump is a giant douche.

https://hrexach.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/words.jpg

And here is proof. Trump is a loose cannon and his entertainment value will get tiresome at this rate.

Maybe they would have done it anyway--and maybe not. We can't know, so you're right that we can't say that Trump is directly responsible. But we can say that his rhetoric weighed on the wrong side in these guy's decision-making. In fact, the one guy offered Trump's verbal attacks as an excuse! So we have good reason to observe, as Boreas did, that "hearing it from a presidential candidate legitimizes it..... In a sense, giving them permission to take action."

And I observe that Trump's reaction, just smiling and calling the fellows nothing worse than 'passionate,' irresponsibly fails to cancel such permission. In fact, I'd say he in effect praised them, with faint damns. The indulgent smile will be felt as approval, by guys with anti-Hispanic 'passion.' And Trump will get approval back. And he knows it, and is counting on it.

What does he care if a Hispanic bum or two get assaulted?

Disturbing.

Guys, the veil between the far right wings façade and the realities of it's true nature wears thinner by the day. These people are NOT and have never been what they claim they are. They put forth a pious "Christian" face, but think about it...........

We've all met people who support these extreme views.........

What is that stench?

Very well put, Don.