What's a cliche?
A trite phrase, a banality, some drug-store philosophy that smells of warmed-over cabbage? Or is it something repeated so often it becomes all of these things because they are true? Based in fact? Somewhere in-between, I suppose, though lately I’m leaning toward the latter.
The nation is surrounded by cliches. We’re knee-deep in ‘em. Some see them as truisms to chuckle about and dismiss, others as something much more, a word or phrase that, while common, makes people squirm. Politics is chock-full of them, perhaps more now than ever before. The flag-waving, hymn-singing, devout-speaking, pure-as-prayer behaviors and utterances that seem tired and predictable, and therefore lose impact or meaning because they are rote. Many seem superficial or lack depth because they simplify complex issues or emotions into generic statements, and soon become just bumper stickers, photo ops, and campaign slogans. They may lack power, or surprise, they may not inspire or even provoke deeper thought, yet many people rely on them to simply navigate their day. More than that, they’re handy little things that make it easy to ignore the details and nuances that are part of everyone’s existence, at least those who have had brushes with critical thinking. Cliches affect the authenticity of communication, and that’s not a good thing.
Donald Trump is a cliche. He lacks any originality. He is superficial and lacks depth. His entire persona is one of oversimplification and shortcuts. He uses this tool to mask any real emotion because he is soulless. Not tough, but remorseless. Not strict but ruthless, something he learned from his mentor, another unfeeling piece of lint named Roy Cohn.
We are all vulnerable beings. At some level, everyone needs to have a sense of belonging, a sense of community. Cults target people who are especially vulnerable, whether from personal struggles or a need for answers to difficult questions. Cults exploit these vulnerabilities by offering a sense of purpose and certainty. Manipulators, like Trump, make it easy for the vulnerable to not think about or worry about the most critical issues facing them. The more marginalized, the better. We have seen many examples of just how harmful and dangerous cults can be. That’s where cliches kick in, the core of Trump’s campaign.
Evangelicals believe that all of us are born with a sinful nature due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden. Sin leads to moral corruption and brokenness. And yet many, maybe even most, have come to believe in Trump, a convicted felon, cheat, morally backrupt man. They, as are we all, vulnerable. But getting his picture taken holding a Bible, albeit as upside down as Alito’s flag, is all they seem to need to believe this walking cliche.