When National Review writer David French was considering a long-shot run for president as an alternative to Donald Trump, he had little baggage to worry about. He had no name recognition and a resume that squared as the opposite of Trump: an Iraq War veteran, a lawyer and a conservative blogger. His biggest concern was simply that he was a nerd who loved video games.
White supremacists and various racist trolls didn’t see it that way, though. The instant his name was floated as a possible third-party candidate in late spring of 2016, French immediately became a target of their vitriol. So did his 7-year-old daughter, who is African American and whose face was edited into images of gas chambers with a picture of Trump in a Nazi uniform pressing the button to kill her.
In this episode of our “Candidate Confessional” podcast, French details the extent of the attacks he faced in the few days he was considered a potential presidential candidate. And he talks about the psychological toll it took on him and his family.
The comments section of his wife’s blog, for example, became filled with pictures of African-American men and women being murdered or committing suicide.
“It was horrific,” French says. “It was the kind of stuff that had I not been in Iraq and seen worse things with my own eyes, would have been scarring for life. ... Fortunately, I was able to delete it before my wife saw any of it.”
David French considered running as a third-party alternative to Donald Trump, above, in 2016. Before he even made a decision, he faced racist and hateful harassment via the internet. (Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters)
The hate didn’t stop even after he announced that he’d decided not to run for president. His wife got an email from a Trump supporter in Georgia who told the couple it needed to shut up, he says. The writer explained he was a veteran and if they weren’t quiet he knew “which end of the gun the round comes out of.”
Weeks later, his wife was on the phone with her dad when someone hacked into the phone call and started screaming, cursing and making pro-Trump declarations. It was “extremely bizarre,” French says.
The experience gave French a fresh perspective on just how nasty, personal and, at times, scary being directly involved in politics can be. It also prompted a bit of self-reflection. Later in the campaign, he looked through the archives of his own writings to see if he had similarly crossed the line from professional to personal in any of his criticisms.
French acknowledges the online vitriol weighed on his decision of whether to pursue a presidential bid.
“I had this deep conviction that these hateful vicious trolls cannot win,” French says. “That their trolling cannot succeed. You cannot encourage more of this by surrendering to it. ... At the same time, I felt like I had a sacred obligation as a parent to my daughter to protect her, and those two feelings were moving simultaneously through me. And to this day, I would say that the threats were not dispositive in the decision … those two thoughts were going through at the same time but there were other factors that ultimately came into play.”
Listen to the full episode above.
“Candidate Confessional” is produced by Zach Young. To listen to this podcast later, download it on Apple Podcasts. While you’re there, please rate and review our show. To subscribe, visit the following: Apple Podcasts / Acast / RadioPublic / Google Play / Stitcher / RSS
Hmmm, if only there was a subtle way I could show people who use my bathroom which candidate I detest most. Something that could cleverly suggest I disapprove of one of the candidates running for president. A common household item turned into a political statement. Well, until that day comes, there's toilet paper featuring the faces of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. (TakeDumpsWithTrump.com, $7.95 each)
Trump And Clinton Jars Of Horror
It's no coincidence that election season corresponds with Halloween season. Both involve stoking fear and misery in the hearts of people. You can celebrate the horrors of both with these jars that use photos of the candidates and colored water to give the eerie impression that their heads are on your table rather than a silver platter. (LittleJarsOfHorror.com, $25 each, $45 for both)
Political Masks
Political masks are always popular around Halloween since most people think the candidates are hiding something. However, anyone who buys these masks of Trump and Clinton may have to deal with the dreaded question no one wants to get: "What are you, anyway?" The Trump mask looks more like Fox Business personality Lou Dobbs, while the Clinton one looks more like Kathleen Sebelius, the former secretary of Health and Human Services. (SpiritHalloween.com, $19.99 for Clinton mask, $21.99 for Trump mask)
Frankly, this Donald Trump mask is gross, tacky, horrifying ugly and repulsive to look at. Yep, it's a perfect match for the candidate. ($29.99, SpiritHalloween.com)
Trump Clinton Cornhole Games
I know what you're thinking: U.S. elections would be more fun if we voted by tossing bean bags into cornhole boards rather than punching a button or filling in a space on a ballot. Until election officials see the light, you can elect to support your chosen candidate with these campaign-themed cornhole games. Yes, there is a big flaw in the design: You can't toss the bags into Trump or Clinton's mouth. (VictoryTailgate.com, $169.99 each)
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Dolls
It's the candidates as you've never seen them before: Cute, with big eyes and tiny bodies. These Funko dolls of Clinton and Trump allow you to show your support with an added benefit: Their lack of mouths (which means you can't hear them talk). (AllPosters.com, $12.99)
Trump Sucker
One thing you can say about this Trump sucker: It's YUGE! The Trump Lollipop is an incredibly accurate representation of The Donald's trademark combover -- right down to the bizarre orange color. Hopefully, it's more tasteful than the design of Trump's hotels. (ItSugar.com, $7.99)
Cynical Presidential Coin
Presidential candidates try to get out the vote. Their campaigns often bring out the cynics. For those, we have this coin which has the images of Trump and Clinton on each side and the joyful, hopeful message: "We're f*cked either way." (TVStoreOnline.com, $4.95)
Trump And Clinton Action Figures
Want to get your kids to be more political when they play with dolls? Get these action figures! Want to scare them away from playing with toys altogether? Get these action figures! The Hillary action figure comes complete with trademark pantsuit and a hairstyle sure to be criticized in a manner that would never happen to a male action figure. The Trump action figure comes complete with removable hair, "deep pockets he's incapable of opening," and an ever-present middle finger. However, the Trump doll won't even be available until after the election -- a time when many Americans hope Trump won't even be around. (Shop.fctry.com, $19.99 each, $34.99 for both -- not shipping until December)
Donald Trump Whoopie Cushion
This functions like a normal whoopie cushion, but it's actually called a Donald Trump Gas Bag, because we're not saying "whoopie" at any aspect of Trump's candidacy. ($9.99, gas-bags.com/)
Trumpy Cat And Clinton Kitty T-shirts
Politics and cats make for strange fellows, but even these feline-oriented T-shirts of Trump and Clinton will "Meow America Great Again." (AllPosters.com, $18.99 each)
Trump Duck
Donald Trump has made a big splash in politics and now this rubber duck can do the same in your bathtub. Hopefully, the Trump duck won't leave the same kind of stain that the candidate has left on the Republican party. (CelebriDucks.com, $7.99)
Clinton And Trump Cookies
You may think it's hard to swallow some of the things the candidates say, but you won't have trouble swallowing these cookies made to look like Trump and Clinton. They aren't completely accurate: the Clinton cookie isn't wearing a pantsuit and the Trump cookie shows signs of being palatable. (HarvardSweetBoutique, $40 per box)
Trump Bobbleheads
Usually, bobblehead dolls have big heads over tiny bodies. The problem with making a Trump bobblehead doll is that no one is as big-headed as "The Donald." No matter what they do, the head will never be bigger than the real Trump's noggin. (TrumpBobblehead.com, $24.95 each, $39.95 for pair)
Donald Trump Dog Poop Bag
It's hard to tell what holds more crap: Donald Trump or this Trump-themed dog poop bag. Let's call it a draw, but we prefer the bag since we'll be able to get rid of it before November. (DonaldTrumpDogPoopBags.com, $4.99)
Hillary And Trump Glasses
If this election is driving you to drink, better to guzzle via a campaign-themed glass. (ElectionGlass.BeerKnurd.com, $15 each, $25 pair)
Trump Coloring Book
Whether you color yourself red or blue, the Trump Coloring Book is a good way to pass the time between inflammatory Trump tweets. One downside: Trump's bizarre skin tone will make you use every shade of orange crayon. (Overstock.com, $9.30)
Trump Socks With Hair Flip
Can't decide whether to flip off Donald Trump or sock him? These socks that come with actual hair on Trump's head (unlike the real Donald) should satisfy both urges. Don't wash your feet before you put them on. (GumballPoodle.com, $30)
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