On his Thursday show, WWL’s Newell Normand offered a critique of Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump’s performance in a Q&A session before the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), and his assessment wasn’t favorable, to say the least.
Normand said Trump’s answers may have sounded good to those already committed to voting for him, but that’s not the audience he needs to win over at this point.
“How much more red meat do you need to feed your base?” Normand asked. “Your base has been fed so much red meat, they now have indigestion.”
Normand joined the chorus of analysts who have criticized Trump for questioning the Blackness of Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee.
“He starts talking about recalling that she claimed she was Indian,” he said. “Well she is. She comes from two cultures. But the bigger question is why would you even go there? Why is that important?”
The conservative host even likened Harris’s dual cultural connections to his own background.
“I grew up in a French culture and in a Spanish culture,” he said. “I understand the conflicts that exist sometimes… In some circles you might talk more about your growing up in the Hispanic culture because it’s relevant to the conversation. It doesn’t mean you’re holding yourself out as Hispanic to the exclusion of a Cajun or French culture.”
“There's no upside to going there,” he continued. “And quite frankly, it’s just not truthful. It’s a non-issue. Again, playing to his base.
He’s got his base. Does anybody really believe that independents are going to fall his way as a result of that answer? I don't think so… it’s absolutely crazy.”
Normand admitted disappointment in both major Presidential candidates available on the 2024 ballot.
“This is the best that we have to offer? From both parties? This is a shame,” he surmised. “Think about this. We should be angry at both parties that this is the best we have to offer. They are so busy fighting for control. They've lost sight that the most important thing is putting people up that have a high level of intellect. They understand the issues. They have a command of how our government works, of governance, of how to actually run something, of how to treat people. How to get your point across without having to engage in name calling.
“We think that’s cute nowadays. We think it’s meaningful nowadays. We think it’s going to get us to the promised land nowadays, and it’s a mistake.”
You can hear the full segment by clicking the link above.