Donald Trump has, in fact, hit on the perfect formula:
1. Note that there are a lot of people who are (a) sick and tired of politicians and the media, and (b) are afraid and angry about stuff (terrorists, job, immigrants, minorities, and/or change).
2. Say outrageous things about stuff that appeal to the emotions of 1b above, increasing their support.
3. When folk criticize your outrageous statements in 2, point out that the critics are just politicians and the media (and "stupid people"), increasing appeal to 1a above.
4. GOTO 2
There's no real obvious way to break that feedback loop, unless Trump manages to go too far for his supporters — though he would seeming need to grievously sin about both 1a and 1b (come across as a politician and as scary) — or until the universe of people supporting him is outnumbered by people who are not in both of those groups.
Trump backers baffled by criticism of his Muslim proposal
GREER, S.C. » As she’s working the counter at a hole-in-the-wall hot dog stand named Rosie’s in upstate South Carolina, Tracy Hooker isn’t interested in debating the merits of Donald Trump’s proposal to temporarily block Muslims from coming into the United States.
I'm afraid this loop is strong. How does one provide a better more appealing message?
+Jon Weber I honestly don't know. Even if Trump implodes through some gaffe too unforgivable even for his followers, their basic motivation remains for someone else (Cruz being the most obvious, possibly Rubio) to pick up — though they're Washington politicians, they play to the same fears and anger in their message.
The only hope I see here is long-term — the GOP as an institution pulling back from the message of fear and resentment they've been pushing at least since the Tea Party first surfaced, and in other ways since the Souther Strategy was first implemented. Or, if that fails, the long road of demographic oblivion as the mostly older, mostly uneducated whites who make up much of that movement continue to dwindle and it stops being worthwhile riling them up for their support.