SIMPLE & QUICK: Conspiracy theories have always been, but rarely win— believe me

Conspiracy theories have constructed their way into American politics for generations. Was President Zachary Taylor assassinated by his Vice President so to expand slavery? Did the Feds take out Marilyn Monroe because she knew too much about JFK? Did the Bushes start wars to establish a dynasty? All questions that have been asked. None of which ever came to a single answer as these were all more a confluence of events. The Donald, of course, took the absurd and made it mainstream news.

President Trump has promoted conspiracy his whole life. In fact, if a pre-existing conspiratorial narrative did not already exist and Trump needs the messaging, he is known to create one. In his younger days, Donald Trump called reporters using a pseudonym to spread untoward rumors about. . . himself. In fact, one of President Trump’s oldest friends, and alleged co-conspirator, is David Pecker, the former American Media CEO. His most recognized publication is the National Enquirer.

In American politics, every election cycle has one conspiracy that makes it distinct from others. In 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton was alleged to be running a child sex-ring underneath a popular D.C. area pizza shop. In 2008, Barack Obama’s citizenship was questioned in a birther conspiracy. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for president in 2004 was swift-boated.

In politics, it is par for unsubstantiated rumor and palace intrigue to flood the ether, but that swing does not yield a president. Ideas win elections. Answers compel votes. In 2016, candidate Donald John Trump presented a seemingly viable solution for about half of the American electorate. His message was decisive answers: build a wall, cut taxes, replace Obamacare with something better. Feeling financially confident, Americans took that business man gamble they shied away from with Ross Perot in the 90s.

Conspiracy theory will always thrive in politics. It is a space comprised of every day humans put into extraordinary and consequential circumstances. When someone is elected the “most powerful person on Earth,” it is much easier to assume they were “put there” by “powerful people,” whom “colluded” to “pull strings” and “make things happen” then it is to recognize that every vote actual does matter. Of 128,838,342 votes cast in the 2016 General Election, less than 70,000 votes between three states decided the outcome.