Neither Shields, nor Brooks could opine on Trumps comments about Henry Ford made in Michigan on thursday. They gave him the benefit of the doubt for being ignorant of Ford's racism and xenaphobia.
Trump grew up in a household headed by a member of the KKK. Fred Trump was active in that organization in the 1920's, into the '30's. Did not like Africans, Asians, Latinos; eastern, southern, and south eastern Europeans as well. Had it been up to Fred Trump, neither Ivana Trump; nor the current First Lady and her family would have been allowed to immigrate to this country. And of course African Americans, and Jews are included on that list.
Ford was a bigot extraordinaire. Loved Hitler, hated Jews; in the grand tradition of many white businessmen had no problem regularly consulting with George Washington Carver on manufacturing process and operations research to make Ford Motor Company what it became. You would think that Carver would have been a Ford Executive and Board Member, but that genius was taken without proper compensation or acknowledgement. Not even a consideration.
Donald Trump knows the meaning of everything that he says, and means it. He is equally the racist and bigot that both his father and Henry Ford were, and is quite proud of it. Uses these tools as they have always been used to manage American social and economic structure throughout the pre-history and history of this nation. He is nothing new; he is just " out there " with it. Counts on everything that he does as being seen as benign and mitigable because he is a white, wealthy male. At worst, maybe having a bad day; but not really evil. Many of our children are learning from this man. Many an adult who have always wanted to show their overt racist behavior toward other americans now do it because they feel that Trump has given them permission to do so.
.
There is nothing benign about him. If there is any good to be derived from his presence in the White House, it has yet to manifest itself.