Jack Tame: Dogs, slobs, pigs and Trump

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photo / AP

Opinion

Trump. It's not the hair that keeps me watching, it's the chat. It's the fact so many Americans are happy to accept his descriptions of women as "dogs", "slobs" and "pigs", because he defends himself by blaming political correctness.

True, it's not politically correct to call anyone a slob. But it is also just plain ugly, cruel, childish and not especially presidential. Can you imagine the same thing in New Zealand? Not even Winnie would try that on.

But the PC-Gone-Mad argument gets wheeled out at any opportunity. It's tired and, most often in politics, it's an acknowledgement of personal bigotry rather than a legitimate defence. Well, normally, anyway.

Except new life has been breathed into PC-Gone-Madness by the emergence of a Bias-free Language Guide published by staff and students of the University of New Hampshire. You can't call people "fat" any more. We're all up with that. But, according to the guide, you can't call them "overweight", either.

"People of size" is the recommended term.

It's just as bad for "senior citizens". Apparently, that has the potential to offend. "Persons of advanced age" is supposed to soften the blow.

Rich people are "persons of material wealth" and poor people are "persons who lack advantages that others have".

The guide was published in 2013 to little fanfare but widely reported after being posted on a conservative news site two weeks ago. It even recommends its students avoid the term "American" because it apparently fails to acknowledge South America.

Naturally, the guide has faced a big, fat — oops, sorry — "public rejection of size". And even the university has quickly distanced itself from the publication, which it says is troubling and does not reflect its policy.

The great irony is that those students and staff were trying to make a more understanding and inclusive environment, but in the eyes of Trump's supporters they're legitimising far more bigoted behaviour.

Some influential commentators think Trump has peaked. The first primaries aren't for six months. The general election isn't until November next year. But, if Trump's TV ratings hold, steel yourself for the show. Dog-slob-pig is only the beginning.

• Jack Tame is on Newstalk ZB Saturdays, 9am-midday.