All in the Family was initially noticed in January of 1971 and changed the appearance of television. The #1 series from 1971 until 1976 dealt with contentious topics in lifelike ways.
The series focused on the Bunker family living at 704 Houser Street in Queens, New York. Archie Bunker, the central character, was television’s most notorious bigot, he was crass and rude. Yet, he was still lovable, with a light side just below his gruff exterior. Edith Bunker, his slightly confused wife whom he named “Dingbat”, put up with Archie and had endearing traits about her that made her an unforgettable figure. Also, included in the Bunker household were Archie and Edith’s daughter, Gloria, and her hubby Mike, or “Meathead” as Archie labeled him.
Donald Trump is appealing to the “Archie Bunker types of the nation” who know they’re getting “screwed,” billionaire Carl Icahn told CNBC’s “Fast Money” on Tuesday.
Icahn claims he didn’t mean comparing devotees of the Republican nominee to Archie Bunker in a “derogatory way.”
“Let’s be clear. Archie Bunker was a working-class guy with limited education. He wasn’t sure where his next check was coming from. Nor was he confident that he was able to keep a job.”
“Our country can’t exist when the government is at war with business,” Icahn said.
An activist investor, Icahn made his billions buy stakes in corporations such as RJR Nabisco, Texaco, and Lions Gate Entertainment.
Is It “The End of the World As We Know It”?
“If Trump doesn’t win we have a significant challenge in our nation,” Icahn told CNN. “We won’t have any work for the working class.”
Icahn recognizes several defects in the country’s economics: sluggish growth, flat wages and too little production combined with over-regulation by the government.
“You can’t have a state battling corporations. This is what we see in our nation,” Icahn said. He believes Trump should begin by improving the Environmental Protection Agency.
Icahn has been a supporter of Trump since the beginnings of the real estate tycoon’s battle for The White House. Trump has often indicated his desires for Icahn as his Treasury Secretary or to lead his team in renegotiating America’s deals with China.
Despite Icahn’s repeated statements that there’s “no way,” he would accept a position in a Trump administration, he proceeds to come to Trump’s support. Icahn has been working as a substitute for Trump in the identical way Warren Buffett has stumped for Clinton.
Why Icahn Doesn’t Join Trump’s Squad
If Icahn is such a good “corner man” for Trump, why has he turned down invitations to enter the candidate’s economic advisory council?
Simple. Icahn is thinking about funding another Super PAC; this one focused on regulatory reform.
This would be Icahn’s second Super PAC. The first had an opening commitment of $150 million and targeted “tax inversions,” which happen when a business moves its headquarters offshore to take advantage of lower tax rates.
“Mr. Icahn turned down the chance to join the Trump campaign because we are still considering funding our own Super PAC focused on regulatory reform,” said Jesse Lynn, general counsel to Icahn.
“Federal Election Commission rules would limit our activity if Mr. Icahn became directly involved in the campaign,” Lynn said.
Are Trump Supporters REALLY Archie Bunker Types?
All in the Family’s creator, Norman Lear seems to agree with Icahn’s assessment of Trump supporters.
“He IS Archie Bunker,” Lear said about Trump. “I think of Trump as the middle finger of the American right hand. Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, can we all agree that this is bad for America?”