Monthly Archives: August 2017

That’s not how being “Presidential” works.

 

In a rally in Arizona, President Trump criticized Arizona’s two (Republican) Senators obliquely but unmistakably.  Everyone – both those present and those following in the media – knew what and who he was talking about.  And then he said:

“But, you know, they all said, Mr. President, your speech was so good last night, please, please, Mr. President don’t mention any names. So I won’t. I won’t. No I won’t vote — one vote away, I will not mention any names. Very presidential, isn’t’ it? Very presidential.”

 

I’m sorry – but that’s not how being Presidential works.  If you have to say “look at me, I’m being Presidential”, it’s a safe bet that you’re not, any more than a toddler saying “I’m a BIG boy now” makes him one.

Being presidential means being the leader of the whole country, not just pandering to your base.  Being Presidential means taking the high road – the highest you can find – rather than wallowing in the muck with the bigots and haters.  Being presidential means holding the office of the President of the United States as an honor and a duty to serve, and not as a vehicle for self-aggrandizement.

Here’s what being Presidential might have sounded like:

Sen. McCain and I have our differences on health care.  But he took a principled stand to serve the American people as he thought best.  It was a courageous act on his part, and I respect him for that – and I look forward to working with him and all Congressmen and Senators – on both sides of the aisle – to provide America with the best health care system in the world.”

Of course, Mr. Trump said no such thing.  He seems to be incapable of saying any such thing.

 

Mr. Trump, you are many things.  But Presidential is not one of them.

Dear Alt-right: No, we’re not “anti-white”

To the white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other members of the so-called “alt-right”:

The fact that people oppose you does not make them “anti-white”. Believing that it does suggests a major misconception on your part – namely, that you represent what it means to be “white”.

That’s just stupid.

When you choose to march in the name of bigotry, in the name of intolerance, and in the name of hatred, you are going to be opposed. Not because you’re white – but because you’re a bigot, because you’re racist. and, frankly, because you’re a bunch of assholes. You invite opposition by your actions.

In a similar vein, people who reject your values and stand against you are not “haters”. You seem to have that covered yourself. The fact that we find you rude, crude, and socially unacceptable stems from the fact that, at the core, you are evil. Standing against bigotry in support of tolerance and brotherhood is not hating. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

Don’t misjudge your position. I am among millions of Americans who share the same skin color as you. And we reject you. We disown you. We can’t stop you from hating; we can’t stop you from holding the beliefs that you hold. But we can invite you to STFU and crawl back under the rock you’ve been hiding under these past decades.

You don’t speak for us.