If we know anything about Donald Trump it is his concepts of morality, decency, and the truth all dwell somewhere in a bottomless, pitch black, hole. That and they don't resemble anything even remotely human.
The latest proof went on display last week and then again yesterday.
On October 5th four members of the United States Army Special Forces, the Green Berets, were killed during an ambush in Niger. Mr. Trump--who has spent much of his time the last few weeks howling about NFL players kneeling, "disrespectfully," during the national anthem--honored the return of their remains to America by playing a round of golf.
A little over 24 hours ago a press conference of sorts was held on the White House grounds. In the middle of the proceedings he was asked why he hadn't publicly spoken about the deaths of the four men, or offered their families his personal condolences.
The Big Orange Guy didn't even pause before delivering a grotesque explanation. He was, he said, going to send the families letters which had been drafted over the weekend. Then he added, "If you look at President Obama and other presidents, most of them didn't make calls. (to the families of service members killed in action) A lot of them didn't make calls. I like to call when it's appropriate, when I think I am able to do it."
That's right, the President of the United States offered us nothing more than a variation of the old, I left my class assignment at home, besides no one else turned in theirs either, excuse.
His lie was so incredibly transparent, not to mention fetid, he was challenged only a scant few seconds later. El Don's next response was classic 21st century bullshit. He claimed he was only repeating what he had been told--which, ultimately, is just another way of saying he got his facts from reading Facebook. In the end he gave us a moment of song and dance and admitted, Obama and other presidents, "probably," did write letters and "sometimes," call.
That great bird of prey known as Twitter immediately took wing. Obama's former Deputy National Security Advisor, Ben Rhodes posted, "This is an outrageous and disrespectful lie even by Trump standards. Also: Obama never attacked a Gold Star Family."
Former Attorney General Eric Holder wrote, "Stop the damn lying--you're the president. I went to Dover AFB with 44 and saw him comfort the families of both the fallen military & DEA."
General Martin Dempsey (ret.) the 18th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, tweeted, "POTUS 43 & 44 and first ladies cared deeply, worked tirelessly for the serving, the fallen, and their families. Not politics. Sacred Trust."
My personal favorite was written by Alyssa Mastromonaco, Obama's former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. Her tweet described Trump and his statement this way. "That's a fucking lie. To say President Obama (or past presidents) didn't call the family members of soldiers KIA--he's a deranged beast."
Yes he is. He's also in charge.
Which, of course, is why the bar opens early these days.
It's also why the NBA's Gregg Popovich went off during an interview yesterday. Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, told reporter Dave Zirin, "This man in the oval office is a soulless coward who thinks that he can only become large by belittling others."
One can assume Mr. Popovich just made the list Don Trump keeps on the bedside table and will soon be the subject of a series of savage predawn tweets. He shouldn't take them personally though. The way things are going, before long, we're all going to be right there with him.
sic vita est
10-17-17
No comments:
Post a Comment