Presidential elections reflect voter concerns, as well as candidate personalities. In addition, national election results often reflect changing American norms. While the 2018 mid-term election has been touted as the year of the woman, it also mirrors our collective concern about violence against women -- the rape culture. This heightened awareness has impacted the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.
It's useful to consider how we got to this moment. The 2016 presidential campaign pitted two unpopular candidates: Hillary Clinton with a reputation for lying and calculated ambition; and Donald Trump with a reputation for sexual abuse and bullying. Crooked Hillary versus "p*ssy grabber" Trump.
In retrospect it would have been better if voters had pushed the "none of the above" button and left the US without a president until two more acceptable candidates were presented. Sadly, that wasn't an option and Donald Trump narrowly won the election. One way to interpret this outcome is that voters disliked crooked Hillary more than "p*ssy grabber" Trump. Whatever the reason, Trump, in effect, got a pass on his sexist behavior.
608 days of a Trump presidency indicate that Donald hasn't changed his ways. He hasn't grown into the job as many voters hoped. He's still the same bully, liar, racist and sexist he was during the presidential campaign. He still has the same poor judgment and problems with impulse control.
Since moving into the White House, Trump has coarsened the public discourse and normalized what most of us believed -- before the election -- was outrageous conduct. He's brought a whole range of deviant behaviors out of the closet and into primetime. Among these behaviors are varieties of sexual abuse -- Trump's interpretation of the rape culture.
Many of Trump's defenders, when asked about a sordid Trump incident -- such as his "grab them by the p*ssy" comments or his affair with Stormy Daniels -- reply that because the events happened before the election they do not count. The GOP position seems to be that since Trump is now President his episodes of sexual abuse no longer matter. Republicans claim that Trump was redeemed by the 2016 election.
This is the same logic used by the GOP to defend Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh from accusations that, as a teenager, he assaulted a young woman. Republicans argue: whatever happened, it was a long time ago and Kavanaugh has been redeemed by his work as a lawyer and judge.
As a liberal Christian, I believe in redemption. But not redemption by magic. Not the blanket type of redemption that says, "Jesus died for your sins and therefore, whatever you do, you are forgiven." (Redemption without repentance.) And certainly not the form of redemption that says, "The GOP forgives you and, therefore, all your sins are washed away."
I believe in redemption through good works. First an individual acknowledges their sin or transgression or offense. Next they seek to make amends by, among other things, apologizing to the person they offended.
This is the same process described in the AA twelve steps: 4.) Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 8.) Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 9.) Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
I do not believe that Donald Trump has been redeemed. (This shouldn't be open for debate.) Trump is an unrepentant sexual predator. (Among other things.)
When confronted with evidence of a transgression, Trump's modus operandi has not been to accept responsibility, but instead to aggressively deny the charges and attack the complainants. Trump has not made amends, unless one considers monetary payoffs -- such as those negotiated by Trump attorney Michael Cohen -- as amends. (They're not.)
Donald Trump is an unrepentant sexual predator. (I know I'm repeating myself but I believe we should all be shouting this from the rooftops.) Rather than seek redemption, Trump has continued his deviant behavior, augmented by lying and bullying. He has not been redeemed and he doesn't deserve "a get out of jail free" card.
Neither does his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.
It's time to declaim the rape culture that normalizes sexual assaults on women. It's time for American men to call out sexual predators such as Trump and Kavanaugh. It's time to treat women with respect. And it's time for real Christians to stand up for the morality of Jesus of Nazareth.
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