Sensitivity is not one of Donald Trump's strong suits. In fact, from the beginning of his campaign, we have been continually reminded of this. His statements at rallies and his tweets are just out there for all to see and review. Except for white non-college graduates, in fact, he has managed to insult or demean every other voting demographic. His response to the horrible events of Orlando, however, have brought him to a new low. The following are his first written responses.
And just for good measure, he posted the same thing on Facebook.
What was missing from his comments were any expressions of sorrow, of condolences, or grief -- comments that every other public figure was making. While we all suspected he was an amoral narcissist, these comments nailed the case.
Suggests that Obama May Have Terrorist Sympathies
Even worse, the day after the shootings, Trump again accused the Obama administration of being "soft" on terror, of refusing to use the term "radical Islamic terrorists." And to drive his point home, he suggested that Obama may have terrorist sympathies.
In the same comments he also suggested that Muslim-Americans were allowing terrorists to live among them without reporting them to authorities.
This man would not stand a chance in even a basic college English comp course. Even 18-year-olds who write essays and give speeches must support their points with factual data. Not this presidential candidate, though.
The GOP Responds -- or Doesn't
The Monday following Trump's statements, reporters on Capitol Hill attempted to get comments from Republican leaders. Mitch McConnell simply said, "I will not be discussing the presidential candidates today." Other lawmakers avoided the press like the plague or responded as McConnell had.
Behind closed doors, however, Republican had to be seething, or at least pacing nervously. Just another day in the campaign of Donald Trump. He had an opportunity to act "presidential" in a time of national crisis and horror, and he blew it completely. Further, he was now making ridiculous accusatory statements. As one GOP lawmaker admitted to Politico,
"[Trump] just blows up everything we want to do... Every time you turn around, he's said something new. It's impossible for us to keep up."
Making such statements in private or under condition of anonymity is simply cowardice. It's time for Republicans to speak out about the disaster that is Donald Trump.
And lest GOP leaders forget, Hillary Clinton, in a campaign event in Ohio the week after Orlando, reminded them how President Bush responded after 9/11. He visited a mosque in New York and assured Muslim-Americans that they were respected and cared about in this country.
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