The Truth Bender Trump

On the CNN show Reliable Sources yesterday (11-26-17), the host, Brian Stelter, discussed the gradations of truth we get from our 45th President. With the backdrop of dozens of sexual harassment accusers, along with the Republican conundrum of what happens with Roy Moore in Alabama, now would be a good time to have some moral leadership in the White House. Sadly, it’s not there.

Interestingly, the word “truth(s)” is used only once in the Declaration of Independence and not at all in the Bill of Rights. The founding fathers used the word “truths” in the Declaration in this context, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” They assumed that all the things they wrote were true. Their legal documents mocked the King of England with the words “all men being equal,” meaning no one person could or should rise to the level of royalty.

It is abundantly clear to anyone who reads the newspaper, or finds credible content on the internet, or perhaps spends time watching some of the better reported TV news, that Donald J. Trump lies. He bubbles up his most uncensored feelings on Twitter, while saving the teleprompter for those rare moments when he needs to be believed. In short, Trump weakest tactic is his deal making. Said more directly, he’s a lousy salesman.

The American public accepts a certain amount of hyperbole and exaggeration from a pitchman. We’ve been conned by the best over the years, but Trump is usually light on the proof of what he sells us. When explaining the travel ban, he dipped so low to call it a Muslim Ban, rather than simply presenting some hard facts about the burden that immigration places on our government.

When pitching for healthcare change, he didn’t present a single crystal-clear reason why this was good for people other than the Republican party members. In the end, his cheerleading wasn’t convincing and proved his lack of awareness of what was in the bill.

When presenting tax reform to the American public, he immediately told us how bad it would be for him. Not only was that an outright lie, but the net result of the new tax cuts would benefit corporations far more than citizens. Trump’s offspring would pocket billions after his death because of this proposed “tax reform.”

Trump is focused on the number of pages in a revised tax return, rather than how this change would help people and make a difference in their individual lives. Hard facts tend to get in the way in politics, while creating a solid foundation for the argument is paramount when selling public policy. Trump waved around a one-page House proposal for the tax return, while the bill itself contained more than 400 pages. Some reform.

From the man who fabricated his own Time magazine cover to hang in his golf clubs, comes this beauty of a tweet: “Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named “Man (Person) of the Year,” like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!” Time magazine executives took the time to explain to the President that isn’t how it works, but this doesn’t matter to Trump. He’s trying to explain to the dumb kids in his base why his grotesque face won’t be on Time’s cover this year.

From asking for a “thank you” from the arrested UCLA basketball players, to his boastful routines, one might remind the evangelicals to reread this passage from Proverbs 11:2-4 in the Holy Bible: “Proud and boastful people will be shamed, but wisdom stays with those who are modest and humble. Good people are guided by their honesty, but crooks who lie and cheat will ruin themselves. Money is worthless when you face God’s punishment, but living right will save you from death.”

Our great Orange Leader has convinced 30% of the population that everything he says is the truth. No one from that group cares about his lies, his sexual harassments or his ongoing deceptions.

As he bends the truth and attacks the press, Trump creates a martyr syndrome. He is the underdog. This man will not be brought down by his lies, but instead by the result of his actions. He sees the United States of America as a monetary utopia, where power, money and fame twirl together into a murky gray self-rewarding reality. He wants to remake our country into his ugly image.

When people finally realize that all his actions are for him, and him alone, there will be another revolution. That will happen when 70% of the American electorate finally take their country back. Only then will the middle class get a better deal. Meanwhile, we must wait and monitor this raving lunatic.


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