To the Editor:
The stated reason for the #Never Trump movement was the perceived notion that Donald Trump did not win the 2016 presidential election. This assertion was predicated on a claim that Hillary Clinton had won 3,000,000 more of the popular vote. It’s curious however, that the left ignores that Donald Trump won more counties than Hillary Clinton. Perhaps the reason the left chooses to ignore this statistic is because the 500 Clinton counties comprise two thirds of our GDP.
It is a fact that we vote our pocketbooks. Clinton’s support in these 500 counties identifies Clinton’s supporters as the Establishment (elites, Administrative State, internationalist, the 1 percent), the “fat cats” as defined by Barrack Obama. Clinton elites lead the resistance to Trump’s policies trade, regulations, immigration, the environment, etc. They do so because Trump’s “Country First” agenda conflicts with their international agenda. And, it is this international agenda which has short changed many average Americans. But real people don’t live the statistical averages they live where they live and their focus is on their needs and that of their families. Hence those average American voters saw in Trump someone who understood their plight and civilly engaged in the political process casting their vote for a change in direction.
The surprising election upset explains why the leaders on the left choose to take their battle to the streets rather than in Congressional chambers. Tom Watson, Sr. wrote “Knowledge is the result of thought and thought is the key to success.” Genuine thought is obfuscated when the left continues their mau-mauing resulting in a continuous spiral of hysterics and violence. It’s clear by action and deed many on the left ignore or lack an understanding and appreciation regarding the Constitution and the rule of law.
I do not feel an obligation or a need to defend Trump. My purpose here is to underscore the danger in manipulation and the creation of tabloid narrative by the media. We have reached that nadir moment when we no longer believe anything being reported. Listening solely to the liberal media one would believe that the only thing Trump has created is chaos. Trump’s critics call him a compulsive liar, yet he has acted upon 64 percent of his policy ideas proposed in Heritage Foundation “Mandate for Leadership,” while Ronald Reagan by comparison completed only 49 percent. He said he would cut taxes and regulations and he did. He said he would walk away from the Paris Accord and he did and the sky didn’t fall. He said the Iranian deal was bad for America and he walked, wisely resuming our earlier position of imposing sanctions. Trump said he would move the US Embassy to Jerusalem and he did. Trump said he would boost defense spending and he did. Despite weak attempts by two previous Administrations, Trump said he was going to push NATO members to honor their 2% commitment and he did. Is there a better message to send to our mutual enemies then we are united and committed to a strong defense?
The elitist left also fights Trump on immigration. They are eloquent in their expression of sympathy toward vulnerable people. Yet, these are the same elites who hire immigrants to mow their lawn, nanny their kids, build their houses, work their fields at lower market wages.
The Supreme Court vacancy was certain to be met with manifest resistance and it is just another example of the left’s dossier mentality. They initially attempted a fearmongering campaign demanding Brett Kavanaugh speak to how he would vote Roe v Wade and Obergefell. Yet, since Ruth Ginsburg’s appointment in 1993, the “Ginsburg Rule” of “no hints”, “no forecasts”, “no previews” has stood.
The left, aware that Kavanaugh’s irreproachable pedigree is going to be difficult to penetrate begin their smear campaign. Suddenly an unwritten dossier of sorts rises above the horizon and the muckrakers began advancing spacious and unsubstantiated claims. Kavanaugh clerked (1990-91) for Judge Alex Kozinski. Judge Kozinski has been accused by a number of woman of harassing behavior. The left wing Ultraviolet took it upon themselves to circulate a memo demanding the Democrat Senate investigate whether Kavanaugh knew of Kozinski’s behaviors. Another tired meme being pushed without a shred of evidence.
What you won’t hear from the left is Yale Professor Amy Chua account of the par excellence mentoring record of Kavanaugh’s judicial clerk picks. For many years, and unlike other Judges who use ideological test, Kavanaugh’s selection have been based on top of the class grades. As a result, his clerks have been widely diverse in gender race, ethnicity and ideology. What you won’t hear also from the left is that it is not Kavanaugh they fear but the US Constitution.
There is no doubt that Washington hasn’t seen a president like this since Andrew Jackson. Trump is brash, assertive, direct and chaotic in style. He sometimes leaves people with more questions than he answers, but then hasn’t that been his intended modus operandi for years? However, what he has not been as his critics claim, is always wrong. Serious people don’t deal in absolutes. And serious people apply good faith methods of fairness, benefit of the doubt and an opportunity to debate in hopes of bridging a truth. When do you suppose the left will cease their #NeverTrump political campaign and begin to debate and run on the substantive issues relevant to voters?
Dennis Petrucelli
Village of Bonnybrook
