Trump Chronicles
WOULD JESUSVOTE FOR TRUMP?
Those who know me chuckled when they first saw me wearing a “What Would Jesus Do” T-shirt. Right, this agnostic, with chapters of his life replete with (mild) depravity and debauchery, has found Jesus?
They thought it was a joke. And even after an earnest explanation that this was not a religious epiphany but more of a lifestyle choice, they still think it’s a joke.
No matter. In the twilight of my life I no longer feel compelled to convince others of anything, much less of my belated attempt to right my life’s wrongs
But let’s address the question: Would Jesus vote for Trump?
The answer is apparent whether or not you are a person of faith. No, Jesus would not vote for Trump. But then, Jesus wouldn’t vote for anyone. Jesus is non-partisan and has much better things to do than support any political candidate.
Seems silly that this question would even be voiced. But recent pronouncements from many who claim to follow Jesus are even beyond silly.
A person who claims to be a person of faith announces, on the evening news, that Trump was sent by God. I had to rewind the video. Did I hear her right?
Her words would have been more credible had she announced that God has visited a plague upon America in the form of Trump. But no, apparently she really believes that God affixed little wings to Trump’s sizeable body and sent him to deliver us from Democrats!
I suppose I shouldn’t have been startled. I have great respect for many Evangelicals and other people of faith who actually live and adhere to their professed values. But it has become ever more apparent that evangelical and other faith-based movements have been infested by charlatans, hypocrites and cult-like individuals whose “Christian” morality is a morality of convenience.
Anyone who would suggest that any God would visit someone as morally bereft and un-Christian-like as Trump upon us as some type of savior, obviously suffers a morality of convenience.
God would not choose as a savior someone who grabs women by the p**sy. God would not choose as a savior someone who has violated many of the Ten Commandments. God would not choose as a savior someone whose mouth drips with hatred.
Okay, don’t take it from me. Take it from scripture.
Quoting scripture is almost as foreign to me as it is to Trump. But I was able to find the following scripture that pretty much sums up why Trump lacks the qualifications to be anyone’s savior.
Proverbs 6:16
“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”
Haughty eyes and a lying tongue? A heart that devises wicked plans and feet that make haste to run to evil? One who bears false witness and sows discord among others?
Sounds like the crafter of this proverb had Trump in mind. Although “hands that shed innocent blood” may be a stretch, if he attains the presidency a second time Trump’s romance with Mass Murderer Putin and other world tyrants and dictators will make him complicit in the shedding of innocent blood.
I won’t stop wearing my “What Would Jesus Do” T-shirt simply because many evangelicals or other professed people of faith have lost their way.
So, What Would Jesus Do when contending with people whose faith and morality twist in the winds of political expedience and gain? He might not condemn them for worshipping false gods, as I have. But I think he would recognize them as worshippers of false gods. And point them to a path that is more consistent with his teachings.
Trump has a penchant for name calling, and a name reserved for Republicans who won’t kiss his…ring, is RINO, Republicans in Name Only.
Trump’s pet name for Republicans inspires a name for his supporters---AINOS, Americans in Name Only.
The phrase is certainly more apt than calling Trump supporters “Make America Great Again” Republicans because that characterization imputes an undeserved motivation—to Make America Great.
First, by any of a number of measures, America has been great from its inception and continues to be great. We don’t need a draft-dodging, self-proclaimed patriot clamoring for a greatness America already enjoys.
Second, the AINOS don’t want to Make America Great. They want to remake America into Trump’s (and their) images.
What images? You name a “phobe” or an “ist” and Trump and his AINOS are it. Xenophobes, homophobes, negrophobes, (yes, that’s a thing, google it!) Mexiphobes (ok that’s not normally a thing, but Trump and his AINOS have made it a thing) narcissists, nihilists, insurrectionists, sexists, misogynists, racists, ad nauseam.
Yes, Trump and his AINOS want an America that looks like them in all their “phobe” and “ist” glory, which makes AINOS a fitting description.
The American Ideal reflects democratic principles of justice, integrity, honesty, generosity and compassion…kindness of the soul and spirit. Who among you would use these adjectives to describe Trump and his AINOS? Trump Republicans, and his AINOS, have become walking caricatures of dishonesty, self-interest, selfishness and mean spiritedness.
To end on a historical note.
History books are being written as we speak. Presidential historians have already spoken. Trump 2020 is the choice for America’s worst president. The only question to be answered in the next poll is whether Trump 2024, if elected, will be the consensus worst president, or the second worst president in history, behind 2020 Trump.
Trump’s AINOS will also be judged by historians. They will be remembered as the “Know-Nothings” of the 21st Century, with some remarkably shared characteristics with the nativist “American Party”, also known as the Know-Nothings, of 19th century politics.
At best, AINOS will be branded as a band of enablers in a dark chapter of American politics who were all too eager to look the other way when the actions of their chosen leader trampled on American ideals of democracy, justice, liberty and compassion.
Instead of wearing MAGA hats or T-shirts, AINOS can wear garb with a scarlet letter “A,” for AINOS. They may proudly flaunt their scarlet “A,” but the benefit to all non-AINOS is that we can give a wide berth to those scarlet-letter-wearing AINOS we may encounter.
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Base: adj. a. lacking or indicating the lack of higher qualities of mind or spirit (Merriam-Webster)
What is the secret of Trump’s charm for his base supporters? How did he ever become the king of the GOP and ascend to the presidency? Why is he still at play in American politics?
These are questions that many Americans have posed--questions that haven’t been answered with any precision.
Foreign observers of American politics have their opinions. They suggest that Trump’s political ascendance was a reflection of America’s fascination with celebrity and wealth. Americans adore their celebrities, whether actors, musicians or reality stars. Americans adore the rich whether a Tech or Tesla millionaire/billionaire. And Americans endow celebrities and the rich with an aura of awe that often defies logic.
How else to explain why actors, wrestlers, stand-up comedians and other celebrities ascend to governor’s houses and even the White House. How else to explain why self-made or daddy-made millionaires and billionaires are given instant credibility as political candidates no matter their lack of political experience, skill or temperament? Americans elect celebrities and the rich to political office no matter how unfit they are for the task.
Another possibility. Some of my friends think Trump’s “charm” is a superficial and visceral response to his in-your-face persona. It’s like the toddler in the grocery store who throws a tantrum and begins shouting: “Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.” Instead of being aghast, onlookers laugh, point and think it’s cute. Trump is the toddler who yells “Fuck” and his supporters point, laugh and think it’s cute.
Trump’s base offers an array of inane rationales for their allegiance.
He is a patriot who will make America great again, they chant. Yes, this draft dodging, war-hero-defaming man who has expressed disdain for those foolish enough to serve our country in uniform, is a patriot? A rich, entitled man who has always placed self-interest before America’s interests, is a patriot? A man who wraps himself in an American flag even as he caters to the world’s democracy-averse, mass murdering dictators, is a patriot?
Equally laughable is their assertion that Trump is a man of God, a man of faith. A man who has lived a morally bereft life is a man of faith? A man who cannot intelligibly quote scripture and for whom the bible is nothing more than a photo-op, or a money-making prop, is a man of faith? A man who makes a mockery of WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) sentiments by almost always doing the opposite of what Jesus would do, is a man of faith?
Finally, they shout, Trump is “one of us.” Trump would be offended if anyone seriously suggested that he is one of you. He considers himself superior to you in every way—intellect, social standing, inherent worth. His life of privilege, self-interest and self-indulgence in no way resembles the life of the average Trump supporter. Your only value to Trump is as a vote.
But, in fact, I think Trump is one of you.
You Trump supporters who carry torches and chant “Jews will not replace us?” Trump thinks you are fine people and he is one of you.
Those of you whose disdain for the American constitution and American institutions allows you to trash the Halls of Congress, attack law enforcement and attempt to halt legitimate electoral processes? Trump empathizes with you and he is one of you.
Those of you who think that foreign countries with non-white populations are “s—t holes” whose migrants are rapists, thieves and murderers? Trump spews such vitriol, whether or not he really believes it, and he is one of you.
Those of you who feel that American tax laws, criminal laws and social conventions don’t apply to you? Trump flaunts tax and sexual misconduct laws, judicial rules and social conventions and he is one of you.
Those of you who relegate women to subordinates and who feel God has endowed you with the right to determine what to do with women’s bodies? Trump treats women’s bodies as his playgrounds and their fates as his to decide, and he is one of you.
So the mystery of Trump’s “charm” for his base is really not a mystery at all. Trump is, in all his bloated, hateful glory, you. You look at Trump and you see your mirror image.
Yes, you are Trump, and he is you.
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