Presidents who have a sense of limited presidential power
The Times gently points out that Trump isn’t in a position to tell us what hiking gear to buy.
L.L. Bean, the Maine retailer known for its boots, jackets and preppy New England aesthetic, has found itself embroiled in a partisan battle that Donald J. Trump reignited on Thursday with a tweet.
Faced with a boycott over a Bean family member’s contribution to Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, Shawn Gorman, L.L. Bean’s executive chairman, declared four days ago that “we stay out of politics.”
But then Trump perpetrated that grotesque tweet:
Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean. @LBPerfectMaine
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2017
His tweet appeared to be responding to the thousands of dollars in donations that Linda Bean, who is a granddaughter of the company’s founder, offered during his presidential campaign. The donations turned out to be illegal.
They turned out to be illegal because they were to a political action committee aka a PAC, and donations to PACs as opposed to super PACs are capped, and she was over the cap. Don’t ask me to explain, I think our election laws are ridiculous and corrupt and shaming.
The company distanced itself from Linda Bean and said it “does not endorse political candidates, make political contributions or support any political agenda.”
As for Trump’s crass “Buy L.L. Bean” command on Twitter…
Federal law prohibits employees of the government’s executive branch from endorsing products, but the rule does not apply to the president or the president-elect.
It’s unavoidable that American leaders would have personal preferences for products — President Obama famously loved his BlackBerry — but publicly suggesting that Americans buy them is highly unusual, said Michael Beschloss, a presidential historian.
“It’s rare, if ever, that presidents do this,” he said. “In general, presidents who have a sense of limited presidential power do not want to extend that power to the point of suggesting to Americans which products to buy.”
Normal presidents understand that they’re not suddenly our Daddy and entitled to tell us all what to do in every particular. Trump is not a normal president or human being.
Is anyone sensible in charge of his handy Handy, as the German idiom goes? Maybe discharge that phony phone, to untweetify very bigly. (Never say disable — just look at it!) Perhaps lock it with the nuke codes? NOOooo
That would be nice, but clearly no such person is.
“Normal presidents” have an intellectual age >> 3
But I repeat yourself ;-)
Meanwhile, one of the companies I regularly buy from, Penzey’s Spices, has been sending out letters of encouragement on opposing the rise of such a horrid individual in this country. Dear LLBean–if you’re not actively opposing the fascists, you’re part of the problem.
LL Bean – dissociation is one of your better options. My guess is a sizable section of your market is not a fan of the tyrannical scavenger who will soon be delivering vitriol to most citizens of this planet.
Agreed. Also, much of the rest of LL Bean market has probably already stockpiled the stuff for fan-hitting-day.
On the other hand, consider the Anti-Midas touch — venom has been discharged already. Much will get worse before it gets back closer to normal again.
I do know that I never bought any Jelly Bellies after the Reagan administration.
Full disclosure: I never bought any Jelly Bellies BEFORE the Reagan administration, either. I despise Jelly beans.
And in my other coincidence of the day: my faithful, durable (purchased in 1997 from the outlet in Conway, NH) LL Bean backpack is hanging right here, after bearing my books and lunch to, around, and home from school today. Is there any good thing Trump can’t soil?
#8
Certainly not good quality Russian bed linen (allegedly).
Well you didn’t buy it at Trump’s behest, so I declare it washed clean of sin.
https://www.facebook.com/144310995587370/photos/pb.144310995587370.-2207520000.1484512643./1413193542032436/?type=3&theater