What he faces as a political outsider
Trump, absurdly, today gave a commencement address at a “university.” The fact that it’s not a real university makes it a little less absurd, but the fact that it’s a theocratic pseudo-university makes it more sinister and repellent. The Post has details:
In his first commencement address as president, Donald Trump on Saturday drew a parallel between what he faces as a political outsider in Washington and what he said the Christian graduates of Liberty University can expect to encounter in a secular world.
Aw yeah – he’s a christian martyr and so are they.
Of course being an “outsider” is one thing and being an ignorant reckless narcissistic bully is another.
“Be totally unafraid to challenge entrenched interests and failed power structures,” Trump said. “Does that sound familiar, by the way?”
“Relish the opportunity to be an outsider,” he continued. “Embrace that label. Being an outsider is fine. Embrace the label, because it’s the outsiders who change the world and who make a real and lasting difference.”
“Outsider” – the guy who used his landlord daddy’s money to pile up a real estate fortune. He’s never spent a single hour as a real outsider. He’s widely despised, it’s true, but that’s because he’s a shit human being.
Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty University president and evangelical icon, endorsed Trump in January 2016, calling him “a successful executive and entrepreneur, a wonderful father and a man who I believe can lead our country to greatness again.”
A wonderful father? In what way? He refused to play any part at all in his children’s upbringing; he wouldn’t even go to the park with them. That’s not a wonderful father.
In the fall, after The Washington Post published a 2005 video recording on which Trump could be heard boasting about being able to “do anything” to women and get away with it, a student group called Liberty United Against Trump issued a strong rebuke of the candidate and Falwell.
“We are Liberty students who are disappointed with President Falwell’s endorsement and are tired of being associated with one of the worst presidential candidates in American history,” the group’s statement read. It added that Trump “received a pitiful 90 votes from Liberty students in Virginia’s primary election, a colossal rejection of his campaign.”
Three students authored an opinion piece in The Post, writing that “Trump is the antithesis of our values.”
That was then.
And no one is more of an outsider than a Christian in America! Tread carefully, new graduates. Christians enjoy no power or privilege in the country you will seek your fortunes in.
“it’s the outsiders who change the world and who make a real and lasting difference.”
I’m glad he didn’t specify that the change had to be for the better…
Funny, but my idea of a wonderful father is not a man who sucker punches his son.
Lady M, I don’t suppose you know what that incident was about? I know it was in front of the son’s friends but I don’t know what caused it.
Junior was wearing a Yankees shirt instead of business suit when Senior showed up to see him. The incident was relayed by one of the students that witnessed the incident.
Liberty ‘students,’ another class of fools and knaves.
Nan, thanks for that, and wow! And there was I thinking it might have been over something trivial and not deserving of a tiny fist in the face, but the wrong shirt. I wish I had some pearls right now, I feel a need to clutch.
John the Drunkard: And yet, by that letter, at least, they showed more integrity than any Republican in Congress at this point. I mean, sure, it’s a low bar, but it does show that you can find glimmers of potential improvement in almost any morass if you look hard enough.