Yes, I have always registered as a Democrat. I was last politically active during the late 1960-1970s when I protested: 1.) for racial equality 2.) for equal rights for women and 3.) against the war in Viet Nam. My politics did not blind me then any more than they do now. I am, after all, a Viet Nam era veteran and given my gender, know for sure that the Army did not draft me.
Apart from Richard Nixon and Watergate, before Trump, I stood behind every U.S. president regardless of their political party. I was honored to briefly meet President Gerald Ford (R) at Fort Bliss, Texas. My thinking was that while you might prefer the other candidate while they are on the campaign trail, once elected; they are our President and Commander-in-Chief. You will not find any posts denigrating former presidents on my Facebook timeline.
Trump is a different story altogether. He is arrogant, corrupt, a wrecking ball on the international socio-political landscape, a racist and a perpetual liar. His administration’s policies harm American citizens, especially our children. Stripping the EPA of clean air and clean water regulations has disastrous consequences. (FYI: A Republican president started the EPA!) Cutting back on housing and food programs that are safety nets for the poor has dire consequences, as is taking funds from public education to fund private schools. Attacking the free press at every opportunity weakens our democracy through the erosion of credibility in legitimate news sources. The Washington Post has it right: “Democracy Dies in Darkness!” Trump’s trade wars are already showing harmful consequences to American farmers and companies. All of this without mentioning Trump’s racist and inhumane immigration policies.
Most egregious are Trump’s attacks against our Justice Department and the intelligence community, and his endless praise of Putin and Russia. The state of California’s economy is more substantial than Russia’s, so he cannot justify his actions by citing possible trade benefits to our country.
Do I despise Trump? Yes. Does my hatred of him color my opinion? Possibly, but it does not change the provable facts of the harms he is doing to the American people. Republicans respond with, “But his policies are working. Look at how great the stock market is doing!” The wealthiest 10% of Americans own 84% of the market, so how does that benefit the average citizen?
All of that said (and I could say more), Trump is the first American president that I am entirely unable to support. If I cannot stand behind a single (Republican) president in my lifetime, does that mean being a “die-hard” Democrat makes me biased? I think not. I think it makes me a realist. Trump is a national and international disaster. I hope I live long enough to see history bear this out. Ω
dottieriley 