Although it is now accepted as "fact" that Hillary Clinton is a pathological liar, nothing she says or does will ever convince some Americans that it is genuine or necessary for the country. Hence, if she is elected, so many will claim "She's not my president!" "I didn't vote for her!" And on the Trump side, a populist anti-government message is craftily conveyed wherein not only will Clinton supporters shy away from supporting a President Trump, but Congress itself may ignore him. Why? Because Trump and many of his supporters have a fundamental misunderstanding when it comes to how the government actually is structured.
With the recent hoopla over the refusal by professional athletes to stand for the National Anthem, a lot of folks scream outrage. What's your point Rubin, so what? It matters because many that claim "spoiled athletes protesting against the Flag - what a disgrace!" don't seem to realize their own hypocrisy on the matter. You see, Donald Trump's entire political campaign is based upon a notion that America is no longer great. His political mantra that they proudly promote is "Make America Great Again!" Which begs the obvious question. If protesting what one sees as a social wrong while exercising their First Amendment Right of Free Speech is so "Un-American", how can those that claim America is not great be allowed a pass? I mean, if you cannot fathom any perceived disrespect towards her, how come you cannot call out those that claim America isn't great anymore? Isn't that a sign of disrespect towards our Flag and Anthem?
"Make America Great Again!" What does that really mean? To me, its a claim that America is no longer great - and that is simply a notion I will not accept. So where is the public angst towards those that openly claim America "sucks" and needs to be improved? There you go again Rubin, NO ONE said America sucks. But how do you justify saying America needs to be great again without recognizing the inherent slam against the America we know (and I love) today? We do need to improve America - by improving the quality of life of all (including education, environment, political empowerment, etc.). Yet if so many in America believe she is no longer great, than why do so many of them vociferously claim that those that don't stand for the Anthem or the Flag consider "leaving the country?" But when did America lose its status as Great? Could it be when everyone became afforded Equal Protection? Having the right to choose when it comes to abortion? Having the same rights to a quality education? Access to the voting booth? What time in America do they want to go back to if America isn't still great today?
Over the weekend a full-page advertisement ran in many newspapers. The ad was sponsored by a Super PAC calling itself "Save America From Its Government." That title banner of the ad? "OBAMACARE: A CRASH COURSE IN GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCY. The first portion of the ad rails against ObamaCare as the cause for "$500 band-aids and $1,000 Aspirin." Seriously! It also mentions that Hillary Clinton can't be believed. Why? "Do you think the doctor who recently visited her at home and diagnosed pneumonia was paid by Obamacare? First, Clinton was diagnosed the Friday before she had to be seen at her daughter's home on 9/11. Second, their claim that ObamaCare is the sole problem for the ills of the medical system is both disingenuous and naive. According to multiple sources, out of the approximately 318 Million Americans, only approximately 11.3 million Americans enrolled in the program (See: www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/01/07/more-than-11-3-million-americans-signed-up-for-obamacare-report-says/). So why try to convince Americans that it alone is the cause for the high cost of doctors and treatment? Because cynically they know Americans are easily duped. Make American Great Again right? Who needs ObamaCare? I don't have ObamaCare insurance, neither do any of my friends. So how is it that so many criticize it without even having it?
The ad goes on to claim that the government has taken over the home financing industry. The ad reads, "The total costs to homeowners, including increased taxes for government involvement, will simply increase." Huh? The mortgage crisis was in large part of the Banking scheme left unregulated. Is that what the ad is supporting - allowing the same crooks back into the game - to operate free of regulation? Also, last I checked, ALL monies used to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been paid back - PLUS. (See: projects.propublica.org/bailout/). So what's wrong here? Their claim is that government involvement in home loans will crush taxpayers, yet in reality, the government has profited from the turn-around. Go figure?
The next claim? Obama "Doubled" our national debt! Really? Crash course on the Constitution folks. See Article I, Section 8. "All revenue measures (that means spending folks) must initiate in the House of Representatives!" In other words, all debt incurred under Obama's presidency came from the work of Congress, not the President. And who has been in control of Congress during Obama's terms? Mostly the GOP. (See: www.reference.com/government-politics/political-party-controls-congress-291f0a7a9cb3d9c1). So what gives? The icing on the top? Somehow the increase in our national debt directly benefited Hillary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation! "The Clintons ended up with a multi-BILLION-dollar, family run foundation that spends millions to pay for Hillary's private jet travel. What did YOU get other than higher taxes and more national debt?" Serious! These people claim the run-up of our national debt has been to provide money for Hillary's jet travel. Yet, how many will honestly discern the lies of this ad? It's far too easy to accept it if you viscerally believe Clinton is evil. But Rubin, thus far there has been no mention of Trump, so this ad is just an expression of a groups political views. Keep reading...
The ad goes on to claim (somehow) that Communist Russia could not properly provide shoes for its citizens. It asks; "How can people believe the government can provide better healthcare, or provide better home financing, when government could never provide a better pair of shoes? These "proud Americans" seem now to believe and want others to believe that America's government is actually "Communist!" It goes on to ask, "Is America a communist country? Or is it the land of the free and the home of the brave?" The home of freedom and of the American dream ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! The kicker? It then reads; "VOTE TRUMP!"
And there you have it. According to these folks and their supporters, America is a Communist country. We lost everything to Clinton. Voting Trump is the only answer. Except this line of lies and manipulation of the feeble minded and ignorant is deplorable. Yes, I said it. Instead of chastising athletes for exercising their rights to express disappointment in our society's stance on racial equality, some openly give these Trump supporters a pass. Sorry, I won't. I stand with America. I stand with anyone who believes America is great, regardless of our hiccups. I support the right of these misguided folks to express themselves - but I don't support misleading, disingenuous and unpatriotic rhetoric all in an effort to corral support for a candidate that clearly has a skewed view of the World and of the United States. The Super-PAC promoting this nonsense? Out of Plano, Texas.
As President Theodore Roosevelt once wrote; "The most practical kind of politics is the politics of decency."
Will Americans ever be able to come back together? If we do, it won't be from being divisive, but through mutual civility, decency and independent thinking. Have a great week!