I
have been at the front of the line criticizing some of our President’s most
outrageous and inappropriate rhetorical misadventures; it is a path that he
travels far too often. But I write today
to praise his recent efforts on two fronts and for all of you, the readers, to
draw your own contrasts on what is actually spoken…as
opposed to what is actually reported.
The
multiple homicides in El Paso and Dayton have created opportunities for many
public figures to exhibit some of their less attractive instincts. The extremists in the anti-gun lobby are
doing their typical “the sky is falling”
shtick while ignoring the fact that there exists much common ground between
many public leaders about some measured and deliberate steps that might be
taken to avoid incidents of this kind. The
extreme pro-gun folks still, even after these public bloodbaths, cannot bring
themselves to trust government restraint if they sit down for compromises on
gun restrictions. When events of this
nature occur, it is common for public figures to shape the event in such a
fashion as to benefit their personal agendas.
Unfortunately, these two events occurred during a Presidential primary
campaign and the majority of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination have
pretty much made complete rear ends out of themselves. I will not dignify the quotes from the
candidates by repeating them; but I do encourage you to do so…after you have
read the balance of this piece. If
nothing else, it will clearly demonstrate to any objective person how truly
shallow these people are.
Barack
Obama did more to set back racial relations in America in eight years than
anyone I can think of. He was presented
with a unique opportunity to help our nation transcend many of the chronic
biases and negative racial attitudes that are ingrained in our culture and
society. He could have managed a
presidential honeymoon with Congress of indeterminate length. Instead, he chose a path of narcissistic
pride and arrogance, deepened the chasms between citizens of different races
and ethnic backgrounds, and used identity politics to strengthen his political
hand in a self-serving and shameless fashion.
He was a small man. He becomes smaller
as his time recedes into history. It is
striking to see how Obama, for all of his executive failures, continues to be glorified
by many of his supporters while President Trump, for all of his flaws, cannot get one kind word from any
of the Democrats or liberal media. Let
us for one moment simply remove the filter through which most of get our news. Let us simply read the actual words spoken by
these two men about the same events.
Then let us each decide who unites and who divides. Keep in mind that while he was President for two full terms, the Democrats held clear
majorities in both Houses of Congress for several years. They could have passed any…damn…gun...law…they…wanted.
Barack
Obama:
President
Trump:
Good morning. My fellow Americans, this morning, our
nation is overcome with shock, horror, and sorrow. This weekend, more
than 80 people were killed or wounded in two evil attacks.
On Saturday morning, in El Paso, Texas, a wicked man went to a
Walmart store, where families were shopping with their loved ones. He
shot and murdered 20 people, and injured 26 others, including precious little
children.
Then, in the early hours of Sunday morning in Dayton, Ohio,
another twisted monster opened fire on a crowded downtown street. He
murdered 9 people, including his own sister, and injured 27 others.
The First Lady and I join all Americans in praying and grieving
for the victims, their families, and the survivors. We will stand by
their side forever. We will never forget.
These barbaric slaughters are an assault upon our communities,
an attack upon our nation, and a crime against all of humanity. We are
outraged and sickened by this monstrous evil, the cruelty, the hatred, the
malice, the bloodshed, and the terror. Our hearts are shattered for every
family whose parents, children, husbands, and wives were ripped from their arms
and their lives. America weeps for the fallen.
We are a loving nation, and our children are entitled to grow up
in a just, peaceful, and loving society. Together, we lock arms to
shoulder the grief, we ask God in Heaven to ease the anguish of those who
suffer, and we vow to act with urgent resolve.
I want to thank the many law enforcement personnel who responded
to these atrocities with the extraordinary grace and courage of American
heroes.
I have spoken with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Ohio Governor
Mike DeWine, as well as Mayor Dee Margo of El Paso, Texas, and Mayor Nan Whaley
of Dayton, Ohio, to express our profound sadness and unfailing support.
Today, we also send the condolences of our nation to President
Obrador of Mexico, and all the people of Mexico, for the loss of their citizens
in the El Paso shooting. Terrible, terrible thing.
I have also been in close contact with Attorney General Barr and
FBI Director Wray. Federal authorities are on the ground, and I have
directed them to provide any and all assistance required — whatever is needed.
The shooter in El Paso posted a manifesto online consumed by
racist hate. In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry, and
white supremacy. These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate
has no place in America. Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart, and
devours the soul. We have asked the FBI to identify all further resources
they need to investigate and disrupt hate crimes and domestic terrorism —
whatever they need.
We must recognize that the Internet has provided a dangerous
avenue to radicalize disturbed minds and perform demented acts. We must
shine light on the dark recesses of the Internet, and stop mass murders before
they start. The Internet, likewise, is used for human trafficking, illegal
drug distribution, and so many other heinous crimes. The perils of the
Internet and social media cannot be ignored, and they will not be ignored.
In the two decades since Columbine, our nation has watched with
rising horror and dread as one mass shooting has followed another — over and
over again, decade after decade.
We cannot allow ourselves to feel powerless. We can and
will stop this evil contagion. In that task, we must honor the sacred
memory of those we have lost by acting as one people. Open wounds cannot
heal if we are divided. We must seek real, bipartisan solutions. We
have to do that in a bipartisan manner. That will truly make America
safer and better for all.
First, we must do a better job of identifying and acting on
early warning signs. I am directing the Department of Justice to work in
partisan — partnership with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as
social media companies, to develop tools that can detect mass shooters before
they strike.
As an example, the monster in the Parkland high school in
Florida had many red flags against him, and yet nobody took decisive
action. Nobody did anything. Why not?
Second, we must stop the glorification of violence in our
society. This includes the gruesome and grisly video games that are now
commonplace. It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround
themselves with a culture that celebrates violence. We must stop or
substantially reduce this, and it has to begin immediately. Cultural
change is hard, but each of us can choose to build a culture that celebrates
the inherent worth and dignity of every human life. That’s what we have
to do.
Third, we must reform our mental health laws to better identify
mentally disturbed individuals who may commit acts of violence and make sure
those people not only get treatment, but, when necessary, involuntary
confinement. Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun.
Fourth, we must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk
to public safety do not have access to firearms, and that, if they do, those
firearms can be taken through rapid due process. That is why I have
called for red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders.
Today, I am also directing the Department of Justice to propose
legislation ensuring that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face
the death penalty, and that this capital punishment be delivered quickly,
decisively, and without years of needless delay.
These are just a few of the areas of cooperation that we can
pursue. I am open and ready to listen and discuss all ideas that will
actually work and make a very big difference.
Republicans and Democrats have proven that we can join together
in a bipartisan fashion to address this plague. Last year, we enacted the
STOP School Violence and Fix NICS Acts into law, providing grants to improve
school safety and strengthening critical background checks for firearm
purchases. At my direction, the Department of Justice banned bump
stocks. Last year, we prosecuted a record number of firearms
offenses. But there is so much more that we have to do.
Now is the time to set destructive partisanship aside — so
destructive — and find the courage to answer hatred with unity, devotion, and
love. Our future is in our control. America will rise to the
challenge. We will always have and we always will win. The choice
is ours and ours alone. It is not up to mentally ill monsters; it is up
to us.
If we are able to pass great legislation after all of these
years, we will ensure that those who were attacked will not have died in vain.
May God bless the memory of those who perished in Toledo.
May God protect them. May God protect all of those from Texas to
Ohio. May God bless the victims and their families. May God bless
America.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
My
second point on today’s blog is another compliment directed towards our President. I wrote some time ago about Trump’s new
non-interventionist approach to foreign policy: http://centerlineright.blogspot.com/2019/01/trump-takes-road-less-traveled.html
. It appears that Trump is following
through on his promises to change our nation’s foreign policy approach to armed
conflicts. One such example is his
recent actions regarding the Afghanistan conflict: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/456042-trump-told-advisers-he-wants-to-pull-us-troops-from-afghanistan-by-2020
. If he follows through on his plans,
this would be a refreshing departure from past policies of both national
parties. I hope he has the courage to walk the walk.
Don’t
miss the next post!
Follow on Twitter
@centerlineright.
As
reflected in this news release: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/20/irans-seizure-british-oil-tanker-escalates-tensions-what-we-know/1781918001/
, Iran is apparently doing everything within its power to tweak the President
sufficiently to incur some type of US military response. While perhaps a majority of both leaders and
citizens on each side of the political aisle were expecting some type of US
military response in reaction to these Iranian episodes, President Trump
demonstrated remarkable restraint. By taking
the publicly-risky action of canceling the US missile retaliatory strike on
Iran, Trump demonstrated both by his words and his actions that he will adhere
to a new set of principles when it comes to foreign intervention. He was right; the missile response would not
have been commensurate.
Although
I find his buddy/buddy rhetoric hard
to swallow sometimes, I also applaud President Trump’s approach to North
Korea. In my opinion, I see that his
approach reflects a fundamental understanding that most of what we see
perpetrated by North Korea is in fact choreographed by China. Trump’s coupling of his tactics in fighting
the China Trade War while simultaneously dealing with North Korea’s nuclear
threat belies a sophistication that is grounded in reality and transparency. I can only hope that the American public has
the patience to support this approach as the Trade War inflicts some economic
pain and the belligerence of North Korea continues to capture media headlines. This country has spent far too many years
appeasing the rogue trade practices of China and now is the time to draw the line.
And
finally, I applaud President Trump’s strategy in Venezuela. Dealt a bad hand in this instance, he has
demonstrated remarkable restraint on the degree of US intervention into
Venezuela’s conflict: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/03/united-states-weights-limited-options-venezuela/585541/
. I can only hope that once again, his
foreign policy advisors, our US allies, and the American public at large will
have the patience to allow this tragic upheaval to unfold without American
blood being spilt.
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