For the record, I am not going to spend any time apologizing or qualifying what I’m about to write. There are always counter points and differing perspectives, but the gap between reasonably differing views and denial is wide enough that I’m not going to waste our time.
1st Dot: Politics Aside
Before we get to politics let’s start with basics: Donald Trump is a terrible person. He is a misogynist who has been accused by his ex-wife of raping her. He calls women fat pigs, dogs, slobs, disgusting animals, and has told a female contestant on his show, the apprentice, that she would be prettier on her knees. During the debate Megyn Kelly made a point of asking him to clarify his attitude towards women, and he has since responded by saying "she had blood coming out of her eyes, and probably blood coming out of her wherever.” This man owns not an ounce of humility, and dismisses those who disagree with him as fools, idiots, lightweights, and, apparently, menstruating bimbos. He criticizes war heroes for getting caught, and implies that POWs deserve to be tortured because their incompetence is what led to their capture. He carries this incredible sense of superiority while being a silver spoon sucking draft dodger who inherited hundreds of millions of dollars from his father the real estate mogul.
Fun fact: from 1974 to 2015 inflation alone would account for a 400% increase in the value of a dollar. So, if Trump were to inherit a business that was valued at say $480 million, inflation would result in it being worth approximately $2.4 billion today. His financial track record is even less impressive when you remember he’s had to use bankruptcy four times to cover his mistakes.
Consider all of this for a second, and then ask yourself: would my parents be proud of me if I acted this way? Would I be proud of my child for embodying this persona? Should a coach or teacher tell a child that Donald Trump is the type of adult we should aspire to be? The answer is No; however, somewhere along the line it became acceptable for this morally bankrupt individual to be our nation’s representative to the rest of the world.
2nd Dot: Hypocrisy of the Highest Order
Hypocrisy is one of the worst parts of politics, and being a Republican I appreciate that we generally do a good job of being logically consistent. To that end, we skewer anyone in our party who dares to flip flop on any issue. Whether it be Rubio on immigration, Jeb on education, or Romney on healthcare, we tar and feather them all. Now, take that same mirror you looked at a minute ago, and ask yourself: what has Trump done to be forgiven for a lifetime of political opportunism that makes John Boehner look like Ted Cruz. Donald Trump supported a single payer healthcare system, supported Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, praised Barrack Obama as “a champion” and went on to say he’d “definitely hire him”, told CNN that he identifies more as a Democrat, and strongly supported the right to choose. I believe that each of us have the potential to achieve some level of personal evolution, but nobody…let alone an egomaniac like Donald Trump…would be capable of this level of overwhelming transformation. Be honest with yourself and consider how much hypocrisy you’re willing to accept from your nominee and from yourself.
3rd Dot: You’re Not Electing Trump
Ok, so you’re mad at the establishment, an ineffective government, and selfish career politicians who are more interested in themselves than the people they represent. I applaud and share this view with many of you; however, Trump is not the solution. Real change takes real effort, real leaders, and real opportunities. Voting for Trump is none of these things:
1. Putting forth real effort means working to find an actual solution, not supporting the first candidate that doesn’t sound or look quite like everyone else. If your goal is to break an addiction to drugs you don’t switch from crack to heroine. If you really want change in Washington you need to go to political rehab, not shoot Trump into your veins.
2. Trump is not a real leader. Real leaders understand self-sacrifice, self-awareness, and possess an unrelenting desire to better themselves in pursuit of bettering those who rely upon them. Please, be honest with yourself, is Donald Trump really a leader in your eyes, or is he simply a slightly better brand of terrible? I’ll admit that we’re pretty thin on real leaders these days, but if you’re going to reject the status quo at least support a respectable leader like Carly Fiorina or Ben Carson.
3. Supporting Trump will in no way provide an actual opportunity for change. It’s been said 100 times by Democrats and Republicans alike: a vote for Donald Trump is a vote for Clinton. If your goal is to deal a blow to the establishment, then you really need to consider how four years of Hillary fit into your agenda. If you want change you have to do more than symbolically support it.
4th Dot: We are Better Than This
This is not my opinion as a Republican, a voter, or even as an American; this is my opinion as a human being. We are on the cusp of an incredible age of exponential growth in technology, communication, and discovery, and now we want to usher in that new era under the leadership of Donald Trump? No, there has to be a line, and we need to draw it here. Honey Boo Boo, Toddlers and Tiaras, and Jersey Shore…we can chalk these things up as bad entertainment. However, Donald Trump is turning the election of the leader of the free world into the 15th season of The Apprentice. Here’s the line; we cannot cross it.
See the Whole Picture
As I said before, it’s time to connect the dots. There’s more, and it’s likely there’s worse, but this is enough. We need to stop forgiving what could be perceived as isolated incidents and see the big picture, which is simply this: Donald Trump is an affront to Republicans, Americans, and our role as the leaders of the free world, and he will destroy what little credibility our political system has left.
As I said before, it’s time to connect the dots. There’s more, and it’s likely there’s worse, but this is enough. We need to stop forgiving what could be perceived as isolated incidents and see the big picture, which is simply this: Donald Trump is an affront to Republicans, Americans, and our role as the leaders of the free world, and he will destroy what little credibility our political system has left.
