Trump complains about Baltimore while his own restaurants, resorts and golf clubs have had their own extensive share of health code violations, including the presence of rodents.
"Health inspectors have for years turned in stomach-churning reports of rats, mice, cockroaches, and other pests in the kitchens and food-preparation areas at Trump properties in New York, Florida, and Las Vegas. One infestation in the main kitchen of Trump’s Doral golf club in 2015 was so bad that health inspectors recommended that the place be temporarily shut down."
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-rants-against-rat-infestation-while-his-properties-are-health-code-horror-shows
2
As the daughter of a Dachau liberator and white 35-year resident of Baltimore city, I often think about the failure of people to respond quickly to overt hatred. We city folks are always surprised at the response to crimes in the suburbs which always involves folks saying "This shouldn't happen here!" The subtext is "It should happen in Baltimore city!" as if we have a patent on violence. I believe people wait until the crisis passes and then join discussion groups and listening circles to anguish over what happened. This is evidences by a remark by an African-American friend who asked "How many people marched with MLK Jr? Last count was about 3,000,000!" And a Jewish friend agreed with my father's observations that of course, Germans knew what was going on. They couldn't wait to take over empty apartments left by rounded-up Jews.
7
Al Sharpton is not and never has been respected in many circles of African Americans. He is known to be a racial opportunist. Attacking him offends no one but the media and a handful of delusional people who look for reasons to be offended. Trump should continue attacking the enemies of black people (i.e., the black DNC proxies that white liberals put in front of black voters to do their racist bidding). Trump has done more for African Americans than every member of the black caucus, Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Maxine Waters combined. Blexit is spreading and African American voters are waking up to the inconvenient truth that the DNC (aka the "Slave Party) is simply using black voters.
2
what on earth has Trump done for anyone much less the black community?! And please refrain from pointing to stats that have already been showing progress BEFORE him. This idea of a blind following of Democrats by blacks needs to stop. The DNC is no safe haven, but we simply haven't had a viable alternative and make due with what we have. Trump reinforces the lack of viable options. The DNC is by no means perfect, but this simple minded narcissist is not bring anything valuable to the table and shouldn't be taken seriously in any context beyond reality television.
2
Trump will praise anyone he can exploit to suit his purposes until they fail to go along with his corruption or racist agenda. All relationships outside of Trump’s family members are purely transactional. Just ask the dozens of folks who tried to serve in his incompetent and dysfunctional administration. They were all the greatest, smartest and “very, very fantastic” before he betrayed, ridiculed and threw them under the bus.
4
Trump certainly doesn't qualify as an advocate for human rights.
4
And Big Donny knows corruption like nobody else does he not?
2
So the whole thing boils down to Cummings messing with the son in law. All roads lead back to the nepotic Trump crime family. That is all you need to know to explain Trump's behavior. It also exposes Trump's Achilles heel. What do investigators do to break up Mafia families? Find the weakest family member and start driving wedges. So liberals:
- Stop taking Trump as politically serious, including whether he's a racist or white supremacist or not. He doesn't care. Start treating Trump as a crime family boss.
-START taking seriously the minority of Trump's base that are committed hard core Neo fascists. They need to be declared domestic terrorists and all their networks need to be torn up root and branch, including Bannon, Mercer, Breitbart, the whole gang.
5
Only Trump is low enough to use America’s disgusting history of hate as a tool for re-election. And if good people do nothing, he will be re-elected in 2020. If this is making America great again, then America is much sicker than I could ever imagine.
10
I'm surprised none of the campaign staffs for any of the Democratic candidates aren't smart enough to visit Baltimore right now and extoll the virtues of Baltimore's many cultural attractions: Camden Park, Fell's Point, Peabody Conservatory, ...
I worry that the Democratic candidates aren't the sharpest tools in the drawer.
2
While Trump denigrates prominent people of color, he is totally ignoring real issues, like water shortages in the west and other issues related to climate change, which he still denies.
He has done nothing to help the conditions he slanders in Baltimore or even his own home of NYC.
What a sham this presidency is!
2
Did Rev. Bill Owens realize that Trump is pandering to him???
3
Do the people living in the "rat-infested" (if that's true) sections of Baltimore rent or own their homes? My guess is that many rent. Which means that it's the landlords that don't keep up the houses and apartments. Landlords like Jared Kushner maybe?
What a goofy conversation this is anyway! Is this REALLY what the President of the United States chooses to spend his days doing? Huh? Are we becoming a nation of Third Graders?
2
"as he gathered his own African-American allies..."
wow, how could anyone be that combination of craven and crazy?
What could possibly go wrong in that appallingly recklessly foolish kind of situation?
So if an urban district with lots of African Americans is doing badly economically blame the Congressman.
And if a rural, largely white district is doing badly blame the immigrants.
This makes perfect sense to racists.
5
'The Rev. Bill Owens, the founder of the Coalition of African-American Pastors, a group that opposes same-sex marriage, said that he found it “hard to believe” that Mr. Trump was a racist, citing the president’s support for opportunity zones and an overhaul of criminal justice laws.'
C'mon, Owens. Do non-racists continually say racist things? Do non-racists explicitly discriminate by race in their housing practices ? Do non-racists call for the death penalty for teenagers accused of crimes even after they have been affirmatively exonerated? Do non-racists found and become the poster boy for birtherism against the first black POTUS? Do non-racists generate and bask in the love of Nazis, white nationalists, and the KKK? There's more, too much too list here.
I submit that a non-racist that does all those things is actually worse than a racist, because that person doesn't even have the excuse of being a racist. If one can rank evils, that would take the prize.
If the system is dominated by racists or those who have no problem exploiting it, opportunity zones and criminal justice reform are pretty easy to subvert. After all, the hated Crime Bill many castigate Biden about isn't inherently racist, it just got applied in a racist manner because all laws depend on the administration of human beings who may be corrupt, or not. The Bible can be applied in a racist manner, as it was with slavery, or when Sessions used it to justify cruelty at the border.
But I think you know that.
1
of course the man whom currently is in the White House is a racist, but not only on coloured people: he hates everybody who is not rich, and the people who dare question him. He is not the president of all Americans, even if he took the oath.
2
It's time to call out POTUS for what he is. A racist and a bigot. Mr. Cummings is everything Trump is not: a gentleman, a hero, intellectual, fair and honest. POTUS, it is time for YOU to go home.
1
Don't care for Trump, but Sharpton is the race baiter of all time, and he basically blackmails industries around the country to pay him for diversity discussions. He's despicable. And Baltimore? Come on! Everyone knows that Baltimore is crime ridden and rat infested.
Trump's problem is that he cannot shut up, cannot stop tweeting, and cannot or doesn't know how to disagree with someone while not getting personal. Perhaps the NYTimes might consider not stoking race relations, hold back from outright attacks on 'white' people. Don't stoop to his level.
Haha. Either you’re a troll or an uncommonly obtuse individual. Haha. I enjoyed how layered your comment was. Excellent example on the use of language to convey multiple ideas simultaneously based on a “” shared understanding of reality. Brilliant!
1
"I see also people pandering to black people, to get them on board with some of their agenda."
Oh, the blind, unintended irony.
1
He’s distracting us ... from the unfit for human habitation, polluted cultural wastelands where his troglodyte supporters dwell, subsisting on welfare and narcotics.
1
America , I will be back when you put the Trump-Kushner crime family in jail and drown the evil GOP in a Blue wave.
1
Trump calling out anyone as a con man is as golden as his toilet....Trump's con is over; he's the "ugly New Yorker" stereotype.
3
Trump now says that his racist tirades will solidify his core voters, all 32% of them. Probably, but given that a new Quinnipiac Poll indicates 54% of voting Americans say they will definitely not be voting for Trump, his genius has been exposed, like his bankrupt businesses.
2
Trump is complaining about American cities and calling them rat-infested. It is GOP policy and American political structure which oppresses poverty stricken neighborhoods. Cities have maintained a decent tax base through development efforts, but they often net out in the red. In other words, the cities pay more in state in federal taxes than they get back. In Chicago, we get back $0.80 of every tax dollar we give.
Just like red states take money from blue states, and are subsidized by them, states like IL take money from Chicago and other cities to subsidize the rural parts. Just like rural states are overrepresented in the Senate, who protect the interests of red states, state senates protect the interests of rural constituents.
No where is one person one vote less respected than in a city. The cities are carrying this country on the back. If we really had the popular vote, a guy like Trump would never be in office, and cities would get their fair share.
Trump made his money in the great cities of the world, demanding the best places, and he gave nothing back to the people living and working there.
5
Trump is many things but not a racist. It makes no sense that Rep. Cummings cannot be criticized for conditions in Baltimore. He's been their representative for over 20 years. Even Baltimore residents are criticizing him. They're not racists either.
3
@AACNY
Criticize when deserving so AND seek solutions! Trump is incapable of the latter.
1
“A house divided against itself, cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South”...Abraham Lincoln.
No matter the issue, what is different in the year 2019 between all Americans and between the 7.7 billion humans on earth???
1
I live in Baltimore and am a Democrat. Everything Trump said was true. It isn't just Elija Cummings District that is a disgrace. Looking for a cat with a friend one night, she commented "This is like a third world country." The city government has been run by black politicians, what more can be said."
6
@Luz Damron
Odd. My daughter and her partner just bought a house in Baltimore, preferring the city to Austin, TX and DC. A friend just bought two small buildings downtown moving business and living to Bmore after 30 successful years in DC. They are not alone. Maybe you are just not a city person. As a visitor, I can see the city has an abandoned house problem but slumlords are hard to useat. May the city continue to grow--it has so much to offer.
1
@judith I was born and raised in New York City.
I agree with what you said. It is however a digression from the very point that the article is making. Why did Trump single out Baltimore when he could have chosen a myriad of other destinations where the living conditions are less than ideal? Why did he accuse a black man of hating whites?
1
Sharpton's comeback is the best I've heard in a long time. Since maybe this exchange?
Nixon to Dan Rather: "Are you running for something?"
Rather: "No, sir, Mr. President. Are you?"
2
The identity police have certainly met their match in Trump. Telling is that their primary response to Trump's challenge to the nefarious and overused allegation of "racism" is to claim, "Racist!" Doubling down is not a convincing strategy.
3
@AACNY-Tell that to your buddy Trump, whose strategy of doubling & tripling down is legendary. Interesting that you feel it is not a convincing strategy but are nonetheless convinced by Trump's use of it.
3
@AACNY Amazing how many Americans have no idea what racism IS. Trump takes great pains to magnify and perpetuate racial stereotypes and tropes, the tried and true method for eliminating the competition through disdain, broad suggestions of incompetence and corruption (don't need evidence) and pointing to ways "THEY" are not like "US". Trump is a lifelong master at it.
17
And to constantly call others racist when one has lived one's whole life as a racist is quite telling.
1
The "Racist" label given to Trump is interesting. He has a simple philosophy, hit me and I will hit you back harder. He has also criticized many "white" people on a daily basis, just think of Muller. Does this make him untie white?
In today's America, can you still criticize a person of colour on his policies without being called a racist?
4
@Ben Kruger
Trump's sister says this: "He was a bully as a child and he remains so." Trump bullies all the time and people conflat it with "hitting back." Nah. Turns out what is really under Trump's skin is Cummings subpoena for Jared and Ivanka's emails as evidence they do government business on insecure phones and the like. This was REVENGE, not a debate, something Trump is incapable.
4
So, I guess the racist had told people of Scandinavian, German and Dutch descent to go back to the place from which they came. Your argument is specious.
Trump enjoys creating a drama and doesn't care who he insults. It must make for a very easy life. I suppose if you're born into money and can lose $ms because others in your close circle will always ensure you don't go down the drain. You can be as petty and ignorant as you like.
Insulting people is easy. We can all do it, some better than others. Actually getting multiple factions to sit down and work together isn't for the feint hearted. Bringing a country like America together requires hard work, something I very much doubt Mr Trump has ever experienced. He always goes for the easy option. In this case its being divisive.
5
Any "Pastors" that support the lying, corrupt, morally bankrupt conman Trump should seriously be looking for another role in life.
They clearly have lost any integrity or credibility representing the religion that they supposedly represent.
8
Distraction. Destruction. Thy name is Trump.
7
This guy mocks all his critics regardless of color or politics- Ask Jeb and Rand! The most recent just happen to be of color. They are using the race card to counter attack and instead of actually defend themselves - this is elementary school stuff, pretty weak if you ask me.
5
@Samuel Tyuluman
Their defense based on crying "racism" is pretty weak.
1
@Samuel Tyuluman Did he tell Jeb & Rand to go back where they came from? He did tell an African American member of Congress to do so. Odds are her family has been in this country much longer than Trump's.
Funny how you didn't notice this, Samuel.
I’m hoping Trump will be sporting a big gold tooth any day now.
1
@Charlie I've always thought of him as Gold Hat...(.if anyone else is old enough to remember.) "We don't need no stinkin' badges."
(think IMDB)
you mean to go along with his missing teeth?
Mr. Trump denounced Mr. Sharpton on Twitter as “a con man”.
What's new? It like echolalia--the mental disorder.
The Con man in chief defends himself by echoing a critic calling him conman.
The Liar in chief echoes his critics by calling them liars.
The Fraud in chief echoes his critics by calling them fake news.
The Hater in chief echoes his critics by calling them haters.
The Racist in chief echoes his critics by calling them racists.
Echolalia is not the worst mental disorder. And it's not a high crime. But it is certainly misdemeanor.
It's also notoriously illogical--abusive ad hominem argument--hardly proves you are right.
He seems to think if his critics are imperfect, he must be perfect. That's another disorder: god-complex.
3
@Michael Kubara He IS the echo.
The only original thought he ever had was thinking that he is original.
Trump is beating the racist card so he can goad the Democrats into nominating Kamela Harris over whom he figures he has an easy win. He praised her early on. It's childish tactics but then what do we expect from this caricature of a President?
4
@Snip
anyone can beat Individual 1 who under the best economy has never had a majority approval rating. Never.
2
“The president is concerned about the whole nation, about everybody in the nation,” said Alveda C. King, a niece of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a leader of an anti-abortion group who also belongs to “Women for Trump” and is a Fox News contributor. “So I want us to remember that we’ve been designed to be brothers and sisters. One member of the human race. Not separate races.”
This woman, I don't care what her pedigree is is way off base. The tiny little man in the WH works for one person...HIMESELF. He may play to his base but he isn't working for all people in this country. He is preaching to the gun toting, bible thumping hypocrites in this country who are turning their collective backs on humanity. This phone flag loving "patriot" has almost 40% of this country fooled, he is a smarmy, lying, man who cares about enriching himself, the sooner we are rid of this man the better off we'll all be.
3
How come we do not talk about Kushner tolerating rat infested housing he owns and is in charge of in Baltimore? Also maybe we should once more bring up how Trump's father, Trump himself and Kushner treated renters in their housing developments in NYC? This is the perfect time to remind people how Trump and his ilk treated the poor, black and brown tenants.
6
Just because President Trump verbally attacks black politicians who have attacked him doesn't necessarily make him racist. It seems to me some of the black politicians he has verbally attacked have come across as racist themselves.
The fact that the Democrats have a lock on so-called big cities and certain regions of the country [East & West coast] count for why there is a preponderance of black politicians . I find it just as likely President Trump would verbally attack a white politician of a big city who was trash talking him, as a black one.
As for the so-called Rev. Al Sharpton, many people of all colors believe he's nothing but a loud mouth rabble-rouser!
Please note before you write replies criticizing me, in 2016, I voted Third Party [Johnson - Weld] because I believed neither HRC nor Trump were presidential material. Sad to say, HRC's conduct since 2016, and of course President Trump's behavior have convinced me my wise decision was correct.
6
@Dennis There is a massive difference between criticizing someone on policy, and insinuating that someone is inferior due to their race. And there is, historically, a nomenclature for that.
Hence: 'infestation,' 'disease,' 'not their best,' 'go back to their country'... Let me tell you, as a Jew, that these words are absolutely utilized to defame a race and make people appear less human. They have certainly been used against my group of people.
Trump could have easily attacked other white officials in cities where crime is high: but, he has not. What does that tell you?
Trump can't discuss other people's policies/beliefs in detail, because he cannot even do so for his own positions -- He often says "Many people" or "other people" "believe" something, but it's all vague, all a smokescreen for a know-nothing. It's easy to lash out at others, rather than be a true leader and offer solutions.
So yes, while you made your clear choice in voting (and good for you), I'm here to say that Trump is absolutely racist and that is established by not only his rhetoric, but his actions (i.e., insisting the Central Park Five were guilty even after being exonerated; questioning President Obama's citizenship; attacking minorities and people of color in his tweets; discriminating against African-American tenants in NYC; etc. etc.).
While you made your clear choice in voting (and good for you), I'm here to say that Trump is absolutely racist. Do not make excuses for this 'man.'
3
@Dennis "convinced me my wise decision was correct."
Really, Dennis? Have you ever made a "wise" decision that was INcorrect?
What a bunch of cowards.
If they were truly aggrieved by Trump's overt racism, they wouldn't convene to discuss strategy. They'd convene to collectively resign.
That would be the only ethical choice under the circumstances.
4
Provocation du week. And the country keep biting the bait. Why wasting time debating about Trump being a racist, he is merely the embodiment of the basest of human instinct, hardly worth mentioning, left alone being the center of media attention every second.
Move on already.
2
It is DT's perverse game plan for rallying his base--has nothing to do with Baltimore nor Rev. Sharpton. Pretty sad commentary on the state of our country...He is a dangerous and deluded person.
4
As you all continue to focus on his racism he’s ‘winning’ again. He’s distracted you all with another hideous but shiny object. You’re not reporting on and bringing the spotlight repeatedly to the obfuscation and demolition of our freedoms through the Republicans refusal to protect our voting systems. Go back to that story from a few days ago and dig in. Bring a spotlight to it. Direct your outrage there. Otherwise we’ve got at least 4 more years of racism ahead and the sure fire destruction of democracy
7
Trump's "widening war" is going to get somebody killed.
2
Trump attacks everyone. Are recent attacks on DeBlasio, Joe Scarborough, Adam Schiff, Joe Biden, and Robert Mueller, to scratch the surface, “racist?”
Racism is disgusting, but so is coddling. If Cummings can dish it out, he should take it. Same with Sharpton.
The idea that arguing with a black person is racist is dangerous and revolting. No one on earth should hold or advance this world view.
This article makes no sense. It’s like saying a boxer who has fought two Mexicans in a row is continuing his war on Mexicans.
3
Show me where Trump ever told a white person to 'go back where they came from,' or ever aligned whites with filth and disease, and then yeah, maybe you've got an argument. But he hasn't, so you don't.
3
Do they sell vacation packages for Rep. Cummings' part of Baltimore?
1
That Trump is an unrepentant racist leaves not a scintilla of doubt. As to why some black folks will lend themselves to support the unsupportable defies logic. This seems an emotional nightmare demagogue Trump is trying to exploit to convince his clueless base to re-elect him in 2020, however awful the prospect for the rest of us.
1
Come on smart readers of the NYT. Trump is running for re-election. Not Al Sharpton. Not the Squad. He is creating distractions to cover for his horrible performance as president.
How someone like Al Sharpton who wrote the book on race baiting and who never even apologized for his role in the Tawana Brawley travesty because a respected voice in the Democratic party is one that future historians will ponder. That fact that Democratic presidential hopefuls now make an automatic stop to visit and seek his approval is truly shameful.
7
There are a lot of closet racists in this country and Trump is counting on them for his reelection. We may be shocked to hear his rants against Sharpton and other black leaders, but he knows who he is talking to.
@dutchiris "Trump is counting on them for his reelection." Counting or couRting ?
1
Trump is a fool. But the truly frightening part are all his supporters who are beyond angry that anyone sees racism in his comments. Three years into his presidency and I'm still dumbfounded by the blind support he has and how rock solid it is. Unfortunately, he's probably going to get re-elected. I don't think Democrats are going to flip the state or two they need for a win.
Blame the electoral college for this nonsense. Trump know he'll never win Maryland, so he can throw all the gasoline he wants onto the fire of racism there and, thereby, satiate his redneck and racist followers in places like Ohio and Florida and Michigan, which have the electoral votes he needs to "win" in our asinine system. It's all a game to this monster. And America loses.
1
So much easier to judge people by skin color, than their character and deeds; MLK would be appalled at how Democrats of African ancestry instantly assume all 'blacks' will act the same way and that the root of all 'black' problems are 'white' people.
It's reverse racism and Trump is calling them out; and the media is cringing every time an Asian-American is a victim of policies which favor 'blacks' and wins a court victory.
Time to change the 'black' political culture to favor character and not skin color.....but is the NYT brave enough to do it?
@Cali Sol It may be possible you're right. Just tell us what you're talking about .
Trump is a racist and as mean-spirited as he chooses to be. But he's not a fool. He knows a political opening when he sees one. Even in Maryland, a largely conservative state outside the big metro areas, he believes his black attacks will resonate with voters who have longed to hear a politician say what they feel. He knows too that there is a grain of truth in what he says about Baltimore, giving him some credibility. And, he may be emboldened that Democrats haven't made a peep about the Washington Post story that one of the biggest owners of rat-infested housing in Baltimore is Jared Kushner.
If this were a politically-losing strategy, he'd make sure he was miles away from it.
@blgreenie "Trump is a racist and as mean-spirited as he chooses to be. But he's not a fool."
Trump IS a fool. Luckily for him he has a few non-fools standing behind him and propping him up.
Anybody remember
Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy?
Trump voters, are you ashamed yet?
1
@Kathryn Aguilar Rather than feel shame, Kathryn, they'll look for scapegoats. And don't be suprised if those have names like Abramovich and Ang and Aguilar.
Trump is a despicable, vile, evil, horrible human being. The only way this nightmare will end is when he is removed, impeached and imprisoned. If Paul Manafort & Michael Cohen deserve prison, surely Trump does also.
Sharpton and trump could both fall off the face of the earth and I wouldn't miss either one of them.
2
Please explain Jared Kushner’s role in creating Baltimore’s hellhole, rat-infested living conditions for thousands of residents.
2
@Robert Lambert again, robert?
The evidence clearly shows that Donald Trump is a racist; however, the jury is still out on whether America is racist. We'll get that verdict in November, 2020.
While praising the intelligence of the American electorate, Trump secretly knows that they can be led around like bulls with nose rings - only instead of bull rings, he uses their beliefs and prejudices to lead them wherever he wants.
If DJT doesn't destroy our fragile democracy, he has published the blueprint and playbook for some other demagogue to do it later. If a democracy like America's is going to exist, there will have to be a paradigm shift in human thought throughout the world.
In the near future, we will program the human mind in the computer based on a "survival" algorithm, which will provide irrefutable proof as to how we trick the mind with our ridiculous beliefs about what is supposed to survive - producing minds programmed de facto for destruction. These minds see the survival of a particular belief as more important than the survival of us all. When we understand all this, we will begin the long trek back to reason and sanity.
See RevolutionOfReason.com
1
@RLB you started off just fine. but then you went on and on and on and on, and I just fell asleep. can you come back tomorrow?
Trump is like a closed hearted parent who loves, protects and is proud of the child that gets straight A’s and is president of the senior class and berates the sibling who is struggling and in need of assistance. As POTUS he is supposed to be embracing all of us, helping all of us thrive, to feel like we belong and that we are all safe. If he wins the next election it is going to get worse. He will be emboldened like no other to continue his divisive rhetoric and fear mongering . We cannot let that happen. It is a dark, dark place.
@lolo Proud? Berates? In fact, he has a couple of children for real. Have you ever seen him close enough to them for pride or berating?
No GOP candidate will get 20% of the African American vote in the best of circumstances; even 10% is unlikely. Since even conservative African Americans won't vote GOP anyway, seemingly racist attacks have no downside for Trump.
"Other Republicans rejected the suggestion that Mr. Trump singles out lawmakers of color."
Who? Such a colossal denial would be difficult to sell:
(1) The entire nation saw the staged photo of the President in a Cabinet meeting WAVING AROUND A PICTURE of Ilhan Omar.
(2) The President seeks winning through his public fight with these 4 women of color, a proxy opponent (the dreaded squad) that he can easily beat in the polls.
Only Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) was identified by name AS REJECTING the suggestion that Mr. Trump singles out lawmakers of color. And what was Cramer's punch line concerning the racist tweet? “If there were striped lawmakers and they went after (The President), he’d go after them.”
I get that North Dakota has, maybe, 5,000 registered voters in the state-total black population of about 9,000.
I get that Sen. Cramer thinks that he can control the narrative as "fighting back" when, in fact, Trump's tweet was an obvious effort to evoke white-bonding / -racist sentiment by stoking fear of a black-majority district.
Trump called it:
“worst in the USA”
“rat and rodent infested mess”
“dangerous & filthy place”
"No human being would want to live there."
This is our President and it's indefensible! As a representative of thoughtful people, Sen. Cramer should open his eyes and consider where he is being led.
"My vas pokhoronim!" or "We will bury you." Kruschev (1956).
Who would have thunk, but here we are.
The attacks have solidified Trump's republican base. His popularity among republicans is now likely reaching an impossible 110%. But, given that the electoral college is a funny thing, Trump's job is not done.
Will Putin will send his policing and military advisors to weaponize our religious right? The Reps, the RR, and P want the same outcomes: a population of ignorant, given to dogma, living in fear, subservient, with clearly defined "others" who are deemed inhuman. Reps rue that the Russian oligarch has no American analog yet.
But is it politically feasible?
Mitch, repubs, and an overwhelming majority of whites living more than 50 miles from metro-centers would welcome Russian-run America if it can deliver modern apartheid. I.e., laws that institutionalize and render permanent the power of white males to defile the country as they see fit.
Trump is riding on the vision of separate water fountains, barbed wires, hoses, attack dogs, paramilitary harassing "others," and instant flogging of people who don't courtesy and bow toward the increasingly smaller demographic.
All this could be possible with open Russia-and-theocrat shaped policies. It would also solidify Trump's status as the greatest of all American messiahs.
Can we hear Kruschev chortling from his grave: "My pokhoronili tebya, kha-kha" (We have buried you, ha ha).
Ivanka and Jared are in the hot seat, under investigation by Cummings. Trump is having a tantrum because his family’s cheating behavior is on display. Trump is easy to figure.
2
In a strange way, this will bring clarity to the 2020 election.
Trump is setting the country up for a showdown. A year of deep, national decision. Who are we, as a country?
How many Americans will actually cast a vote for such a person?
I was personally shocked that GW got a second term, even when the country knew by the election that the entire Weapons of Mass Destruction lie had lead us into a massively expensive, completely unnecessary and destabilizing war. I naively thought that Americans as a whole couldn't be that stupid. I was wrong.
But we are at an entirely new level now. We have descended further and faster downward that most people could have imagined.
Trump is the kind of person that dying, desperate nations elect. History shows us that those choices do not usually end well. If we, as a country, elect him again, it will prove beyond much doubt that we have reached the end of a certain kind of journey, the outcome of which has been repeated around the world and history in tragic and chilling ways.
My own hope is that he is doing this because he is exhausted and stressed, out of his league, and is trying to push for a loss to escape what I imagine he perceives as the worst "deal" he has ever been a part of. I hope he just wants out, and I hope the voting populace will accommodate his wish.
@O "I was personally shocked that GW got a second term..." But then we got Thomas Jefferson, and the country did okay.
Time for Twitter to do the right thing and delete Trump's account.
You must realize, NYT, that reports like this one plays into the hand of Trump as to make the issue of race a prominent and decisive one for his favor in the upcoming 2020 election. For example: How substantively important are his offensive racist comments insofar as he shows himself to be a racist in the first place? He won’t be shy about this at all, which would be to his disadvantage. But of far more concern, what are the matters this focus distracts attention from ... such as his legitimacy as president, and his past and present criminality? One must acknowledge that Trump is highly skilled at choosing the right bait and in slight-of-hand to achieve his personal goals.
@wak "...to make the issue of race " of course, he'd never have thought of it on his own.
As long as there are black leaders like Alveda C. King and the Rev. Bill Owens who don’t find anything wrong with the insults President Trump hurled at Rep, Elijah Cummings, he will continue his character assassination campaign. Unlike Trump, his victims don't have the bully pulpit he has at his disposal.
Mr. Owens may find it “hard to believe” that Mr. Trump is a racist. Those who have even a superficial knowledge of Trump’s past don’t. Astonishingly, he readily dismisses Trump’s attacks on Cummings, saying, “I see also people pandering to black people ….” Doesn’t he know that by inviting him and other “Inner City Pastors” to the White House, Trump is doing precisely that?
Ms. King may please note that the way she is kissing up to Mr. Trump would make her late uncle turn in his grave. It was the kind of racism that Trump is perpetrating now which her uncle fought against all his life and got killed for doing it.
Thanks to Mr. Trump, political debates in the country have descended to the level of street brawl. It's some consolation that the Rev. Al Sharpton has lately entered the brawl. When it comes to hurling insults, either can outsmart the other.
The loser will be Mr. Cummings. He needs all the time he has to do the admirable work he is doing as chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. As state in this report, it was the subpoenas the committee issued against Trump’s daughter and son-in-law that is at the root of his feud with Cummings.
Oh, the parallel between these preachers and the stories of the rabbis during the Christ era are screaming at me.
Not the same word for word instances perhaps, but just like the Rabbi of that day, currying favors from the Romans for personal benefits are very clear.
@marriea I thought Christ referred to himself as the rabbi...at least, that's what the gospels told us.
In the attempt to discover what happened to the $16 Billion that Elijah’s district received, perhaps his wife will open the books on her “non profits”.
5
@Jackson and perhaps Jackson will talk about THIS story. well, maybe not. that would be so uncomfortable.
The POTUS might say “How can we help Baltimore? What resources can we provide? What can we do together to help the great city of Baltimore ?”
1
All Trump has to do is rev up his base with racist attacks. He will win.
Trump's strategy is clear as can be. Be divisive in order to divide...the Democrats. Of course, the Dems are enabling: By not sufficiently calling out Omar for her bigotry, they gave Trump an opening to elevate her. By elevating the bigot Sharpton (allegedly "reformed") and his National Action Network to kingmaker status in Dem. circles, they provide an ideal target. Note also Trump's conflation -- of Omar with not just her "squad" but Pelosi and anyone who would circle the wagons; of Sharpton with Cummings.
Trump is a bigot but knows exactly what he is doing. He is going after bigots and forcing Dems to choose. They had better choose wisely. Protecting Omar and Sharpton may well lose them the 2020 election.
2
Ben Carson, the only black man in Trump's cabinet, was appointed director of Housing and Urban Development, even though he did not have relevant experience.
Coincidence? Or was this an intended gesture to symbolically associate a black man to public housing?
1
What's the definition of racism? If a white individual criticizes a black person would that be considered automatically an act of racism?
Words are losing their connection with their original concept.
3
@Justice "Words are losing their connection with their original concept." They always have. Take your word "concept" for example. If you look it up, you may find the original meaning was quite different from what you had in mind. Well, that's language for you...not always neat and orderly.
@Justice
The definition of "racism" has strayed far from its original meaning. It's used so frequently -- and always and only against political opponents -- that it's now no more than another throw-away partisan pejorative.
African-American scholars understand "racism" and that its presence in the US today is much diminished. It's certainly not what democrats are claiming, which is that it's in every utterance. Not even close.
1
Congressman Cummings hysterics regards the TV blurb of him berating the Border Security official over the alleged lack of care for children held in border catchment centers was despicable GOTCHA politics. Those children have far been care than many of Cummings child constituents who live in abject squalor and poverty in the slums of Baltimore! Cummings has had 23 long years to do “something “ for those American kids, beside enrich himself with government largess...Trump is right about this useless charlatan!
3
"Inner City Pastors.."
Trump is again racist -- apparently the "inner city" is where he thinks all people of color live, including pastors. Would he call the head of Trinity Episcopal in Manhattan an "inner city" pastor?
1
Both Cummings and Sharpton want to frame this episode as racist, and of course liberal media types like the Times are only too glad to fan the flames, thinking it might be hurtful to the president. What Trump is saying is what everyone else knows but are too politically correct to utter. Baltimore is a total mess, and generations of ineffectual and corrupt Democratic leadership is largely responsible for it. TV footage of the former Baltimore mayor touring some of the worst sections says it all. Trump is just the messenger calling attention to the degradation and poverty that exists in the city while its irresponsible leaders, like Cummings, have done little for decades to address the city’s dire situation. You can make this a racial issue if you want, but the fact is that it’s mainly black families that are suffering while their erstwhile leaders would rather cry racist than deal with the problems. We should be thankful for a president who’’s not afraid to call it out, even if his rhetoric may sometimes be over the top. As far as Sharpton goes, he’s a non-entity who’s made a pretty good living off the race economy.
3
@Joe Gagen
They are hoping they can peel off some Trump voters by charging "Racist!" They are likely to be creating just as many. Americans are sick of identity politics.
1
with every tweet he proves at least 2 things:
1.) He is not The President of the Unites States
2.) He is not The Leader of the Free World (that would be Anglica Merkel)
@gc
Angela Merkel.... apologies
Mr. Trump shows particular antipathy toward African American legislators. He's quick to cast cities with large minority populations as "hellholes" or "infested" or places where "no human being would want to live". His entry into politics was built on an attempt to delegitimize the Obama presidency. He regularly reaches into a grab-bag of well-worn tropes that have been used to promote bigotry in this country for decades. We can debate what that all means, how sincere he is in his rhetoric, I suppose. Personally, I don't care what's in the guy's heart. I'll take his public words at face value, for cheap, dishonest, destructive rhetoric it is. I'd rather read more about the Intelligence and Oversight report on questionable lobbying by Trump's friend and informal advisor. That's a story worth discussing in detail.
This is just the latest in Trump's crazy like a fox provocations and diversions to draw attention away from the real issues and problems that should be addressed. While the press, politicians and the public are focusing attention on his racism they are not talking about conspiracy with the Russians and obstruction of justice. Of course he should be condemned and not just by the Dems. That the GOP has no moral compass is not news, but their inability to disavow these despicable rants is shameful. Mark Meadows was publicly defended against a charge of racism by Elijah Cummings, who said they were the best of friends despite their political differences. Meadows silence is deafening. He should have spoken up for Cummings immediately.
Trump has established a cult of personality like the despots he admires so much. The GOP is his now, morally bankrupt though it is. His supporters will not process or accept anything negative about him.
There is only one solution to this. Get out the vote in the highest numbers ever and vote the Dem ticket. Get rid of GOP senators and representatives and governors and state reps. It will take years to correct the damage Trump has done in every sphere. Getting him out of the WH and indicted for criminal conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice will be a good start.
Trump infuriates people by stating the obvious truth.
3
It’s obvious that DJT wants to get back to NYC & cash in on the connections he’s made while in the White House. He recognizes it’s really no fun in DC with Pence & Mitch.
Time for coverage of all the shootings around the country in the last few days. That is what should be on the front page and not Trumps obsessions and hatred of people of color. And if we have to keep discussing problems in Baltimore, how about a photo essay of Kushner owner housing that has been cited a number of times for being substandard?
This is the same racists attack as per the squad. Do you think Trump actually looked at data? He saw a person of color and assumed they represent poverty and the worst places in society.
There was no data gathering or desire to fix problems. It was directly racist. The only reason it works is Fox News running cover for him and assisting him.
I am surprised that photographs of Baltimore accompanying this story illustrate the false claims that Trump makes about the city. The articles describe the congressman's district as diverse with desirable neighborhoods. The images should show that and not further the racist stereotype.
1
It’s really pretty simple- it’s the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong. We teach this to our children beginning at a very early age. It’s about human decency and mutual respect. The current president demonstrates none of these characteristics. The Democratic candidates need state this, and bring the conversation back to reasonable and thoughtful discourse that respects the integrity of each and every citizen.
So two Right-Wing "Inner City Pastors" are trying to convince us that Trump is a very fine fellow?
That's why I don't believe in Organized Religion ... I like to do my own thinking.
Trump has revealed what this country really is. And I’m disappointed, we’ve come far but we still have so far to go.
In our hyperpolitical environment it serves many to focus on Trump's intemperate remarks rather than on the truth that cities like Baltimore, Newark, Chicago and Los Angeles have been failed by their leadership. After decades and billions in grants to these cities, educational landmarks are low, unemployment is high, crime is high and other metrics of progress have been missed.
4
Republicans are unwisely chiding urban representatives and they should not . Republicans have transferred so much of the national wealth upward through tax policy that the Federal government has little revenue with which to help inner cities. Secondly, Republicans rule some rural areas that are even poorer than Baltimore, a reminder that their policy that there can never be too much of a wealth disparity in this nation, has consequences for both rural and urban areas. Mr Cummings is a Federal representative, not a member of Baltimore's city government
If these "Inner City Pastors" support trump then they are not serving their congregations. He said those who live in Baltimore's inner city as "no human" would live there. Are these areas not part of the "Inner City Pastors" responsibility? How do these Pastors tell their congregation that trump's hate is not against them? Maybe most of these pastors are rabbis or Jewish moderates or evangelicals who don't care what he says.
1
Bottom line: many of Trump's supporters are "single-issue" voters. Note that one of the African American leaders cited here is anti-abortion, and another is anti-gay marriage. Unfortunately, voting for those issues get you the entire package. Everything that Trump is opposed to, and speaks loudly and hatefully about, comes in one package: Donald Trump. Those who are passionate about a single issue would do well to look at what else they are getting by voting for the racist who claims to support those issues. And I say "claimed" because he conveniently changes his opinion (aka, "lies") about those issues.l
Mr. Bluster (aka Mr. Trump) is at it again. What he is really extremely concerned about is what staff from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform might uncover following its calls for emails from White House staffers. That Committee has already issued a report (as reported in today's NYT) about how one of Mr. Trump's close buddies, Thomas J. Barrack, Jr., worked behind the scenes to promote a policy favorable to a foreign power, namely Saudi Arabia, and not registering as a representative of that country.
To distract from any information coming out of the House Oversight Committee that might lead to an impeachment inquiry or upset his plans for re-election, Trump is doing what he does best. As the bully that he is, he is getting personal with Mr. Cummings, the chairman of that committee, and verbally lambasting him about the district he represents. Trump, who has not been to Baltimore City, only part of Mr. Cummings' district, the further reaches of which (in Howard County) reach closer to Mr. Trump's White House.
Trump continues in his diatribes. But this morning as he was leaving to visit Jamestown, Virginia, he seemed to be alleging that Mr. Cummings was a "thief". If he has some proof of this allegation, he should surely bring this matter to the attention of the U.S. Attorney for Maryland.
1
It's all about distraction. If he keeps the press busy quoting his slurs and inanities, they won't pay attention to the important things that are taking place behind the scenes. If we're spending all our time reading about Trump's racism and attempts to incite race war, we won't be thinking about what he's doing with Israel, Russia, Turkey, Iran, etc. Watch out.
Trump is determined to maintain his reputation of being like a toddler with a new toy. He believes race baiting everything within his reach and sight is a winning strategy. Trump doesn’t recognize the United States of America with all its challenges is ultimately his responsibility to fix and is not a source of ridicule for his reckless tweets and red meat for his base. I bet he would never refer to the opioid riddled cities and neighborhoods in red states as being “infested.” Any guesses why? Perhaps he should add a “w” to his “maga” to accurately reflect what he really stands for; “make white Americans great again”
21
Just so it’s clear, the leader of the free world is convinced that stoking racial fires is a winning strategy. It is. The bigots and Russia win. Best investment Russia ever made; the gifts keep pouring in.
24
Trump's words are a breath of fresh air in these PC times.
16
@David Really? Is it too much to ask the President -- the PRESIDENT -- to respect others different from himself? Is it too "PC" for the POTUS to recognize that the history of the United States is that of an immigrant nation? Is it really a 'breath of fresh air' to have a POTUS who offers no solution, no carefully crafted policies, no inspiration for Americans to rise to their better selves? Is it too much to have a POTUS who recognizes that he is supposed to represent all Americans -- regardless of party, or race, or social class? There is no dignity, no humor, and no 'smarts' to this buffoon.
Yeah, such bad governance must be truly 'refreshing.' What exactly has Trump actually accomplished that benefits you, and your community? If it is just appealing to a bloated sense of privilege, well, keep on fiddling while Rome burns.
2
I imagine that the air you currently breathe must be pretty bad, as if you believe that the fetid air emanating from this man’s mouth is fresh mountain air!
1
@David
What they fail to realize is how utterly sick of identity politics Americans (of all political persuasions) have become. They can yell, "Racist" until the cows come home, but people stopped listening a long time ago.
2
So embarrassing that our president behaves badly in public again and again. When will he stop. He makes my skin crawl.
17
There are lots of people out there who know Al Sharpton for the last 20 years and are saying to themselves, Trump is not always wrong (Tawana Brawley, Freddie's Fashion Mart, Crown Heights).
Unless the Democrats can come up with something better than open borders, no private insurance, reparations, and free everything, Trump will be with us til 2024.
21
@G
Unless regressives start categorizing things correctly, they'll remain wrong.
You grossly misrepresented the position of Democrats, which makes me wonder: what game are you playing?
This isn't presidential behavior.
Period.
23
@Mick; Indeed. Isn't that, in fact, what draws his supporters?
2
We need honest debate about racism. Racism are president's remarks, racism is quietness of senator Tim Scott, because he is afraid to honestly express his thoughts, racism is Elizabeth Warren's claim of being descendant of native Americans in order to benefit from minority status, racism is in affirmative action, when people are getting benefits they don't deserve just because of their racial status, racism is demand for reparations to descendants of slaves, but there is no mention of descendants of native Americans ......Stop politicking and start real honest debate and for this we need a strong leader, but I can't see one in neither party.
7
Lindsey Graham was correct when he said #45 was unfit for the job of President of the United States, and was a racial bigot. okay this was a couple of years or so back when he said it, and now Graham has turned into a #45 lap dog, but again he "Lindsey Graham" was correct when he said those earlier remarks. One has to wonder what happened for such a turn around, for so many Republicans who trashed #45 up and until the 2016 elections, who have now become #45 defenders at all costs to their own honor and dignity. The history books will not treat them well.
15
@Ricky
They want to hold on to power and
their cushy jobs.
Trump doesn't pull any punches, whether he's dealing with white or black politicians. Cummings goes after Trump and his kids, and Trump fights back. That's why the liberals and the media hate him. And why a lot of people love him. He may be rough around the edges, but he speaks the truth. Other Washington politicians are afraid to criticize minorities. Not Trump. He tells it like it is.
And Bernie Sanders said essentially the same thing in 2016, when he compared parts of Baltimore to a Third World country. No one criticized him. I guess if you're a liberal, pro-abortion Democrat you get a free pass from the press.
15
@dgbu
They hate him precisely because they cannot beat him. This is also why they hate McConnell, who constantly bests them as well. In fact, Trump and McConnell are a very formidable team. Much more effecgtive than Obama and Reid.
2
@dgbu probably because Bernie didn’t suggest anyone living in Baltimore was subhuman. I don’t know why you guys can’t follow along on this. And the thing you’re not getting is that black people don’t have a monopoly on poverty or squalor, if you think only minorities deserve criticism, you’re a racist. And given that he’s never been to Baltimore, I don’t see how he’s telling it like it is.
@dgbu
Yea, he doesn't push any punches either. He speaks "the truth according to Trump," not "the" truth about anything.
1
Democrats and their allies in the media longer get to be the sole arbiter of what constitutes racism. After decades of both using the charge to cow all legitimate criticism of politicians and race hustlers "of color", that old dog just ain't gonna hunt anymore.
Everyday people of color know who the real racists are. They are those that demand open borders, free health care and education to the world's "of color" migrants while denying the same to their own residents. Racists are embodied by former Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who gave "those who wish to destroy space to do that as well" permission to do so during the 2017 riots that devastated her city and then castigated the police for daring to protect the many businesses owned by people of color from that destruction. Racists are those that doom future generations "of color" to poverty and hopelessness by denying school choice to children in the failing urban school districts they've run for decades because teachers unions demand they do in return for campaign funding.
The real racists are those that use the epithet against a president who has delivered the highest employment rate for "people of color" in our history. A president who delivered on a promise to reform a justice system that devastated "of color" communities. Ironically, a "justUs" system devised and implemented by the very same people now calling him a racist.
16
@tim k nothing you have defined as racism is racism, Mr. Talking Point. POC are still chronically underemployed and the bill you give him credit for only got signed by him because his rich friend asked him to. It passed with bipartisan support and is something Dems have wanted for awhile. You repeat those two talking points and the rail on brown people and think no one sees that happening. We see you.
If I was Trump, I'd be careful about calling someone a "con man." Trump is the biggest con in the country.
20
@DonSo true. Remember that old adage "It takes one to know one."
Senator Kevin Cramer the difference in his attacks is he reserves the word "infestation" for brown skin immigrants, those committing crimes, and politicians of color who oppose his politics. He never refers to Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders with the same derogatory word reserved for vermin. Meanwhile he got nothing to say about his son-in-law Jared Kushner who owns hundreds of rat and maggots infested apartments in Baltimore making him a slumlord being the city of Baltimore has hundreds of violations against his buildings.
I can't imagine any world leader, pick your country, talking down and demonizing a major city in his country. Everything Trump says or does goes around the world heard in all four corners of the world. He does not mention John Hopkins Medical Center where lots of medical research is done in Baltimore. If you're a foreign tourist would you really consider visiting Baltimore after reading what the president wrote?
7
I am so tired of this man and his message of hate and division.
15
Re con men: this case proves the childhood maxim that it takes one to know one.
9
Another ploy to distract us from the fact that borrowing from the Federal government is set t top $1 trillion for the second year in a row. In the meantime, Trump keeps everyone hypnotized with racial comments and everyone falls for it. Is this considered news? I can’t tell the difference between the gossip pages of Page Six and the Nytimes these days. When will we learn to juxtapose his fake promises with his actions instead of always focusing on the diarrhea that comes out of his mouth?
15
I think I know what's going on here. Trump is very consciously provoking and playing the racist card, because he wants the Democrats to start an impeachment procedure. He thinks that such a clash in the House and all the attention for it in the Media will bring him a re-election.
7
@Richard
Trump is just firing back at the weaponry being used against him, in this case charges of "racism". It's clearly angered a lot of people that the accusation isn't working, especially when it's been so effective against previous republicans. Used to shut them right up. No more.
1
Black Americans have civil rights fatigue from our confronting racism for centuries in America
The specter of the POTUS engage in endless public declarations of bigotry and racism is nothing new but a continuation of the reality of contempt for our humanity in America
The reality that the most powerful person in America expresses such public contempt for Black Americans is a profound development in our tortured racial narrative in America
10
It’s a street fight, and Trump is very good at it. White liberals can only cluck their tongues in dismay, but nothing they have done recently has solved the problem of race in America. They must be content with the status quo or they’d be more proactive. In the meantime Trump, as rude and crude as he is, is not afraid of a fight. Some might even say it’s an improvement over the timidity of white guilt which produces nothing.
11
Actually, he is afraid of a fight! Very afraid! That’s why he avoided military service and why he fires people and attacks people via Twitter and never face to face. It’s why he avoided speaking with Mueller.
1
@Edward
And white conservatives, what have they done but continued to stir the pot of racism?
1
Trump and Sharpton have much in common. Both are exemplary of New York gutter politics, unabashed opportunists, conmen, morally corrupt, narcissists, and self-promoters. The difference is that Sharpton is a bad joke while Trump is the most powerful man in the world. As someone who also grew up in New York, I apologize for these two infantile native sons.
10
I spent two summers working in the US inner city in the 80s to supplement the children's normal education. The kids that I worked with were wonderful, but some of their neighborhoods and schools would subscribe to President Trump's description. The American inner city has chronic problems of poverty and violence that need to be addressed. I don't blame President or the GOP for criticizing Baltimore, but I do blame them both for not trying to find solutions. The Democrats are hardly better. How long have they ignored the pathetic level of education provided in the inner city in order to maintain good relations with the teacher's union? It's much easier to call out the faults of the city or someone a racist than to address the problems.
6
It is wrong to blame the teachers unions for wanting a fair wage. Inner city schools are funded by weak local tax bases. Good schools cost money. Trump could solve the issue of underfunded public schools by diverting money from his vanity wall to needy schools. That is if he cared.
1
The thing I do not understand about the coverage of Trump's racist statements is why the media is repeating every word of it?
I regard the repeating of his racist attacks as complicit in the cruelty and hatred he is meting out.
10
@Alabama: It would be refreshing if the mainstream media would review the entire text of each tweet and explore the context. Instead, they repeat only excerpts before adding additional paraphrases that misrepresent the actual text in order to bolster the manufactured narrative of racism.
3
@johnlo
I believe the term for that is propaganda. Or in president Trumps more expressive phrasing, "Fake News".
2
Trump’s behavior is abhorrent but it’s meant to do two things -
1. Distract from his failures and probable criminality (foremost)
2. Rile up his base and help them forget his failures and probable criminality
Does that help every Democrat in the country realize how to counter this? I hope so.
11
I remember reading some comments by persons who had to obtain security clearances in order to perform their new job. They said the vetting was intense, deep, and wide. This bright shiny object, a distraction, a cat toy, that is the racist name calling the other a racist generates a lot of noise and attention and solves nothing else; like investing in infrastructure repair. More importantly this practice of avoiding face-to-face complaints and making personal put-downs public on Twitter suggests that any candidate for POTUS ought to be vetted like any other candidate for a national security office. I suspect if an employee in any business of any size, a player on any sports team, a member of law enforcement or the military, behaved like 45, they would be summarily dismissed, Why is 45 special? Disability?
8
Donald J. Trump has a history of extreme racism dating from his days managing the family property here in New York City. Anyone who denies this is taking a "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" attitude. Not since Andrew Johnson has a president been so overtly so.
14
@Jean W. Griffith
Trump also has a "history" of someone who isn't a racist. Moreover, passing landmark prison reform isn't exactly the act of a "racist" president.
People see what they want to see, and when it comes to Trump their vision narrows to a pinpoint.
2
When I ask my Republican friends whether they approve of Trump's racism, they all deny it. But, I think my friends are liars, and it breaks my heart to say so. What else can I believe though, when they cling to this man and this political party? How can I believe that the Republican Party is anything but in complete agreement with Trump, since no Republican has spoken out against his attacks? No one in leadership of that party has so far been willing to guide the party away from Trump. I believe that the people I know would respond to a different kind of leadership from Republicans, if it was offered. But, there's no one to lead. Knowing that some of my friends and even my relatives agree with Trump's comments is very hard to deal with.
9
Now I'm really starting to believe every bit of it is diversionary tactics. Yes, the president is a bigot, but all this stuff is secondary to what he is really focused on: using his position to enrich himself with crooked schemes, which is easier to do when we are all focused on the next Twitter insult. It's his MO.
9
Jared Kushner may be quietly telling Dad-in-law to knock it off about Baltimore, given that he owns some of the "infested" housing properties there, sporting over 200 building code violations in 2017 alone. They're not directly in Cummings' district, but they are near enough to share zip codes; you can't cleanly isolate the kind of neglect Kushner supports to nicely drawn district boundaries. Mar-a-lago was cited for 78 health code violations, including for rust, mold, and parasites. Trump and Kushner properties, literally infested.
Trump's rants and attacks are often full of such ironies, if not completely false. Remember discovering that Trump's golf properties were knowingly hiring workers without legal papers? Trump on pace to issue more executive orders in one term than "King" Obama did in two, not even counting spurious "emergencies" used to justify usurping Congress' purse strings authority?
This guy would be one massive joke if this stuff wasn't so unfunny. If he manages to win a second term, it means this country is in deep trouble and it is liberals who may need to think more about their Second Amendment rights.
12
Rev Al! Don’t take the bait. Trump is trying to create divisions and chaos amongst people of color. The fight should be against Trump, not among people of color .
4
Strikes me that the WHO has a wind up doll (maybe called Steve Miller?) that answers the question: What does the base want to hear today?
1
"... You can fool some of the people, all the time.." He says he is not a racist, but talks like one. They say he is really addressing his base. All he cares is about not losing. This is signs of an inferiority complex. Kinda like
social psychology at work in a political medium. He plays mind games.
4
This current political mayem seems to parallel the cycle of domestic violence:
Phase 1: slow build up of tension and one sided compromise of boundaries by the partner under pressure (Republicans for one example) by the agressive partner (Trump). It's about keeping the peace and the adaptations and accomodations seem to work - for now.
Phase 2: The BIG blow up. An erruption that unmistakably violates the couple's 'norms' It's a shock and shatters hope for peace and a future. (Charlottesville, Cummings)
The agressor recognizes this and tries the triple play of deny, blame, and/or minimize.
Phase 3: The Honeymoon: After the massive expenditure of emotional and physical energy there is a lull. The offender sees a strategy of promises for change to keep control. The partner who absorbed the abuse hears what they always wanted to hear and becomes a defender of the abuser - "they promise to change! Doesn't love (party loyalty) mean try again !?!"
Slowly the couple moves out of the honeymoon phase and the buildup of tension returns. You know where this goes.
Trump will try the honeymoon phase of promises (More presidential etc) to woo back voters who can't and won't adapt or accommodate his behavior. It's coming. Abusers pull out all the stops to keep control. Even faux honey...
4
This is going to help Trump and his fellow Republicans. Race baiting is the only way the GOP can get enough votes to win elections, along with vote rigging,
3
How long must we Dems have to endure this chaos and daily wild mouthed President. Where are the church leaders who supported Trump. Why aren’t they saying to him he is wrong being a bully and insensitive. The reason why Baltimore has some bad areas is just plain prejudice from white rich like Trump who don’t care to see them get better like themselves . Let’s get the truth out there . It won’t change until the rich white share the wealth . One percent under capitalism only do well in America while the rest 99 percent will always be struggling.
4
And let's not forget that the origin of "The Star Spangled Banner" is connected with the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the War of 1812. Instead of reporters trying to ask Trump questions about politics and policy, which he will always dodge, ask him what he knows about this or any fact of US history.
13
Trump is detrius, floating through these few years of our lives, and as is its wont detrius interferes with the normalcy of life and living.
The detrius that is Trump will pass out of our lives, leaving unpleasant and disturbing memories of the damage it wrought, and we humans will have learned the hard lesson that the damage from this detrius could have been ameliorated, if only we had collectively built upon the bulwark of decency and empathy which has defined us, until now, as being just a tad better than our caveman ancestors.
For the moment Trump will continue to be a serious life threatening problem, but it's only for the moment; soon we will unite, clean up in its wake, and deliver ourselves from this evil, as we always eventually do, when our collective wellbeing is threatened.
Take heart, one and all, there is that old hope for the better day, just down this badly damaged road of our lives, so let's stand together, collect the detrius and use it as a teaching tool for future generations.
It's a beautiful day here on the Eastern shores of America, a tad too warm, but the "fall" is close ...
10
Until Americans learn and understand our history we are vulnerable to divisions sowed by those same "elite" wrote laws that insured that power, specifically ownership and the vote, could be legally had by only those who wrote the laws: white men. All of our institutions were created and governed with this DNA. For over 300 years, anyone not white or male has had to battle against this fact. As other laws and ammendments to our Constitution have been enacted to reverse this, progress has been slow and hard. In a land founded on equality and justice for all, some still believe that such noble aspirations are available still to only white men. Look at the way the ignored voter in the Midwest is the center of media and political attention because of the results of the 2016 election. Then look at how those ignored for centuries in every election weren't and aren't a concern. The now unwritten yet still prevalent "laws" of the Jim Crow Era prevail. The "elite" with the help of Trump continue to diminish everyone's rights and privileges. Wake up! As long as we revel in our perceived grievences, the powerful will use those to keep the majority down. Take responsibility for your own lives. Learn the true history of America. Fight for the ideals of our Declaration of Independence before we lose anything else. We, the People, are in charge. As long as we are divided, we lose.
8
It is really past the time when any pastor should meet with Trump. They must know, and perhaps welcome their ten minutes in the White House for their family scrapbook, maybe appropriately, because they are but scraps to Trump and he will be in the scrapheap of history before too long.
7
As someone dealing with my own political mess, i can only look at it and say "my economy might be at risk but at least my leader isn't trying to incite racial conflict (ideological or physical)
8
trump is a racist and no one can defend or ignore his recent attacks. We all must demand that he be impeached AND convicted. trump has committed the crime of obstruction while in office. trump has sided with and colluded with a foreign adversary. trump has treated human beings as less than human. trump has ignored the First Amendment and Article One of the Constitution. trump lets our infrastructure crumble while he wastes billions on a vanity wall. How can anyone support this?
26
I am not a big fan of Mr. Sharpton, but by far the best one liner has to be " As far as being a con man, if he really thought I was a con man, he'd be nominating me for his cabinet."
Let's be candid here trump knows exactly what he is doing when it comes to dividing this country. He is doing what the white nationalist want. He is defining what a vote for him in 2020 means and people have better pay close attention because if he wins we are in trouble big trouble not only at home but globally.
40
Trump's latest hypocrisy. He has no shame. He has no bottom. He has no empathy.
21
Hey look: something shiny! Look everybody—it sparkles! Wow, let’s all watch that instead of working hard on things that matter.
Our lazy time-waster-in-cheif wants to distract you with this stuff, and a few vainglorious mediahogs will get down in the dirt with him.
19
Al Sharpton and Twana Brawley, that is really all you need to know. And the media and Democratic leadership fawn over this race-baiter and call him a civil rights leader. Sharpton is the real bigot, remember Crown Heights.
18
Some other “all you need to knows” to be able to judge someone’s character and worthiness for the job they hold.
You’d think that because Trump spent five years lying about the previous president’s country of origins would be all “you need to know.” That he is on tape in his own voice boasting about getting away with sexually assaulting women would be “all you need to know.” That even AFTER the Central Park Five were exonerated that Trump still called for the death penalty for five innocent boys who grew into men because they were falsely railroaded into prison. That Trump called the White House a “dump” without a bit of outcry from those who support him. That he unequivocally believes he has the right to accept foreign help to win elections—admitted to in his voice—would be “all you need to know.” That he has five children with three different women whom he repeatedly and publicly cheated on would be “all you need to know.” That although he inherited a fortune from his father he still managed to lose more than $1 billion, the worse business record EVER would be “all you need to know.” That he boasted that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and his supporters would still love him would again be “all you need to know” to disqualify him from the White House. But none of these egregious flaws in character and leadership, were enough for his supporters to say “that’s all I need to know. No!”
7
@Mark V
most people probably never heard about it
2
@Mark V
If Trump created a list of people with whom to discredit the democrats, the Squad, Sharpton and Cummings (and Baltimore) would be at its top. I wonder who's next.
Every time the media and democrats defend someone who isn't really all that worthy of defending, they lose credibility. It's bad enough they jump up to defend anyone who leaves the Trump Administration, even when they know nothing about the person (ex., Coats). They're all "heroes" and "patriots".
Imagine how Americans respond when democrats lionize the person who runs to the border while the residents in his own district live in squalor or the Rev. Al Sharpton? It cannot get any more damaging for them.
2
“The president is concerned about the whole nation, about everybody in the nation,” said Alveda C. King, a niece of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a leader of an anti-abortion group who also belongs to “Women for Trump” and is a Fox News contributor."
I'm not interested in what a person making a living off of promoting Trump, has to say on any matter.
King, like all Trump supporters, puts her mouth where her money is. Cheer-leading for Trump can be very lucrative.
And people paid to tell Trump he is right and wonderful and smart are how we wound up here. Trump, an arrogant, ignorant, incurious, spoiled bully, thinks he is a genius. He's been told so all his life by nannies, servants, teachers, lawyers, wives and anyone else making money by keeping Trump happy.
So, no thank you.
If you can find anyone who isn't making a buck off Trump, I'd rather hear from them.
32
@D. DeMarco
Familiarize yourself with the #WalkAway movement. No one paid. All leaving the Democratic Party voluntarily. It's like a liberation movement.
2
America has a legacy of those who engage in denial, deflection and racial amnesia when the reality of racism becomes a national spectacle.
Black Americans have experienced endless excuses and when We confront racism in America
13
A descendant of Dr. King is a contributor on Fox? A new and clever way to cash in on the name of a man she never knew?
23
Please, will someone tell this man, that works for the American people, he was hired to do a job that does not include playing on your phone. If he worked for me he would be fired for wasting company time.
24
@Michael
I agree!! Why aren't more people questioning what that man does every day?
Just as getting a little dust on his coat on 9/11 means (to him) that he was down there working with the first responders, having a couple of "inner city pastors" over for a private lunch means he is not a racist. This bait and switch approach is equivalent to old saying "some of my friends are black so how can I be a racist".
16
I'm open minded about politics but I find Trump just can't stop himself. The economy is doing well...no new wars and yet Trump brings up Baltimore. I've begun to strongly believe he doesn't want to be re-elected. He's sick and tired of all that it involves in being President. He wants out.
7
that's absurd, he thinks being re elected will give him a "get out of jail card"
2
Twitter and other social media sites need to ban Trump from their platforms. This is not about free speech. This is about inciting hatred and fanning the flames of violence.
22
If Trump is so concerned with Baltimore, why is he trying to take away their food stamps and health care, in addition to not even trying to pass an infrastructure bill or an employment retraining program. Mr. Trump is only concerned with using it as a political cudgel, not finding solutions, the worst kind of cynic!
33
In just 3 days the president got more people across the country to actually really look at Baltimore and it’s trouble than have in 40 yrs. What has Cummings actually done for his constituents? What happened to all the stimulus money Obama gave Baltimore? These are questions that need answers. I would say getting rich off representing the poor, especially people of color, is extremely racist and a human rights violation.
15
Wow sounds like you're describing Moscow Mitch... well done. Don't forget Trump saying he could fix Baltimore in a matter of weeks during the Obama presidency. Although having been in office for 2.5 years with nothing to show for it doesn't bode well for Trump's efficacy in urban renewal.
4
@JOSEPH you understand that the great majority of Baltimore is not in Cummings’ district, right? And that he’s not in charge of the city in any meaningful way?
@JOSEPH
They should be thanking Trump and probably are if the proliferation of videos on the internet are any indication. It's the Baltimore residents themselves who are pointing out Cummings is more concerned about the border than his own district.
Obama's response to the $1.8 billion given to Baltimore without effect was to state we needed to do some "soul searching". Sounds like something Buttigieg or any of the current crop of Democratic presidential candidates would say. In other words, let's sleep on it and discuss in the future. A lot of good that does.
2
Please stop covering trump’s endless twitter nonsense. It is meant purely to increase discord amongst us and deflect from other issues.
11
I suggest this is what happens when Congress is on vacation.
He has the pulpit to himself and if there is someone who knows self promotion, it is our POTUS.
Now, as to racism - I fully support POTUS in denouncing this race card being played time and again.
This is politics - pure and simple.
150 plus years after Emancipation - if a black politician cannot take a public criticism by another politician - I say, look in the mirror if you are trying to find someone to blame.
Mr. McCain's citizenship was questioned because of his birth overseas in an American military base - no one thought of it as racism.
After 3 years of this POTUS - even as non politician - I have learned that he gives back once for once. And he does not need to punch above his weight because he knows folks pay attention to him.
This is just the start of a 6 week Congress on vacation.
Folks, stay tuned.
There is plenty more entertainment to come.
4
Too many pretend that racism was over, over 150 years ago with the Emancipation Proclamation, is to deny the waves of violence meted out by whites against blacks for the next century. It is to present that Jim Crow never happened. That we didn’t have “separate but equal” and sundown towns codified into law and into practice well into the 1960s is also to deny the history of our country.
White people were still barring blacks from schoolhouse doors as late as the 1970s in the US, during the height of the disco era! My body was evidence of a felony in 17 states due to the anti miscegenation laws that didn’t fall until 1967. Our largely white population as a whole did not fight these unfair laws and practices. But fought every step of the way to limit any type of remedy to overcome what literally centuries of laws and customs imposed by their votes had done to our lives and our communities.
4
Since our founding much of politics in our country is about race. If the oft-deployed “Southern Strategy” had been called what it should have been called “the Racist Strategy,” this would be apparent to you too. But to suggest that those who stand against racism are “playing” a “card,” instead of joining us to confront and bear witness to the corrosive impact it has when the US President maligns repeatedly black and brown people.
Yes. He also attacks anyone who goes after him. But he only uses the words of “infestation” about black and brown people. The use of language calling black and brown neighborhoods “infested” or of our very bodies “infesting” the country is the ultimate in dehumanizing racist language.
The policies he supports are also racist. “Racism” always has a structural component to it. It isn’t the same as bigotry or prejudice. It really doesn’t matter if he personally likes or doesn’t like this or that person of color. What matters is that his invective is whipping up violence and harm towards black and brown bodies in our country as do the polices he supports. He refuses to treat the re-emergence of white supremacist terrorism as a threat to the US.
It is offensive to pretend we are doing this as a ploy or a card for attention. Our very lives, our access to equal protection under the law, our worthiness to be treated with respect and inclusivity are all being threatened every single day.
2
@Wordsonfire, the idea that whites were a monolithic "block" that did not fight racism is wrong. From the abolitionist movement up to the number of whites who marched with African-Americans in the South as well as the north--and endured abuse, white Americans of conscience have been part of the effort to effect civil rights. In fact, if they had not been, it is arguable that the civil rights movement never would have achieved what it did.
African Americans were stigmatized as a "minority." Denied meaningful participation for so long, their influence--politically, culturally, morally--has been extraordinary and uplifting. However, it is doubtful that civil rights efforts would have gained ground without some sympathy and effort among the "majority." (Think of other nations in which a majority does not really care about minority rights--of Kurds, Nepalese, etc.)
This observation in no way minimizes the remarkable, courageous sacrifices of African Americans who endured water cannons, violence, and worse in the fight for civil rights. This observation does ask that we stop profiling white Americans as a monolithic, privileged, racist "block," because it just isn't so. In many ways, the affluent white minority is as much of a threat to working-class and poor whites (whether urban or rural) as to other segments of the nation. Democrats have tried to unite those populations.
It was never mentioned in the media that in his July 4th speech Trump paid tribute - and recognized by name - black civil rights leaders. His rhetoric is debatable but anyone familiar with Baltimore knows that many, many good people there are ill served by the city's politicians - google the current mayor as evidence. Open air drug markets have operated for years with impunity; academic studies of B-more suggest this could only happen with organized crime making payments to those in power to turn a blind eye. Like Camden and Newark, these cities are dominated by political machines that give patronage do-nothing jobs in exchange for votes not service. It isn't racist to note that reform is long overdue.
15
You realize, yes, that the whole point of Trump’s tweets is to stoke progressive outrage and attract ever more media attention? Has anything of substance emerged from his daily tweets? Not really. But by repeating his tweets and treating them as serious news, the media continue to legitimize Trump as a consequential president. Don’t you think he knows that (gleefully)?
14
It's not about race, although the Democratic politicians spin it that way as usual. Trump has criticized Cummings and De Blasio among many others. Black, white....his point is not about skin colour - it's about the consequences, for the people, of their lack of leadership. It's also about the money. Where did those billions of dollars go, in Baltimore? Why is Cummings not able to respond to Trump by pointing to the clean streets and shining buildings he has created? To the enterprise zones and successful businesses? It's not good enough for the Dems to issue their knee-jerk call 'Racist racist' when someone - anyone - points out their failure over DECADES of rule in inner cities. Never mind their whining about what Trump says - what have they been DOING all these years? They need to explain why have they so little to show for all the time and money they have had.
17
@Cath Boylan
Let's see ... black and white lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans, criticize the way he first created and then managed a humanitarian border crisis.
The ONLY responsible, morally valid way to react to this kind of criticism, as the president of the greatest country on earth, is to engage in a REAL, respectful debate on substance, explaining why he disagrees with his critics, accepting that being held accountable by Congress is part of the privilege that comes with occupying the highest office in the world, and as a consequence, eagerly providing all the evidence that he believes might nuance or refute his critics' arguments.
Instead of doing so, Trump totally changes the subject, singles out 5 lawmakers of color, and tells them that they do NOT have the right to give a voice to their constituents' concerns about bad governance at the border, because ... the black communities where they (are supposed to) come from are full of ... crimes and insects.
Can you please explain WHAT definition of racism to use in order for this kind of behavior NOT to be utterly racist ... ?
Now let's suppose for a moment that Trump would systematically run away from a debate about his border management by telling white male critics to shut up too, and asking Bernie Sanders for instance to"go back" to one or the other "crime infested" place full of white people (which Trump NEVER does). HOW can you defend such a weak, unconstitutional, and frankly childish reaction ... ?
19
All the time spent bickering on twitter, I wonder how the country is being run. Does he not have work to do?
21
Donald Trump and Al Sharpton kind of deserve each other. Neither has the capability to ever own their mistakes. I refuse to call Mr. Sharpton a "Reverend" as he has been wrong on many occasions and never admits it. I wish that the U.S. government would treat him like they would treat the rest of us on his federal tax issues.
Donald Trump also seems to have issues with the truth as he lies almost every time that his lips move. It would be nice to see his tax returns to see what foreign government owns him and his mismanaged empire.
4
Perception is projection: He sees his own hate for others in others.
10
Let’s face it, this man doesn’t know how to bring people together. Our international allies are alienated, our foreign service is alienated, our intelligence community is alienated, our citizenry is alienated. He’s a force for division, not unification.
24
The continuing politics over race is extremely troubling because both parties--Republicans and Democrats--seem to ignore the intolerance in their own camps for the sake of scoring points on social media as well as in the mainstream news.
For example, the President has a long history of using "coded" and sometimes blatantly racist language; however, Al Sharpton has made some of the most intolerant and blatantly divisive remarks possible--and he has never renounced or apologized for them: referring to Jews as "bloodsuckers" and "diamond merchants," some of the most vile stereotypes in a long history of anti-Semitism, in addition to calling whites "interlopers" for doing business in Harlem (all of which is a matter of public record).
As a lifelong Democrat, I find it distressing that my own party is willing to turn a blind eye to extremism and intolerance for the sake of votes. Republicans tolerate the President's appeal to more radical whites, while Democrats selectively ignore the bigotry in their own midst. As a lifelong Democrat, I often feel I no longer recognize the party of unity, the party that fights entrenched interests for the sake of working people of all colors and backgrounds.
I grew up in a housing project in Brooklyn in the seventies and eighties. There were problems (we used to stand by our door with a baseball bat when my mother brought the garbage to the incinerator chute); and I believed the Democrats had answers. Intolerance was not one of them.
9
You respond to Trump with a massive fund raising and voter registration drive. Don't engage--use this moment to mobilize and build the power to defeat him and his allies.
19
It’s all about Epstein. Wish the media and Dems would wake up.
9
The party of Abraham Lincoln has left the building, will the last adult leaving the Republican Party please turn out the lights.
12
I cannot stand what President Trump has done to our national discourse. BUT, Al Sharpton is a disgrace and I feel no obligation as a liberal to pretend that I support him. Get a job, Al.
15
He is trying to provoke a violent race war in order that he can declare martial law. Which will last in perpetuity. With the blessings of the GOP.
12
It is hard to imagine that something so horrifying as a President spewing racism may be Trump's way of distracting us from the horror of cutting 3m people from food stamps, opening up more of the Arctic to oil drilling, or welcoming Russian attacks on our democracy.
To the cowardly Republicans in the Senate, you have proven you are incapable of governing and are finished as a national political party.
To the Democrats, you need to confront everything. Confront racism. Confront environmental destruction. Confront gun violence. Confront destruction of our public schools. Confront support for kleptocracy, both at home and abroad, and save our democracy.
You need to do it all.
28
Martin Luther king Jr must be rolling in his grave to have one of his nieces supporting Trump.
26
After 2 decades of Fox News' fake news and its flirting with racism and demonizing critics of the GOP, we've finally come to a defining moment for this nation, once again.
How do we want our "government by and for the people" to be, the next few decades?
That question will now have to be answered by asking ourselves how we want to define "leadership".
Will we give up on the American Dream and from now on only work with a "small" sense of what it means to be a leader, or will we once again rise to the occasion and have the courage to dream big?
A "small" definition of leadership is quite widespread both among GOP supporters and certain progressives today. It is based on an utterly cynical, maffia-style worldview, where "man is a wolf for man", as Hobbes called it. The basic presumption here indeed is that in the end, most people are "bad" (egoistic, greedy, lying, corrupt, racist, ...), so we better give up our hopes that one day, we might have leaders with high moral standards (again), and settle for immoral ones instead. And from then on, all we expect presidents "on our side of the aisle" to do is to respond to criticism of his policies by going as low as possible, as we'll assume that his critics are inevitably "bad people" too, and as a consequence, all criticism is by definition "hypocritical".
Or do we instead cultivate our memory of "real Leaders", strong enough to take the moral high road, appeal to people's best instincts, and who dare to give up all cynicism?
8
Trump is a New Yorker and every now and then his utterances contain a kernel of truth. As a New Yorker he remembers the Tawana Brawley case and how it tore apart this city and beyond. Al Sharpton handled Brawley’s publicity and stoked the fires.
13
@beta
Since when is being a New Yorker an excuse for actively "stoke the fires", once you have been given the privilege to serve all of the American people at the highest office in the world ... ?
Any ideas?
24
it is time for elected officials to fix the problems in the districts they represent. I grew up very poor, and I quickly learned that it was all about the money. After all of the mud slinging, who really cares for our poor, the homeless...
The people are suffering and you want to paint President Trump a racist? Shame on you.
Let's focus on our problems. When opportunity for change arises, then make it happen.
11
@DS
Let's see ... he doubled the deficit by signing a huge tax cut for the wealthiest into law, sabotage Obamacare so that millions have lost their health insurance already, tried to pass Ryancare, which would no longer have covered people with pre-existing conditions and destroyed the healthcare of a whopping 30 million Americans, hires people in his cabinet who constantly propose to cut social security and Medicare, opposes increasing the minimum wage, didn't do ANYTHING for the economy (look at no matter what economical graph and you'll see NO Trump dent whatsoever), destroys the income of millions of farmers with his "trade wars" which are mere campaign stunts, and on top of that, when he gets some criticism from people of color on the way he's handling the (by his own administration created) border crisis, he refuses to engage in a real, respectful debate on substance, and indeed starts talking about black countries and neighborhoods and crime ... and somehow you STILL don't see how racist such a behavior is ... ?
By the way, do you still remember his inauguration (and its historically small crowd, and how he felt compelled to lie even about something as irrelevant as that)? Didn't he promise to finally END the "carnage" on our streets, especially our inner cities, and how "the blacks" would be so happy?
Why isn't he signing any bill into law, and now asks Reps to save their own districts all on their own (as soon as they're people of color, that is)? Any ideas?
28
@DS: He's the president. Isn't he in charge of this country? Instead of whining, which is all he knows how to do and dividing the country, he should lay out strategies to fix the problems. He's an abysmal failure on all counts.
16
@Ana Luisa
I understand your point. However, how many politicians really care for the poor and for people who are suffering?
Modern technology has improved so that we can see how politicians flip flop on real issues.
Why spend time responding or entertaining pointless conversation, when we can spend our time and reasources fixing real problems. Push for well paying jobs and affordable healthcare, affordable housing based on median income in the area.
Amazon is gone. Can we obtain other business?
Put real problems in the news.
Once again, it is all about the money.
So you want me to join the chorus and help paint him a racist. No. That will not happen. I encourage respect for all especially for those in office. Disrespect leads to people dousing water on police officers. Our media should cover that more.
How much does it cost to become President? What is the salary?
1st it was sex, then collusion, then obstruction, now racism...
This is a distraction...
Look at both sides and see the real problem.
I rather talk about black people teaching their children to disrespect the police. Let's talk about the environment. Oh! You rather spend hours talking about Trump's tweets. Your choice.
A woman of color reports the squalor in the same area - complete with video. No charge of racism. A white man, running for President in 2016 - a socialist - reports that Baltimore is like a third world country. No charge of racism. Trump says the same thing in reference to the Districts Rep calling the conditions at the border bad? Immediate charges of racism. Time to remove agenda from professional journalism. Report facts.
24
Trump: Master of misdirection
6
Where was the outrage when Bernie Sanders compared Baltimore to a third world country?
22
I would love to see Trump take up Michael Steele's invitation to visit the streets of Baltimore. It would be a step towards healing but healing is not on Trump's divisive agenda.
13
Again, Trump turns the left's narrative back on itself. And the left reacts by calling him a racist. You won't get the independent vote with that strategy.
15
@LV what narrative is that? Are you saying it’s a lie that inner cities are in trouble?
Trump has ripped the scab off the knee. My sympathies to everyone who saw this coming.
2
Donald Trump is, simply put, the personification of evil.
20
The economy is weakening right under his nose. Ex-‘fang’ the market is down. The Russell for the last 12 months is down. Growth is slowing because of the trade traffics and taxes, and the cap on mortgage and state tax deductions is pressuring the real estate market, materially. The fed can’t cut rates much, even if they cut 25 bps this week, because they can only go so low. Unemployment is reportedly low, but temp/gig workers aren’t happy. Wages are going nowhere, and banks and corporations are starting to downsize and cut costs. Russia can’t rig the next election; oil is circling the drain and Russia has its own problems now. So the tactic is to divert attention to fake social issues. He needs to beg the fed to cut rates more, to beg for another qe, but now that we are approaching recession, it won’t work... the bond market is a giant bubble waiting to pop, just like trump castle casino bonds which could even make their first interest payment; so it’s too late! grab your shorts ... long live arb!
7
Trump's stoking of racial hate will end up in violence.
Is this his strategy for reelection?
12
Jared Kushner thinking he can win African-American votes next year is right up there with him bringing peace to the middle east. Each person in this family is a bigger buffoons than the next. It's uncanny.
21
Trump is a racist without a doubt, his racism was evident for decades.
But, now what is he trying to hide for doubling down on that ?
Is it his tax return, Moscow escapade or what ?
11
So, according to Mark Meadows, Trump is an opportunist who uses race to stir up the anger and hatred of his base?
Because if Trump isn’t a racist, there really is no other explanation.
7
Where are Kim and Kanye now? Cultural leaders and beacons of societal change that need support and nothing but silence? This surely beckons an office visit.
10
Unfortunately for the left and for Democrats, they've embraced such a massive denial of the pervasive problems in present-day black politics and black leadership, that they are gifting Trump with the kind of power that comes from alluding to truths that are suppressed.
Regardless how clumsily Trump takes this on, the fact remains, which Democrats refuse to recognize, that a lot of people will really appreciate that Trump has lifted the corner of the carpet under which the Democrats and black community leaders alike have swept a heck of a lot of dirt, these past many decades, making excuses for black failure and coming out with policy after racist policy which is condescending to the black community and treats them as incapable of achieving without continual help from whites.
25
@Oakbranch I’m confused, you think no one was talking about this before Donald? Are you sure? Though it seems pretty clear that you think black people are the problem, so I guess none of that matters.
@Oakbranch
I feel it is absolutely pathetic to defend Cummings based on his race. To put his ego before the needs of constituents, especially those in such dire circumstances, is just despicable.
Democrats chose to close ranks and fire the "racist" weaponry at their critics. Meanwhile the real problem gets ignored. And, no, the real problem isn't Trump. It's the squalor in which Baltimore residents live.
2
They say it takes one to know one....
I am sure Trump knows about rat infested places better than most. He certainly acts like one ... Well that might have been figurative speech but what if we turn to literal speech.... What about the 78 Health and Safety violations he has gotten on the las few years on Mar-o-Lago... some just this January...
The reality is that he knows very little about policy and he has no original ideas of his own to offer so he keeps us twisted in knots with his hateful tweets hoping we do not pay attention to the corruption, incompetence and destruction going on from this administration
Unfortunately, he is successful in one way. He takes bits and pieces from others and makes them his own. For example, he ripped some of the populist demagoguery from Berny Sanders on 2016 and made it his own; he was successfully able take over where Bernie left off ...
Then he spices the stolen argument with lies, a little bit of fear and fake patriotism and then he is able to convice the masses simply because he gets enough time (due to his shocking and vulgar talk) on the airways to repeat his demagoguery over an over again.
I really cannot wait to vote him out!
15
Trump uses the Bloomberg model...pay off in various ways the pastors of churches who willingly support him. A little digging will find that!
1
Sharpton is a conman. Every time I see him, I’m amazed he has been able to get to where he is despite the Tawana Brawley lie. He’s also a shakedown artist whose only out for himself. He didn’t reinvent himself, he only got rid of the velour track suit, put on a real suit, and threatened his way into boardrooms and construction sites looking for payola and no show jobs for himself, and jobs for his unqualified minions.
Any wonder how he and Trump were chummy there for awhile?
22
Keep doing what you're doing mr. prez because the southern district of NY awaits your loss in 2020.
16
I believe we as a nation will always have problems of racism and sexism. Part of the problem, maybe much of the problem is that there is one acceptable narrative.
My experiences tell me that that narrative is such:
People are the same, regardless of race or sex.
The problem with that narrative is that it cannot be diverged from in the slightest without recrimination. The issue then is becomes 'Is this how people feel, believe and act, or is this narrative a product of their better angels (as it were)?'
My experiences tell me it is the latter. I rely on observing what people do, not what say. When we act and truly believe in accordance with our 'better angels' then perhaps
only then then this all becomes moot.
But currently people, myself included, don't and it isn't.
2
It’s time to shun and isolate Trump along with his Republican enablers.
We know who and what he is. We need to set him aside and move on to solving our problems.
Jack Dorsey will never suspend his Twitter account. It’s up to us and the media to ignore him.
NYT, please stop amplifying this twit’s tweets. Set an example for American media.
8
I complement President Trump for bringing the nation’s attention to America’s devastated inner cities. These Democratic Party controlled inner-city areas in major American cities are in a shockingly atrocious and horrible state. Even Bernie Sanders found them appalling and described them as “Third World.” And this American “third world” could be found everywhere where the Democratic Party has been in control for decades; urban eastern seaboard, Mid-West and now the same devastation is spreading from Seattle, to Portland from San Francisco, Oakland to Los Angeles─ all these areas under Democratic Party’s liberal tax and spend rule. In fact these are the geographic areas of the Democratic Party’s “political plantation.” Where our liberal, open minded, politically correct, equality- believing ─the Democratic Party’s Congressional, Senatorial, And Presidential candidates harvest their votes in great numbers─ in every election. Democratic Party Presidential candidates are very depended on these voters. Then, why have the Democratic Party so spectacularly failed to improve the lives of these shockingly marginalized Americans? Could it be because the Democratic Party policies don’t work and can't bring people out of destitution? Or could the reason be these constituents are predominantly black? Or both?
17
Except for Dallas Texas, there are no MAJOR (population over 800,000), Republican cities in the US. The Republicans only have rural America and smaller cities. Look at any national elections map and you’ll see every other big city is blue. The conservative former bible thumping agenda that discriminated against women’s pay and equal rights, against abortion right, against doing much of anything to protect the environment in recent years, against the LGBT community, against multi-ethnicity multi-culturism in many cities, against funding public education, against paying for drugs programs, against air pollution control, against public transport, wanting to defund Amtrak they only rail system linking the country instead of improving it to keep people in gas guzzling cars, wanting deregulation against big companies that pollute or provide addictive medicines. The list goes on and on but they sadly can’t event provide hospitals or affordable health care access to their rural voters and want to cut Medicare to them. And forget about clean water, clean air, because they’re married to the big oil, gas and coal companies and want to deregulate them no matter the consequences to the environment or unlucky safety. Look at Alaska - a Republican state - and it’s tanking economically. Looks at Texas and it’s becoming bluer by the minute with Austin and San Antonio blue, Houston getting blue, on Dallas really red. In California, San Diego and Orange County used to be red but not anymore
@ChandraPrince the problem is that none of cared until Donald told you about it. That’s it. I find it alarming that none of you had any idea about this in spite of residents and politicians talking about this for decades and every one of you didn’t hear it. Could the reason be that they’re predominantly black?
Concerned Times readers need to put down their cocktails and take the next train to Baltimore. Volunteer wherever needed in the most blighted areas and support the local economy by renting a room, shopping and dining in the neighborhood. No takers...? Of course not.
22
I believe we as a nation will always have problems of racism and sexism. Part of the problem, maybe much of the problem is that there is one acceptable narrative.
My experiences tell me that that narrative is such:
People are the same, regardless of race or sex. The problem with that narrative is that it cannot be diverged from in the slightest without recrimination.
The issue then is becomes 'Is this how people feel, believe and act, or is this narrative a product of their better angels (as it were).'
My experiences tell me it is the latter. I rely on observing what people say, not what they do. When we act and truly believe in accordance with our 'better angels' then perhaps
only then then this all becomes moot.
But currently people, myself included, don't and it isn't.
Sorry, Rev. Al, but this is gonna hurt.
Mr. Trump declined to offer you a cabinet position not because you are not a con man.
Mr. Trump declined to offer you a cabinet position because you are not a particularly successful con man.
12
Divide and conquer! Trump's keeping the country in shock and awe instead of his and his toadies criminal activities being investigated. The U.S. of A. is broken!
3
There is more integrity in the pinky of Representative Cummings than the entire Trump clan.
11
Just saying. Elsewhere on this page is this:
"Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” which — after its latest blast of remixes and videos — on Monday notched its 17th week atop Billboard’s flagship singles chart."
I think we should all stop buying into the few who want to divide and start writing about those who bring us together. I also think some of the "racist" claims are coming from boomers who don't have a clue how much young people don't see the world as they did.
IT’S SIMPLE
Either Trump is a racist, or he uses racism to his benefit. And the latter is worse than the former, because it knows betters—and enters the dark anyway.
8
Another day, another round of inane media fanfare about nothing, as long as divisiveness is well served by the nonsense spewed by the so-called leader
2
Do NOT fall for this “hey, look over THERE” technique. President Trump may be a simpleton, but he knows how to obfuscate. Keep your eye on the ball, America. There is a lot of subterfuge going on, and a LOT of destructive actions being taken by this administration. Don’t take the bait.
7
Donald is like the main character in a recurring horror story, one you have to wake up to day after day after day. Why can't he sing, or dance, or learn to do something useful, like play tennis?
No wonder he's had so many wives. To know him is NOT to love him. When will he just go away?
7
Winning Strategy (for Votes):
Steps
1. make a distinction by the way of race, colour, language or religion,
2. Pick a minority or Minorities
3. Say anything from subtle to outrageous to blame them
4. Create a conversation in the media (called Free Ad)
It works in most populations, the most developed country (USA) is no exception.
The funny thing is, win votes and do what with it to create an "ideal" solution.
Send all the coloured people to where they came from irrespective of the fact that they are lawfully living or not?
Make them all second class citizens because they not capable of caring for the land that they live in?
Send them to camps? Didn't someone try to do that already?
I guess the basic question is, What would one do with populism even if all the majority population were to take one side against the other???
Any one has answers? Please enlighten...
1
The question I have is —
Why did the Reverend Al have anything to do with Trump in the past? Where is his judgment? It smacks of self promotion, a familiar charge.
4
Seems like the president's worst insults are reserved for American citizens.
10
Cover the investigations, and do all the great investigstive reporting you do. Its important that he is not allowed to choose or change the speaking points thats how he seems to avoid taking the consequences of his actions everytime. Ignore all the poor excuses and keep at it. And maybe you could try spread the word about how Moscow Mitch is holding up all the good things that would help ordinary americans. Maybe
8
Here's some free advice to Jared Kushner: "inner city pastors," what ever that means, will not help your FIL get the black vote. That ship has sailed. The elderly church ladies vote Democratic and younger people are no longer interested in either party. Don't ask Kanye for advice because that will only give you his and Kim's vote, and don't send them out to campaign for you. Stick with your base.
@Lynn in DC: Here's my advice for Jared Kushner: Fix up your thousands upon thousands of rodent-infested Baltimore rental units. Slumlord.
6
Looking at the photo of Trump and Sharpton led me to believe Trump made a chump out of Sharpton to get a photo to fight discrimination claims and for obvious political gain. Sure I'm cynical. He really is that bad.
Has anyone viewed “Years and Years” on HBO? This non-presidential occupant of the White House is one of the inspirations for fictional prime minister Vivian Rook. Clearly the nation and the world are the victims of an unfortunate aberration of history. Let’s pray saner minds prevail and we work together to restore our democracy before we crumble and decay into ruins like the Roman Empire.
1
Three Scenarios:
1. Trump continues his outrageous behavior dividing our very precious democracy and shredding all presidential norms (a.k.a. the shooting someone on 5th Avenue scenario) and then goes on to win the 2020 election.
2. Trump loses the election but joins his Fox & Friends buddies and creates "Trump Nation" a new white supremacist multi-media enterprise that continues to stoke the fires of division - and doing incredible damage to our American dream.
3. Trump loses the election but Americans of all political parties will stand up for decency and what's right for our nation; and prosecutors across the nation will give him his well deserved and perhaps overdue day in court.
4
The silence from the wider Republican Party is absolutely deafening.
10
Trump wants to make the election about any democrat other than Biden - a popular white male. That is because he already knows that Biden is more popular than him and can best him in an election if people are truly voting for him and his moderate policies. Trump wants his base to vote against black men/the squad, etc....Instead of responding directly to his attacks, people need to tweet - "What are you trying to deflect from, your own weakness?"
3
Unfortunately the driver of Donald Trump appears to be a lack of self respect. How one treats others is a critical sign of one's authenticity and integrity. For one to be so afflicted as Trump neither color, nationality, sex, age, orientation nor competence makes a shred of difference.
2
If Trump is concerned about turning out his base then he’d do better to have Congress enact a law providing a bottle of OxyContin to each voter on Election Day.
4
Part of Trumps' job is to help fix the problems not just call them out. He has disparaged Chicago, where he is loathed and not welcome, even though a tower with name on it sits downtown. Oh well we knew a long time ago he's nuts, highly incompetent and a con man. Not a good combination for POTUS. But apparently some people like that sort of thing and voted for him anyway and will vote for him again. He should be impeached but we know where that's headed. Nowhere.
1
Meanwhile, can we get back to the obstruction of justice, and how closely related Donald Trump is to Jeffrey Epstein?
9
To an irrational extreme, conservatives tend to blame blacks for all the troubles that weigh on them. Nothing is the fault of discrimination and poverty. It is all about individual responsibility.
If you believe that that is politics and not racism, Trump's statements need to be considered in that light. If the Squad call for policies that aid the poor, they are not taking responsibility for their own plight. If a Baltimore Congressmen makes similar remarks about his district, it is pretty much expected that Trump will blame it on those who live there. Violence, and gangs, and drug dealing is, to Trump, the fault of the law breakers. And when neo-Nazis fight the antifa, it is a battle where the two sides are equally responsible.
The key question is whether the Republican view of black poverty is racist or a legitimate belief in self
It is hard to deny...he is inciting racial divide from the most prestigious and influential posotion in the USA. I don't know if he is personally a racist, but I do know that he is manipulating the issue along incendiary lines. It is what he does. He may not feel the hate himself, but he knows the power of the hate and he is trying to use it as a tool to his advantage.
4
Has there been even ONE day in this cretin's presidency that we haven't had to deal with his manipulative use of the media? I'm so tired of the latest incarnation of the Trump Show. It's gone on way too long.
6
Why doesn't Congressman Cummings simply list the "many things" he has done for his Baltimore District in 25 years.
Typical of many inner city Representatives in Congress, the list will be rather short.
Just because he is a man of color does not mean he is "hands off" to criticism. I know the liberal media (including NY Times) does not agree with this.
If those on the left disagree with what President Trump said - specifically Cummings - why not refute him with facts of his accomplishments for his constituents in Baltimore.
Facts and Liberals - two words that simply don't go together.
8
This is about Cummings subjecting Ivanka and Jared to the same scrutiny and harassing that Donald put Hilary through.
It is good to see Donald get what he gives.
He is the ultimate bully meeting his match. Wait till the crowds yell "Lock them Up". Trump will be spewing more venom amd divisive comments.
Where is the Party of Lincoln when we need to protect the Union?
9
Ah man, if the media would only ignore Trump. But I guess this is part of the capitalism end game - they need him in order to make money. Sad.
This is just continuing to divide the US. And Republicans called Obama who tried to be nice a divider. I guess his election really opened the door for this country to come across a mirror.
1
The Republican Party, in spite of how much we fight against it, is constantly decreasing taxes for the people who can afford it the most thereby shifting the cost to the "employer" <--- You and me!
Then the Republican Party uses the reduced federal revenues "problem" THEY created as the excuse to financially starved the states. After 20+ years of that, we have a nation with cities in dismal conditions, with suffering that is man-made.
The sad state of cities and its inhabitants is the state the Republican Party created. And if the woman was right that trump say's what "everybody thinks" then now it's clear.
Now trump, and the Republican Party whose silence means membership, is overtly blaming the victims of being for being ugly and disgusting.
3
You have got to love this: Two African-Americans are quoted as defending Trump against accusations of racism. One is against same-sex marriage and the other is "pro-life". Real progressive people.
8
@Denis Pelletier
It may come as a shock to you that African-Americans actually hold a diverse array of viewpoints on social issues.
1
United we stand. Divided we fall.
2
Trump is many things, and occasionally shows some bigotry and ignorance (there are degrees of everything). But, the claims that everything he says or does is bigoted is a form of hysteria that outweighs even his manifest faults. This is one example. It's the new narrative that every white person who criticizes a "person of color" or minority, must be racist. DT is one example of it, but Nancy Pelosi, a political opponent, is another. Why? B/c they are both white. She thinks she is immune if she embraces the "squad." She will soon find out, she's not. The new narrative actually insists that every white person is inherently racist and privileged (even poor ones) and every minority a victim and underprivileged (even wealthy ones). This is actually taught in schools. Perhaps some feel justified b/c of centuries of unreasonable oppression to have a new unreasonable oppression. Obviously, we still have bigotry, in every group, and we should always try to make it better, not worse. But, this narrative helps no one and hurts everyone. Some people like it, think it is good and brave and only right. It just makes us weaker. Diversity can make us stronger, but division is what is being advocated.
9
Shouldn’t the story be about Tom Barrack and his influence peddling with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, which Elijah Cummings was in the process of uncovering? It’s obvious that Trump went full racist to distract from that story.
9
@Rm
Agreed. Cummings role as Oversight Chairman is what this is about. I can't believe the Times is missing that. The Post is way ahead on this story.
6
Please, please, Democrats, do not take trump's bait! Focus on winning this election with as many votes as we can legally get. There is no man behind the curtain! Don't give him and his supporters the attention he craves. Ignore him and win!
1
“Several White House officials expressed agreement during a senior staff meeting on Monday morning that the president’s attacks were a bad move . . .”
A bad move?
How about simply bad. Not everything is a political calculation. Some things are just beyond the pale.
6
I just don’t understand what djt truly offers his base. It’s not healthcare, it’s not better jobs. It’s not better wages. It’s not a better environment. It’s not a smarter government. It’s not protection. It’s not tax cuts. It’s not a better life, more liberty, the better pursuit of justice or a more perfect union. What do people think he has delivered for them? Pointing fingers is an empty, lazy exercise. Initiatives, insights and action are what is needed to make this country better. Insults, vitriol, racism, divisiveness, and lies are not a path forward for anyone.
5
Delinquent Don has done it again! Created a media distraction riveting the nation’s attention squarely on him. The resultant media frenzy functions simultaneously to feed his bloated ego, distract us from dirty deeds designed to destroy democracy and the environment and his efforts to dismantle the social safety net, all while galvanizing support among his burgeoning bigoted base. Let’s do what we can to keep the focus on Moscow Mitch and the multiple ways Delinquent Don is absolutely NOT for the little man and woman - lest Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin hand this Malevolent Monster the keys to a second term and the codes to launch nuclear Armageddon. By the way, did you know Delinquent Don continues to ask the generals why, if we have all these nukes, we can’t use them?
3
It just occurred to me that we keep investigating Trump’s connection to Russia but Trump seems to be getting his ideas and orders from Fox News. He watches them then tweets what he just heard. Maybe we should investigate Fox News’ ties to Russia.
4
Everybody knows DT's favorite cookies are Oreos and Vanilla Waffles, so the comments quoted in the article are no surprise.
All the hubbub he creates is getting real tiresome, though. Nobody actually 'likes' DT, not even his family. They're either afraid of what he might do to them or not do for them, or they play him for a fool and get what they can out of him. The rest of the crowd is just TV watchers or barflies looking for a little excitement. Even they are going to get tired of it sooner than later.
He ought to make a deal with the prosecutors, declare victory and retire. He's all washed up.
1
The thing that is most obvious about Mr. Trump is that he clearly does not believe in consequences. He does not believe that anything - anything - he says or does, even as President of the United States - will land him in hot water. Since when has that ever happened that he couldn't lie, wriggle out of, and/or get someone else to do the dirty work for him - when? Whenever in his life has anyone ever held his sticky fingers to the fire? The answer is never. Never. So he will continue to say and do exactly as he likes, stoking division, claiming innocence, stoking, claiming, on and on and on. I have a hard time imagining anyone with any sort of sense of decency left voting for 4 more years of this.
4
Trumps got nothing to lose, but what about the Republican party? Do they really see being ignorant to race as a viable long term strategy?
One of my favorite quotes from the past week:
“You know, they talk about people of color. I'm a person of color. I'm white. I'm an Anglo Saxon. People say things all the time, but I don't get offended,” -Mike Kelly
Remember, ignorance is the root of all evil.
4
Thomas,
The White blindness to white privilege is absolutely astounding! Black Americans have been subject to racial bias that is woven in to our culture since the days of slavery. Obama's administration was the best thing to happen in America in many years. I have seen the advancement of Black Americans and cheer it on. When people improve on their lives it benefits us all. We are all Americans, we are all of the same human race, we are all children of God. Obama led our country back from a financial crisis with a steady hand. He gets slapped back and insulted instead of thanked for his courage.
Blue wave 2020 !
5
I really miss the POTUS class act of Obama's tenure. So much of what Trump does is outrageous in both language and intent.
Here, the intent is deflection, to make the investigation of Ivanka and Jared go away.
Other people have said it: NYT, stop reporting Trump as though he were a normal president. There's nothing normal about him. Place all his lies, tweets and faux outrage on page 7. That way, he'll have to open the paper to read what you've said. Win-win.
7
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. While Trump manipulates headlines, the last decent, honorable member of his cabinet is being forced out, to be replaced by another unvetted sycophant. Ratcliffe will whisper sweet nothings in the President’s ear and the Russians will steal another election. Meanwhile, children separated from their parents still endure inhumane imprisonment. Trump tweets while America burns.
4
Most politicians avoid difficult, touchy topics. Not Trump. He does not talk (or double talk) like a politician, a trait that cheers the hearts of those sick to death of the usual phony, politically correct palaver.
7
@Lester Be at the cost of common decency; doesn’t he have anything better to do?
2
There is political correctness on the left and there is also political correctness on the right. Trump uses the latter in spades in appealing to his base and to evangelicals, who theoretically share few of his values. You just happen to like Trump’s brand of correctness.
1
Lester B,
No, your right Trump doesn't talk PC baloney. He lies and lies and attacks while taking no responsibility for anything. He is the ultimate leader, at the moment. What is he doing to help make Baltimore a better place to live? He was looking to slash funding for many programs that provide meager help to the poor last I heard. Anyone who trashes the poor should try living in their shoes for a while. Instead he golfs every weekend while trying to reduce the benefits they desperately need.
Blue wave 2020 !
3
Overlooked in the Cummings-Trump fracas is that in a surprising turn of events President Trump is inviting Congressman Cummings to go after Jared Kushner. It may even be Trump is distressed and outraged that Kushner's realty company owns thousands of deteriorated apartments in the Baltimore area that have accumulated hundreds of complaints regarding mice, mold, and dilapidated conditions. Private admonitions that Kushner should clean up his act before Democrats start claiming he is a slumlord have had little effect. In using colorful language to call Cummings' attention to the egregious neglect marking Kushner's holdings he is signaling he would like government intervention to clean up themes, thereby giving him a talking point to appeal to Afro-Americans ahead of the 2020 elections......."see how much Donald Trump cares? He is willing to encourage Elijah Cummings to go after his own son-in-law!" And he is willing to do that even though it will make Ivanka Trump unhappy. Clearly Trump does not want to risk open tension with Kushner over this but nudging Cummings to mobilize civic ire over Kushner`s negligence is a master political step. Trump's hands stay clean because he has no control over how Cummings and Baltimore municipal officials choose to respond to his injunction to clean up rodent-infested areas. But in effect inviting them to focus on Kushner properties enables Trump to assert he is interested in the well-being of tenants, not building family fortunes.
The question of whether or not Trump is a racist is merely a distraction and serves no one. The core issue is that Trump and the GOP have absolutely been using racially inflammatory and divisive tactics for decades, and there’s no sign they’ll back off anytime soon. That isn’t a question, and if anyone thinks otherwise then that person is a racist, whether they realize it or not. We live in a racist world, and for every outspoken bigot there’s a half dozen more who shield their views from public, but rest assured that racism is front of mind when they enter a voting booth. If that weren’t the case the GOP wouldn’t use the racist tactics that they do. It’s certainly not an accident that the boogeymen have always been people of color ever since the civil rights act and political re-alignment of the 60’s.
3
Can we have a 2 day blackout on all things Trump? Unless he declares a war, no coverage what so ever. It will drive him crazy and keep the rest of us sane.
5
The Democrats need to do much more than only reacting on Trump, more than focussing on extreme left positions or asking for (obviously undoable) impeachment.
I am so scared that DT will win another election, because he wins this way again the swing states.
(And even if they would impeach Trump, the next far right candidate would take the control.)
So many topics like environment, peace, long-term econimics, education were forgotten.
Everybody plays just DT's racist game which is good enough for him to win. Take the focus to something else!
Provide the voters a better alternative world view!
2
The smartest thing we can do is to ignore Trumps taunts about black congresswomen, black senators, etc.
He wants the conversation to be dominated by controversy rather than facts and analysis.
Dear American Media, do not fall into the trap of letting Trumps bombast be your headline news.
Instead, give statistics on how the middle class shrunk by 4% over the past decade and how the median income cannot afford the median rent. On lack of health care coverage. On the ravishes of climate change.
Ignore Trump's chaotic race wars and immigration wars. Please, for the good of America.
6
In all of this, just remember that Private Bone Spur has accomplished rather little during his term in tweetdome. No health care reform (not even any new ideas), no badly-needed infrastructure projects, no grand influx of manufacturing or high paying jobs due to poorly executed trade policy (if it can be called policy), not to mention that his supposed booming economy his trudging along at around 2.5% (which is historically normal). Then there's no positive interaction with N Korea or Iran or even with our allies in Europe. No substantive change in immigration "policy," but a lot of mean-spirited actions bordering on human rights violations, no useful tax reform for the middle class, and I could go on. PBP has proven himself very ineffective in the job he was hired to do, but he has maintained popularity because his base loves sizzle but not necessarily the steak. We need to remind them of his incompetence every time he's mentioned in a conversation. "Oh, PBS is making us great again!" Really? Demand to know how exactly.
14
"Three advisers said the president complained about Mr. Cummings throughout the weekend. Two of those advisers said the real source of his ire was the decision by the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which Mr. Cummings leads, to authorize subpoenas for all work-related texts and emails sent or received by Mr. Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the president’s elder daughter and senior adviser, on personal accounts."
Interesting that the press has already declared this is about racism when it really is about the political fight between Cummings and Trump. Maybe the press needs to stop making assumptions that just because you criticize an African-American, it has to be about skin color.
4
Sure, and the nature of his attacks has nothing to do with anything...
Funny how it’s unpatriotic for some of his political opponents to be critical of aspects of American culture or policy but ok for him to dismiss whole American cities as ‘disgusting’ and ‘rat infested’. Pretty awful way for a leader to describe one of his country’s major cities.
1
A rather bold yet effective electoral strategy for President Trump. Four things he has undeniably achieved:
1. Free press whenever these stories become so mainstream
2. Distracting and dividing the House from putting out meaningful and liberal reforms(Al Green went so far as to file an article for impeachment)
3. Securing that his inflammatory comments will be a huge feature for tomorrow night's democratic debates
4. Absolutely igniting his base as ordinary people, including Congressional Republicans, are forced to side by his comments... even if that support comes in the form of silence.
2
I don't have a horse in this race. But the huge mix of a country based on immigrants, and the tremendous success of music and science from the US, created by people of every hue of skin, would lead us to think that the US would be the first post-ethnic country.
But no. Race infuses the political, media and domestic arenas daily.
The reason as I see it, is that the dark side of history of the US (slavery, post-slavery persecution of minorities) has not been resolved honestly and accurately in the public sphere, in order to reach some kind of reconciliation and forgiveness - thus sustaining endless anger, division and resentment in all groups.
1
Thank you for noting the gaslighting and distraction. It's the subpoenas of Jared and Ivanka that are the matter. The stonewalling of the Congress is only a delaying tactic and the Supreme Court will not protect Trump's kids.
7
It is disturbing when an 'out of touch' politician can seriously affect the positions and interests of so many who are 'in touch' with local society and its dynamics.
We've spent a week talking about whether or not Trump is a racist. That's what he wants. Most people knew that 30 years ago. It shoved locked up kids off the headline. It's hiding Mueller's findings. Climate change is literally burning the Arctic yet where is that talked about? Obamacare is being dismantled and voters may not realize that while talk shows ponder is he or isn't he?
Remember Reagan's remark, "there he goes again." Arguably it won him the election.
Mr. Cummings and Baltimore can take care of themselves. The Baltimore Sun showed editorial brilliance. Moscow Mitch is feeling the heat, too, hates that nickname. That's what's needed. Stand tall and don't let Trump choose the news cycle or McConnell sell us out.
38
This is primarily about trump using his free media time to distract from his huge problems on the legal front. There's so much hurt headed his way there's not enough room here in the comments section to list.
18
Just a few words about Rev. Al. He is street smart: he was jailed by the feds and went on a hunger strike, ie a federally supervised weight loss program. To his credit, he has kept off the weight. However, during his presidential run in 2004, he was asked a question about the world bank. He could not answer because he never had heard of it. Enough said.
8
All of this attention on Trump's 'racism' lavished upon him by the 'left', gives him exactly what he wants. The votes of 'left' hating rural America on a platter. Trump will lose the popular vote, again, and win the EC, again. Thanks to articles just like this one.
4
This is a rerun of 2016. Make inflammatory comments which the news media is attracted to like moths to a flame simply in order to drown out all other more important discussion.
The more things change the more they stay the same. As that other master of publicity P.T Barnum observed over a century ago; “I don't care what the newspapers say about me as long as they spell my name right.”
8
As much as it’s true, it’s time we stop trying to pin a label on Trump as a racist. Describe his loathsome behavior and dehumanizing rhetoric as unbecoming of his office, note that he targets people of color with particular vindication, and disparages underserved communities without offering a hand (he is our president, isn’t he?), but when democrats think the appropriate answer is to demand that he be denounced and labeled, the term starts to loose meaning, and it just becomes part of the back and forth name calling that only serves to fuel him. It plays right into his hand.
5
The cycle repeats - again. Trump is under a microscope, throw an enemy under the bus. Trump makes a bad decision, goodbye adviser X. Trump wants to bypass the courts, congress or the senate, set up a distraction for the media while doing "the real work" that bores the average voter and hope you get away with it. He repeats it, because it works. Trump being a racist isn't news. It's known. Trump being a possible rapist isn't news, it's documented but not "proven in court. Trump sacrifices those around him to keep himself and his family protected like a mob boss. Mueller investigation, history of defaults and bank loans, and questionable business dealing abroad all support this. You know what? None of it shakes his base, because the portion of the base which controls the needed votes in the electoral college will guarantee this man a second term...unless it can be shown he is harming that same base. A charlatan of this magnitude cannot have gone through his entire career and presidency without using his base like a disposal towelette. Health care, taxes, debt, etc... will make a dent, but the real damage won't come unless the media focus, and that of his opponents ignores the noise and focuses on exposing him for what he is in a way that matters to his base. The side that doesn't support him is already on board. Focus on the remaining 40-something percent and secure the White House. Then go for the Senate.
5
Mr Trump's white skin is not an issue. His thin skin is the issue. For government to work, any administration has to respect the constitution and cooperate with Congressional oversight; and hand over documents and witnesses; but no administration has enjoyed oversight. Trump sees normal oversight as "presidential harassment". One thing he can be sure of is that such so called harassment will not involve anybody grabbing him by anything.
3
We will grab him by the Constitution.
1
It's becoming clearer and clearer that Trump's racist broadsides are not impulsive but part of a calculated rhetorical strategy. He probably figures that some 35-40% of American adults are bigoted against minorities to start with and that if he recruits them as his base all he needs is another 10% or so to win reelection in the undemocratic Electoral College.
What else would account for the fact that despite his increasing volume of racist invective his approval ratings are actually going UP?
3
The Donald Ego always doubles down when it makes a Big Mistake. The Donald Ego is a compensatory ego grown form a history of failure. It cannot allow itself to be wrong and thus, The Donald Ego can never learn from mistakes and like most adults. The Donald Ego must always be right and will continue to exposed itself for what it is.
4
Baltimore is America's one of ten worst cities. That was stated by many newspapers and urban research. Time fro Cummings to stop getting defensive. And time for Trump to speak better and with more information and courtesy. Both men are wrong, and smart honest sensitive people are stuck between.
5
Trump's War Against America - Day 920
First, he comforted our enemies and attacked our allies...
Then, he attacked our intelligence agencies and our elected minority representatives...
Now, he's coming for Maryland...
Trump 2020 - The enemy is US.
5
Trump's race-baiting antics have succeeded in pulling the news media away from any emphasis on Mitch McConnell's refusal to protect our elections from Russian skulduggery.
Trump and McConnell have all but rolled out the red carpet for Russia to serve as a GOP campaign auxiliary, but we're busy arguing the unarguable reality that Trump is a virulent racist, something that has been obvious for decades. Mission accomplished again!
6
Why not? The trump has lost the black vote anyway.
But this attack will strengthen his support among whites of "a different persuasion."
Make America Gray Again just isn't quite enough.
2
How is there not outrage being shouted from both sides of the aisle at this sick, hateful, baiting, UNAMERICAN abusive childish hiding behind twitter ranting? Seriously...c'mon conservatives...believe what you want on increasing the deficit or baiting Iran and N Korea into nuclear war or on whatever else you support this MAWA president .... how are you not incensed and embarrassed?
15
@Red State I would have clicked the 'Recommend' link a hundred times on your comment. Why is such behaviour even seen to be leverage on any kind, and that in the USA ? How can such a person who thinks such behaviour will be favourable to him in the USA, even make it ahead of anyone else who would desist from such a positioning in the USA, fearing that would hurt his/her chances in politics ?
3
Has he any time for his presidential duties?
23
Trump’s racists attacks are simply his latest attempt to distract us from the shameful conditions at the border, where babies are separated from their mothers. Also, in case anyone missed it, we are beginning an impeachment inquiry.
Eye on the ball. Yes, Trump is disgusting. We know that. Now let’s get him out.
15
This guy may be responsible for a future nuclear war.
8
You are right on - long term cancellation of treaties with Russia are a horrendous mistake.
Maybe some of the people so outraged that Trump is calling Baltimore what it is should also attack the NYTimes for saying the same thing.
Oh lordy they forgot it is recorded.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/magazine/baltimore-tragedy-crime.html
11
@Mr Chang Shih An And Trump plays on this hypocrisy brilliantly, it's impressive how he stays a step ahead of the media so (seemingly) without effort.
Globally, many people have some, if even confused and limited, awareness of America’s ugly history of slavery, rape of Blacks, lynchings, Jim Crow laws, housing discrimination and police shootings of unarmed Blacks. These aggressive and violent acts were/are mostly committed by white men.
Donald Trump is doing his best to reinforce the image of the violent and hateful white male.
10
NPR reported that the entire Baltimore twitter thing started minutes after Fox News complained about Cummins and his district.
Trumps tweet were almost verbatim
19
That is rich, trump calling someone else a con man. He is a master of projection.
19
They can criticize him, but he can’t criticize them? Ok, got it.
16
In Baltimore, at the Maryland historical society museum, one can see the ephemerides calculations from benjamin Banneker who calculated with the stars the District of Columbia for Washington DC. Thomas Jefferson argued with Condorcet in Paris that black people were inferior intellectually.
And Banneker a self taught mathematician, who actually is the one who traced the Capital according to the white star , sent a memorial to Jefferson to claim the equality of black people and Jefferson sent it to Condorcet in Paris as almost the exception that confirms the rule.
1
This is another one of Trump's attempts to deflect attention away from things that he feels cast him in a negative light, such as Bob Mueller testifying that Trump can certainly be indicted once he leaves office, the recent slowdown of our economy, his complete lack of a coherent foreign policy, the exploding budget deficits, and the lack of anything resembling a healthcare plan.
Keep your eye on the prize, folks. Any competent Dem should be able to make Trump's sad record as president front and center going into the 2020 election. Trump knows this, so he will continue to grind out these sorts of insults to distract us, and to motivate his base.
Don't chase the shiny objects. Stick to focusing on his pathetic record, and the Dems will win.
32
Amazing how he seeks to dominate news cycles. Amazing the media still has not figured it out.
29
This is what malignant narcissism looks like. It's what it does. It's fake. It causes division. Notice the people closest to Trump say he's not a racist, his policies show he's not a racist, yet he USES racism as a weapon. People should stop being tools and reacting. They should instead have him psychologically evaluated, because he is most definitely not fit for office. But then again, everyone is making money, so... don't hold your breaths.
16
Trump is using these racist tweets for 2 reasons:
-to whip up his base who are just as racist and love Trump’s hate and divisiveness
-to distract everyone from his failures, and his dismantling of our democracy brick by brick each and every day
While the MSM are losing their minds over all these tweets against the squad, Baltimore, Cummins, there is not enough coverage on all the other disasters that Trump wants to distract from.
We’re all being played.
We need to stop the outrage over every outrageous tweet this monster vomits out.
Report on it of course.
But cable news should not dwell on tweets 24 hours a day. That’s what he wants which is why he keeps doing it everyday so there is not enough reporting on his ruination of Medicare, environment, EPA, education, foreign policy, getting played by China, NK, Iran, Russia.
19
As an African American I have to say that the president's racists comments and attitude do not offend me one bit. First of all we AA have heard much worse in our lives, and second for me to be offended by someones words I would have to respect them as a person. If my family or friends said something racist that wold hurt because they are good people. If the Dalai Lama said something horribly racists I would be offended. But president Trump is a terrible human being so his words about my community mean absolutely nothing. He knows nothing about my community and doesn't care about my community, so how can I be offended by a man who is so ignorant and desperate for approval that he will say or do anything to feed his fragile ego? How can I be offended by a man that behaves worse than my 3rd grader? I'm not offended, but rather saddened that so many people give his words ANY weight at all. I would like to see less articles about the thin-skinned man in the oval office and more article about what unites us American. If I were the news media I would stop publishing ALL his inflammatory words and ONLY report when he is talking about policy. The president can say and do whatever he wants but I don't have to take it in and I sure am not going to be offended.
43
@jenna. Good for you, but it sounds like an awful lot of rationalization as a strategy for self-protection. Hateful words are still offensive, regardless of the ignorance of the source. This thing is the president. I’m offended and appalled by nearly everything it utters. See how that works?
2
I’m streaming The Photographer of Mauthausen on Netflix. I like to be able to anticipate what’s coming.
Plus it’s less depressing than reading the bile that comes out of DJT’s mouth.
I’m sorry his daughter and son-in-law were using their personal devices to conduct the business of the American people. Oops. You’d think if anyone would know what a sensitive issue that is, it would be Donald ‘Where Are the Emails’ Trump.
14
I do not understand the continued support for our National Nightmare. Are there no people of moral character among his base? I am humiliated for our nation.
30
All this is done to hide the fact that Trump has not made life easier or better for the working class.
23
If -- and hopefully when -- Trump loses in 2020 it will be because we are completely EXHAUSTED from Trump's nonsense.
Frankly, I honestly don't know how the guy gets up in the morning lives with himself.
22
The politics of racism is the politics of separation and exclusivity. Mocking one area of the inner city and who lives there is a way of making those who do not live there feel superior. And that feeling of superiority is the root of racism.
Trump has never walked down streets in a struggling neighborhood, taught in an inner city school or felt the struggles of the people living there. Criticizing from the outside is easy and a convenient way to divert once again attention from his own aberrant behavior which comes not from personal struggles, but a life of privilege and egotism.
568
Crying racism is like the boy who cried wolf. It is all about deflecting the well deserved criticism that many elected Democrats have earned over their years of ineffective public service. Look at the major cities and it is plainly a Democrat problem. This is a disgrace, and it is rightly placed at the feet of those in charge. I would like to see a White House summit on inner city problems and take a city like Trenton, NJ and make it a lab of new ideas to see if progress can be made.
5
@just Robert
'The politics of racism is the politics of separation and exclusivity. Mocking one area of the inner city and who lives there is a way of making those who do not live there feel superior. And that feeling of superiority is the root of racism.'
There are quite a few assertions there, just Robert.
You choose to speak of the politics of racism, taking for granted 'racism' and defining a 'politics' of it.
I am just William, but the focus seemed to be on the fact that the inner city of Baltimore is a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested” district that is a “very dangerous & filthy place.”
That would be 'criticize, diminish, put down, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, diss', not mock. Trump, I think, is not above mocking, but that is not what he has done here.
Criticizing might be a way of making the like minded feel superior, but it is ubiquitous as well as necessary and misused.
This came up as a first return on the argument 'roots of racism'.
UNESCO, 1996 - 50 pages
Presents the introduction to "The Roots of Racism," a five part report written and presented online by Mark Ross. States that racism results from mankind's need to form exclusive groups based on common interests, geographical and cultural isolation, or physical characteristics. Refers to this segregation as "Group Think."
2
@just Robert
The root of racism is fear, and the need to feel superior.
I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Make racists afraid again."
Wrong. Educate them so that they know we are bleed the same color.
2
Isn't Baltimore a part of the US? Isn't Trump's Department of Housing and Urban Development and Trump's Environmental Protection Agency as responsible, if not more, for housing and environmental conditions as its Congressman? Doesn't Trump even vaguely know the different between the responsibilities of the legislative vs the executive branches of government.
Or is it really about undermining democracy and obstructing an honest understanding of the issues, for which he should be impeached?
16
I think that Trump is being very hypocritical when he lambastes Mr. Cummings regarding Baltimore. Jared Kushner owns what are reported to be low-standard housing units that are in violation of the building codes of Baltimore. I believe that Mr. Kushner has an obligation to bring his buildings up to code, not Mr. Cummings.
Mr. Cummings is a long-time Representative who is admired in his District and who has served the public well. He deserves to be treated with respect, not bigotry.
Al Sharpton, who does have a somewhat checkered past, has been a staunch supporter for civil rights for decades. However, as the article states, he has toned down his message in recent years and has changed with the times.
Both these men deserve respect and kudos for their tireless work for the black and brown people of our nation.
12
Abraham Lincoln would have switched political parties long ago. Is this who we are my fellow Americans? Do we condone this sort of talk from our children? What have we become as a people? Are we not better than this?
15
There is no shocker here. Trump is using the tried and trued strategies and tactics of autocrats and authoritarians to divide, conquer and to stay in power. The worst thing about it is that over 40% of Americans believe Trump.
15
I can not believe a president of the United States spews this much ugliness. These are the qualities of good leadership: honesty and integrity, confidence, inspiration to others, commitment and passion, good communicator, decision maker, accountability, delegation and empowerment, creativity and innovation, empathy. He fails on all counts.
17
...and yet, he was elected President of the United States and could serve another four years!
This is why he should NOT be impeached. 16 more months of this and he will continue to expose what he is; shrinking to less than nothing. The sycophant repubs will support him, as they have since their primaries. Yes, his base will remain, but not much more.
Dems; create all sorts of real policy for the future, call news conferences and explain it in detail. Show how different you are. Do all sorts of stuff. Ignore him. Let the repubs react.
Sound like politics? Yes. Guilty as charged.
One thing; he can not start a war in his desperation to be re elected because as a private citizen in 2021 he will be buried by the fed, state, local charges awaiting him. That is all he cares about.
8
Resident and employee in the 7th district since 1987 after a relocation to Baltimore. Columbia, Elliott City, Baltimore City. Problems like any city. Cleveland where I grew up and San Francisco where I attended college on scholarship. All citizens should have the opportunity to obtain an education. The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore provided that opportunity while raising a family and working as a graduate student. UMBC is among the best technology schools in the country. Culture here is world class. Forever grateful to Baltimore and the hardworking people who go to work every day to love and nurture their families and contribute to our neighborhoods. #WeAreBaltimore.
11
The GOP is a nuclear power plant, and the operators are standing back stupefied as Trump pushes it toward meltdown.
8
The day that the United States Treasury receives a check from the Trump family for over due taxes,
that is the day that bridges, roads, water pipes in Baltimore,
and all American cities will be repaired.
11
Less said quicker mended. Trump does seem to be going too far, and should stop giving the impression that he is anti black, because his present behavior is alienating, embarrassing even his staunchest supporters. Trump has made some points, but now it's to time to cease and desist.An apology might be appropriate to the black community without "exonerating"either Congressman Cummings or Sharpton in particular.Trump is losing the tweet battle at the moment.
4
@Alexander Harrison Gee, I wonder where people got that "impression."
Trump did not get to 3% growth in 2018. At 2.1% in Q1, growth is no different than under Obama. Trump is hoping to distract his base by division, so they don't notice his trade wars, policy failures, and upcoming recession.
29
Trump's strategy is painfully obvious: White against black, working class against educated elite, coastal vs flyover, rural vs urban. Make his base so vengeful and fearful they ALL roar to the polls. and combined with voter suppression, Electoral College, gerrymandering and help from overseas, sneak another win through. All he needs is 100,000 votes in the right places and he's in like, well, Flynn.
26
A man without conscience, Trump’s outrageous comments are more about political strategy than anything of substance. He is forcing his opponents to lose focus and be reactive instead of proactive. And what choice do they have but to react? The more appalling his behavior, the louder the hysteria and cry to impeach. It plays right into his strategy. He wants Democrats to move towards impeachment because he knows it will fail and he can declare victory. It’s a clever play and Democrats need to figure out how to get out from between the rock and the hard place.
14
I chose to live in Maryland's 7th Congressional District once, and I am a human being.
53
What he said about Sharpton is true. It’s also less insensitive than what many of Trump’s critics have said about him. So what’s the problem?
36
When you are in a position of power you look for opportunities to take the moral high ground. That is the problem.
He doesn’t seem to have a problem with rat infested rural towns, only rat infested cities. That’s the problem because the cities are generally wealthier and contribute the most to this country.
@ehillesum
Er...his remarks about the city of Baltimore and Rep. Cummings?
I would put myself in the Sen Warren, Gabbard, Bernie camp but as an older man, who examine the objective reality above selective paradigms. Sharpton, et al, almost always characterize egregious behavior among blacks as "victims of oppression", rule of law and police have to my knowledge seldom if ever receive benefit of the doubt. It is time for people to grow up. And I'm not naive about the criminal justice system, rife with being rigged and contrived. But it is time to become adults and work toward economic and social justice while respecting the rule of law. The problem begins with a system of capitalism, where one prominent Democratic politician states is irredeemable , another calls sociopathic. There is validity on both counts and the consequences are the racial, ethnic polemics we often see.
5
This has become a very predictable pattern. Trump is throwing smoke bombs. Again. We all become enraged. Again. Meanwhile, we lose our focus on how to remove him from office. Again.
38
@DH: I don't see that there is some way to remove him from office that we are losing sight of. People are working on investigations, and figuring out the strategy and tactics around impeachment. Meanwhile, people are working hard on the upcoming election. Those seem to be the only two available routes to removing him (and impeachment, realistically, will be more of an electoral strategy than a removal strategy, since the Republicans seem committed to defending him to the last ditch. Today's Republicans would have encouraged Nixon to hang tough...)
So, sorry, but there's no "emergency clause" that we should be using. This is the way it will have to be.
And in the meantime, we should definitely call him on every outrageous stupidity he comes up with, get it all on record, and remind his followers how sleazy they look, pretending to admire him... what, are we supposed to listen to him insult our elected representatives, and just look back down and start talking about something else?
5
True and our President also loses his focus on governing.
Don’t worry, when the market tanks and the bond bubble pops, this nuisance will be over. That’s the only reason why folks think this nonsense is worth it. Even if the fed cuts rates to zero, it won’t stop the credit bubble from imploding. Too many people own homes they can’t afford, still...
Meanwhile, while you were out, the Trump administration rolled back environmental and financial institution safeguards. Who doesn’t like a little reality TV?
76
Trump promised he would rebuild cities. Promise made, promise broken.
41
I got it. Trump is trying to sabotage his election. He can’t really be this stupid to think normal Americans will vote for Trumpism.
23
@Oliver
Wow, bizarre. Exactly the opposite.
These are the actions of a thing that is not concerned with the outcome of 2020. Otherwise, as you say, it's political suicide.
So apparently he knows the the 2020 results already.
8
@Oliver
Yeah, but...are you confident that Russia won't succeed at hacking into our electronic voting systems? They tried in every state in 2016.
Russia has expertise in rigging elections...are you sure the votes against Trump will actually count? As Congress sits on its hands regarding taking action on this, I truly worry we will see a repeat of 2016.
3
If the grotesque cartoonish villainous music hall penny-farthing bicycle riding Dickensian with a touch of Machiavelli crooked bankrupt is the Christian he claims to be, one would expect that he show reference to the Rev who is after all a Baptist Minister
10
Sharpton is religious because he can use it to his benefit. I don't think Trump is really religious, just something he says to get some votes. It seems to be working.
A clash of two manipulative, preening and unprincipled charlatans. They’re both awful.
17
Maybe.
On the other hand, one of those charlatans is the President of the United States.
And maybe when he gets down from his perch at the top of the government and acts like yet another whiny sibling instead of the most powerful person in the world, it upsets us all. The parents have run away. There is no credible authority to set things right again.
2
Mr. Cummings and/or Mr. Sharpton can fight back as describing the TT in a similar language. I love to hear it.
1
With all sacred cows now fair game, good time to be a Vegetarian.
11
There is something very desperate and pathetic about the way Trump is relying on more and more outrageous and blatant race-baiting.
He is betting that hatred, vile racism and white supremacism will help him win the election in 2020.
Come on Americans. We must show him that he is wrong. We have an obligation to VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE.
61
I’m willing to bet Trump will win in 2020
1
You keep right on, Mr. Cummings and Baltimore. The rat I'm concerned about is the one in our White House.
46
The Republican Parry and 45 are absolutely positively committed to aggressively and zealously advance racial divisiveness to assure electoral survival. Whether four intelligent Congresswomen of colour, the illustrative chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and now, the very Reverend Al Sharpton, the ostensibly common denominator is race, pure and simple. The common denominator 45/GOP share in their mutual complicity is distraction. 45 refuses to condemn the CPB employees, present and former, who created and actively participated in 2 Facebook platforms to racially vilify ethnic immigrants, but he lauds their service as patriotic. The GOP follow suit with deafening silence. No dissent. 45 refuses to condemn Duncan Hunter, the GOP congressman indicted for political corruption practiced in his San Diego district (a very affluent district, compared to the rat infested Baltimore, of course!). 45 refuses to condemn House GOP minority leader Kevin McCarthy's tweet issued on the eve of the 2018 November election, expressing that the election cannot be purchased by Michael Bloomberg, Tom Steyer, and George Soros, illustrating the anti Semitic tropes of money signs and money bags in the context of international financial conspiracy. 45 refuses to condemn GOP representative Steven King for his anti immigrant, anti Israel comments. The common denominator here is the presence of Caucasian male privilege that 45 shares, respects, recognizes, and who does not dare assault. Race matters
12
So he brings in a group of right wing evangelicals who just happen to be black to say that he is not a racist. Oh, really?
And this was all staged by Kushner who just happens to be the biggest slum lord in Baltimore?
932
@acm Interesting, what you say about Kushner. Please cite sources.
1
@acm
What a family these Trumps! They're the Kardashians of politics.
15
@Jonathan Levi
Here's Newsweek:
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-jared-kushner-baltimore-housing-projects-racked-code-violations-1451479
Here's CBS:
https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2019/07/29/jared-kushner-baltimore-properties-mice-infested/
There are many more -- just google it.
20
I can say he hates racists. That's the problem, Trump thinks if you are a white male, you think exactly like him.
3
I just want to be clear. I hate Donald Trump because he's a loath able ignorant narcissistic dude who happens to be white.
32
Man, there is something deeply troubling that in any other instance this person (our president!) would be considered mentally ill and a threat to others...yet he runs the free world.
This is beyond anything anyone ever could have contemplated was possible for the President to speak and act this way! I am more and more sickened by all of it. Will it ever end?
85
I feel like my brain is melting.
44
@g. harlan
That's exactly what he wants.
Don't give him that.
7
Sharpton aside, Trump is becoming completely unhinged. His handlers kept him somewhat in check previously, but now it’s let all Trump. As long as the democrats run with an alternative the nation can trust, Trump’s politics of hate will go too far.
22
@KJ "Unhinged" may be the right word. We've talked for a long time now about "mean, nasty, vengeful," but finally, at this point, he does indeed seem to be losing his grip on reality. And that's precisely what has so many Republican backers worried.
We may, in future months, see more "staff" around him when he makes his public appearances ... and more subordinates "explaining" what he really meant when he makes his public comments.
1
@KJ
He has been unhinged. Since well before he got fake elected. This is just because he knows he's guilty and knows he is going to be caught.
There is method to his madness. Do not misjudge his evil.
The truth is, Trump's son-in-law- in-chief, Mr. Kardashian, happens to be part of the family business owners of several apartment buildings in Baltimore where there are hundreds of citations about its lapses in pest control among other problems like lighting, electricity and clean water and security. I think the US would like to know about that but there's nothing in your stories about that.
37
@charley. Kushner. Buts that’s a super funny typo (or intentional). I agree more need to be reported on the Kushner real estate business. Trump wishes his son in law was a Kardashian
31
It Kushner, actually... but Kardashian, Kushner; what’s the difference anymore? It’s all just one big great, vulgar tragedy. RIP, America.
39
I see a ripe news story on the horizon for kushner co compliance.
I don’t like Trump.but I remembered the Tawana Bradley accusations...Shame on her and on Sharpton, what’s happen to her by the way, ? New York Times keep digging please, that’s your job, to investigate.Where do Sharpton get his financial back ups and why do people going for election in New York have to have his blessings?...good question.you got an answer?
27
Did you really just ask the NY Times to dig into the Brawley incident from forever ago? If you consult Google I'm sure there dozens of articles from the Times during that period.
14
It is pretty clear from Sharpton’s commentary over the last 10 years that he is over the theatricism of the Brawley incident and has become a thoughtful, if liberal, political commentator.
On the other hand, Trump would still have unrepentantly executed 5 innocent teen agers.
2
@Thérèsenyc1 And now back to THIS story, the one about the Don's hateful prejudice.
1
Please note that this is a smokescreen to distract from his nomination of Ratcliffe as his toady in the DNI.
Please watch the real issue here.
He can't go to prison for being a racist but he can for a conspiracy with Russians.
Ratcliffe is his best hope (in his mind) to escape scrutiny by the counter-intelligence community.
64
Exactly. Ratcliffe is completely unqualified to hold what is essentially the highest intelligence position in the country, and a partisan hack.
10
@Mark in PS
I thought this was a smokescreen to detract from Congressman Cumming’s report about the horrendous conditions in which children separated from their families we're being held.
2
I have discontinued Twitter and Facebook. Trump and the Bernie Bros are insufferable. The NYT soft peddles Trumps monstrous personality in an attempt to appear impartial. I don't listen to news other than Bloomberg or BBC because every other word is "Trump" on all the other media outlets, left or right. If he doesn't get booted out of office, the planet will die. He is that bad.
61
"The president later specifically referred to Mr. Cummings as a racist without explaining why."
Why when Trump accuses Cummings, no explanation is needed why Trump is called a racist; but when Cummings accuses Trump, we need an explanation why Cummings is called a racist?
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/28/us/politics/trump-elijah-cummings-baltimore.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
3
@areader
If you truly are a reader, then you know why Trump is a racist (not just being called one).
trump should take his own advice and go back to where he came from since he hates Americans and American cities.
34
That would be New York City...
4
@Levon
Ancestors. It's all about the ancestors. So, I guess that would be Scotland?
1
@Levon
NYC did not vote for Trump; neither did NY State. He couldn't carry his home base where people knew him as a slumlord who evicted tenants so he could renovate and raise rents unaffordable to those evicted. Kushner is another slumlord who raises rents on slum apartments and evicts poor tenants. The whole family are grifters who need to be booted out of the WH.
1
The ceep in the White House and Big Al deserve each other. Both are serial liars who stop at nothing to get their way!
6
Sharpton is a creep but he is not the President of the United States, so who cares? The problem is that the President of the United States is a creep - to say it very, very mildly.
33
Et tu, New York Times?
At the top, this article says it was written by 2 NYT staffers -- one white, one black. It's common, at the end, to give more detail about the authors, and the Times does that -- for the white guy. How about the black author, though? Not so much: the Times doesn't even mention his name, much less tell us anything about him or what he's done.
In other words, while Trump behaved very badly toward Al Sharpton, he's in good company here.
10
I can just imagine the editorial room this morning...
"What do we have to run today?"
"Well, the supreme court is allowing Trump to spend without congress approval... Dan Coats is out and they intent on putting a partisan hack in charge of national intelligence at a time when our elections are empirically unsafe... Asylum policy is all but eradicated at our southern border... the Amazon jungle is being gutted... riots in major cities as democracy wains... oh... and Al Sharpton and Trump are going at it in war of who-is-the-bigger-racist..."
"Let's lead with that last one... make the headline 'Oh No He Didn't!'"
"Isn't that too on the nose?"
"You're probably right... just make that the theme..."
25
Well, they are both conmen. As to the head White Nationalist billionaire (maybe) conman's criticism of Congressman Elijah Cummings and Baltimore, I offer this. Nat Turner was an insurgent who wanted to free people from slavery, "by any means necessary (thank you Malcolm X)."
However, the people Nat Turner represented lived in shacks, with no indoor plumbing, no HVAC system except a fireplace and a door, maybe one or two windows, lousy food, hard, demanding, mostly unskilled unpaid labor jobs, usually didn't know who their children were sold to, and, let's face it, no human beings want to live that way. So Nat Turner, what do you have to brag about?
PS Any who were raped probably wore their skirts too short. So who you gonna blame? Hint: the V...I...C...
1
The word on the street is that trump isn’t attempting to attract new voters beyond his “base.”
That’s not true.
Caging refugees and holding them in reprehensible conditions, slanderous attacks against the four House Representatives and inciting mass hatred at rallies, and now trump’s attacks against Cummings and Sharpton is meant EXACTLY to reach the fence sitters.
trump is appealing to the basest of Maslow’s hierarchy: survival of ones physiological and safety needs. trump is reaching out, attempting to convince more and more voters that they are at risk from everyone but trump.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
11
To say that he has given wings to White Supremacist ideology is almost saying the obvious. However, rarely has there ever been so much vice packed into one single person. Perhaps just like the label "Benedict" is sometimes to describe a person who betrays well placed trust, maybe the word "Trump" will come to define a person so indescribably indecent that our lexicon currently has no label for.
18
Trump is correct though. An uncomfortable truth.
And Al Sharpton is on record making racist remarks, so not really in a strong position to refute!
If someone could clean up Baltimore that would truly help the underprivileged. The Congressman is not doing so well.
16
@Invictum
The congressman is doing just fine, thank you. Have you been to Baltimore? Just an FYI...most of us are not underprivileged. We live in thriving communities and clean up after ourselves.
4
No offense to TV shows or their subjects, but has anyone noticed what the places "American Pickers" goes to look like?
3
@John Hanzel
Difference is, those places are pro-Trump, and he talks a lot about the challenges they face--opioids, veterans, coal and manufacturing jobs.
You can debate how well he delivers, but they don't feel taken for granted by a string of entrenched politicians.
The Democratic Party thrives off tribalism. Trump is playing ball with it.
12
Trump frequently uses the straw man. This is a tendency among conservatives
13
The thing about Trump is that he's all id. The guy says what many of us are thinking. I've met Sharpton many times and agree with the essence of the President's assessment. I also agree with his comments about Baltimore and the Squad. Clinical narcissists have no filter. They have a way of hitting on and identifying weaknesses and laying them bare for all the world to see. I believe enough voters, especially in the swing states, also agree with the President on substance, if not style. We are the ones who will reelect the President.
17
those of us who believe in democracy hope you are wrong
24
@MJG
You call Trump a "Clinical Narcissist" and yet you still think he's the right person to be your President?
Scary.
21
“We need to stand up and deal with the fact that this president’s policies hurt people all over this country.” Al Sharpton.
I don't know..weren't Reagan and Bush worse? Even though they were "polite" about it.
3
@Mark Browning Not even close !
let us be clear, Al Sharpton and others, like Jessie Jackson, have learned there is money to be made in advocacy. Neither is a person of true merit, they just capitalize on race relations.
Baltimore has issues, but they will not be addressed by the likes of Al Sharpton.
10
It looks like a white supremacy supporter just shot up California festival. I place these murders at the feet of our president who has encouraged and created this hateful environment.
46
@Mathias
Your decree goes a long way with absolutely no one.
Did you feel the same way when a Sanders supporter opened fire on a group of Congressmen?
Exactly.
For the record, people are responsible for their own actions.
4
This country is at the mercy of the most demented leader in its history. Yet the fuller responsibility for this moral depravity lies with his 'base,' those who have entered into a Faustian/sycophantic deal to enable such addictive behavior by encouraging while passively, aggressively ignoring such destructively un-American behavior.
Vote.
20
What has always been the issue with Trump and is as true today is simply that he is obsessed with his own self image, and his efforts to maintain that know no bounds.
To him he doesn’t even question his actions. They’re “normal” and what any person with an ounce of pride would do (just not an ounce of dignity, either for himself or the country he was elected to lead). Definitely sad for all of us.
12
"Critics of color" Really?
What I see is Trump and his critics unable to stop themselves from taking each others bait and running with it.
Trumps says x about y no doubt wanting to trigger an over reaction. Democrats and liberal media over react as panned but then Trump over reacts to the overreaction.
Repeat.
7
Donald Trump is underestimating white voters.
8
No he isn’t. You are the only one misled
4
@Oliver
We voted for Clinton by 3M more votes than for Trump. Clinton neglected the needed Blue States: PA, MI, WI. She lost the needed Electoral College votes by 77,000. We need a national vote, monitored by an independent Commission, winner take all. There are 33M people in my State; we lost to low population States via the EC.
4
Trump is trying to make Sharpton the face of the Democratic Party. It's time for several of the Democratic presidential candidates to have a Sister Souljah moment. But this will not happen. Rather, I expect them to rush to Sharpton's defense. Stupid is as stupid does.
Jasper
P.S. Why in the world did Barack Obama invite Sharpton to the White House offer political advice? Does anyone have a clue?
13
For the same reason Buttigieg and Biden meet with him. Optics, and voters’ sense of belonging or approval from a self-anointed community “leader”.
4
@Jasper Maybe because Obama is just one of those people who wants to hear all viewpoints.
3
Well, like all modern Republicans, he 100% for something, until he's 100% against it. This is what happens when your spine and your morality are made of jelly.
9
Would someone please gather all of the giant blow-up rats and fill the Mall in DC with them???
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29034656/ns/us_news-weird_news/t/court-giant-inflatable-rat-has-free-speech-rights/#.XT99li2ZNQI
4
Formerly. Presidents of any political party managed to sound presidential . Kennedy, Nixon . Reagan. the Bushes , Obama etc in their darkest /weakest hours still held attention when they spoke.
Now the US has a president with the vocabulary of the bully or even worse. Reality TV comes to the White House.
It will be interesting when the new UK. PM speaks to the president. A fan of the classics (without pictures ) the new PM will speak a languages unfamiliar to DT. Friends divided by the same language, English.
Some say the UK is a laughing stock over Brexit. We're a poor 2nd to DT.
14
@Pat C
Don't be too hard on Trump. He can't help it. His mother was Scottish.
DZ@ Thanks. We were hoping o one had noticed🏌🏼
It's only a matter of time before Trump starts using the phrases "Real Americans!" and "Fake Americans!" at his rallies.
The "Real Americans!", of course, being those who agree with him, and the "Fake Americans!" being anyone who doesn't. And, at that point, he's only step away from asking the crowd, "And what should we do about the Fake Americans?", to which the cult response will inevitably be, "Get rid of them!!!".
After that, those who oppose him will start to hear people say, "You better be careful what you say!". And that, inevitably leads to you, yourself, saying, "I better be careful what I think!".
"It can't happen here!"? It IS happening here. Right here. Right now. Before our very eyes. He is only a few steps away from a complete takeover of this country, and no one is doing anything concrete to stop it.
I know enough about the history of dictators to know that Donald Trump will never leave office willingly. Never.
And we have 40% of the voters in this country, a GOP that a abets his treason at every turn, an ineffectual House of Representatives, a stolen and illegitimate Supreme Court, a Russian dictator, and everyone who hasn't taken to the streets to end this nightmare - to thank for it.
Great job everyone! (Myself included)
23
only a portion of that 40 percent would advocate violence. there may be a few million of them, but there are hundreds of millions of us that don't support him and we will squash them like bugs under our shoes.
1
It must be difficult for democrats and those who practice "identity politics" on the left, to see Sharpton's reflection in the mirror as Trump. This day was always coming. And yet again, they cry "racism" as if thats not been what they've been preaching in the form of vengeance for the past 50 years.
14
One big difference you forgot to mention - Sharpton is not the POTUS.
21
so when the president is racist we should be quiet?
18
Donald Trump and his followers are far worse peddlers of identity politics than the Dems could ever hope to be. At least with the Dems it’s based on inclusion, tolerance and hope. The identity politics of Trump and the right is inseparable from hatred, willful ignorance and fear.
1
Dear NYT:
I don't think Rev. Al Sharpton hates whites. President Trump is wrong.
Sharpton often uses whites as a foil in his decades of high profile race hucksterism, mainly to shame corporations into paying up reparations to Al's own organizations.
This has made him wealthy and famous. He is at heart a manipulative made for cable tv phony, much like Trump.
17
When you say "hate," you are spewing hate. That's what Donald Trump has, is, and clearly will be doing for the next 15 months. Clearly, the Civil War did not end with Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, VA 154 years ago. Psychologists have demonstrated that racism is alive within all of us, and Donald Trump is counting on waging a second civil war to win a second term. We can only hope that there are enough white voters with a moral center who will reject this just as the Union triumphed under Lincoln. What is troubling beyond the resort to outright "hate speech" by a president is the implications it clearly has for racial violence. Psychologists have also demonstrated that causal connection. Trump may not have to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue as he's proclaimed he could do with impunity, but he's created an environment where it's much more likely to occur. And the silence of his now Trumpublican Party is as ominous as it was in 1860. The nation cannot not, must not, should not tolerate such race-baiting in The Oval Office. It is a desecration and a crime to set one against another. The House democrats, especially the Black and Hispanic Caucuses, must speak out, reject the incendiary racism that amounts to the high crime of "reckless endangerment" and move to impeach Donald trump before those he's targeted and assaulted or murdered.
9
@Paul Wortman Pray tell: what is it that the Squad is preaching?
5
@Toni You tell me? Certainly, not "hate speech" against whites. Four young women of color viciously attacked by both Nancy Pelosi, Eliot Engle and Donald Trump. I'm Jewish from a Holocaust family and I absolutely agree with Rep. Ihlan Omar's statements about the influence of AIPAC. But, that's not racism nor antisemitism. But, I can only assume that you justify white racism because these women are fighting back against Pelosi and Trump. Very strange logic that means my relatives in the Warsaw ghetto, one of which I named after, were by your account racists.
5
@Paul Wortman
The 'Squad' were not viciously attacked; they went off on Israel, claimed some non-existent anti-Muslim attacks on them and their communities. Nancy Pelosi is not racist; Trump is. The Squad needs to become a freshman class within a major Party. They did not pay the years of dues Pelosi has, e.g. the ACA which gives them access to health care. They were not part of the fight for voting rights in the South; LBJ was, and it gave him a stroke. They were not part of Bobby Kennedy's anti-poverty campaigns in poor States; they did not lose a brother to assassination, and then die at the hands of an assassin. They did not do battle to provide Medicare benefits. They have not worked for anything so far; they are on T.V. for no known reason, other than slow news days. I am not interested in their views on AIPAC; I am interested in their plans to work for policies they support.
1
The media is truly enabling this churlishness, as are Representative Lewis and Reverend Sharpton.
Ignore his tweets - at least his ad hominem attacks - and the endless noise chamber of he is/isn’t racist/sexist/LGBTQ-phobic quiets down considerably.
If the media and his targets ignore him maybe he’ll have the gall to speak it from a podium. Maybe not - wouldn’t that be a relief?
5
Someone in the media: Please ask Unindicted Donnie whom he hates.
4
This is deeply offensive. Al Sharpton has proved time and again doesn't hate *rich whites. Who Sharpton doesn't love is poor black kids. I did an internship at an orphanage and Sharpton was in town visiting a church about a 2 minute walk from the orphanage. I called (being an eager intern) and tried to get him to visit the kids thinking it would be an interesting experience for them. His people never got in touch with me. Like I said, Sharpton doesn't hate *rich white folks.
15
Donald Trump has never used a denigration that he, himself, doesn't possess: "pathetic", "a sad joke", "very unfair", "always resists and obstructs", "treasonous", "totally unhinged", "using every trick in the book to silence the majority of our country", "fake", "should be ashamed", "incompetent and corrupt", "very very sad", "just playing games", "a racist", "the enemy of the people".
The only thing I've ever heard Trump say about others, that he doesn't really have ingrained in himself, is when he speaks about Democrats wanting "open boarders". Which, as a phrase, is about as truthful as using "pro-abortion" to describe those who believe women's rights.
"Fetid", "acerbic", "prurient", "egregious", "truculent", "puerile", "doleful", "indolent", "capricious", and "feculent" are some of the words I would choose to describe him. But, the word hasn't been invented yet that truly describes the totality of who this man really is.
Perhaps, in the future, they will describe the most base and morally degenerate among us as "Trumplike".
12
I may not agree with much of what says, but on Sharpton he is absolutely correct. I am old enough to remember the Tawana Brawley matter that brought him to national attention in the 80’s and Sharpton is really nothing more or less, assuming such exists, than a race hustler. He has been making a good living for himself while accomplishing little if anything for his fellow African Americans.
26
This bigot, Trump, makes this elderly Irish-American woman feel physically ill. Trump is full of hatred and anger. I only hope that he is not re-elected and that his anger so poisons him that he might not be able to complete his term.
23
@Dorothy
In addition to being physically ill, this is a mentally ill statement. Blame Trump for it if you want, but look at what you have allowed yourself to become in old age.
1
That the President is a loose cannon, and terrible with words, even when offering praise, is a given. However, he and Mr. Sharpton may have more in common than not. Mr. Sharpton is a known opportunist, though he may have toned down his rhetoric in more recent years. In accusing the President of being racist, which may yet be a stretch even though he may not admire or even be comfortable with many black people, one must ask: what about all those op-eds in the NYT by black people accusing most American white people of being racist? And, some even stating that to deny this IS inherently racist! OMG
To me, racism surfaces on both sides of the divide. Is the POTUS capable of uniting people of all races? No, but can you say Al Sharpton brings divergent groups together, comfortably? Doubt it.
12
Cummings may be a nice guy, however on his watch Baltimore has only gone downhill. Efforts that don't lead to results will get anyone fired except a long term entrenched politico. Race is not relative here.
22
@Lilly
Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan hasn't done Baltimore any good either---he is responsible for cutting education and community development budgets and he completely gutted the Red Line, a long-fought for public transit project designed to connect low-income Baltimore residents to more developed parts of the city by facilitating east-west travel. Cutting off residents from economic opportunities, making it harder for them to transport themselves to work, and denying future opportunities for transit-oriented business and residential development. So no wonder the Governor didn't have much to say in response to Trump's vile remarks.
14
@Lilly
Doesn't MD have a governor? Is the Governor similar to the guy in Michigan? I lived in D.C. for 5 yrs. working for a law firm with clients in Baltimore; it was so dangerous that the lawyers never met in Baltimore. Later I worked for a home heating oil corporation with service techs in Baltimore; the techs worked in pairs, and never at night. Even then they were often subject to armed robberies. This was years before Cummings. Baltimore has been segregated and badly governed since H.L. Mencken wrote about it. It is a very old seaport city with all that implies.
Over the years I’ve come to believe that Al Sharpton did a great service to the City of New York during his heyday as a public "activist". As a white late middle aged male you can assume that I’m very much in the minority on that view for my peer group. Here’s my view. Behind polyannaish and romantic view of New York City being this magical melting pot, it has always been on some level a cauldron of ethnic competition and rivalries. Within that milieu, African Americans have always found it a significant challenge to get whites to sit up and listen whenever have been wronged and this has resulted in extreme amounts of pent up resentment and frustration that has, at different times and in different cities let to unrest and rioting. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s, whenever white goons or incompetent law enforcement caused the death of an otherwise innocent black person, Reverend Al would make a big show of listening to the victims’ families…usually poor black inner city residents…offering them a platform on which to vent their anger while taking key politicians “out behind the woodshed” for a public media dressing down…primarily for the benefit of his inner city African American poor and working poor “base”. Call him an opportunist or con-man but I believe it’s no coincidence the New York City had very little in the way of broad urban unrest during that period. He was a great "safety valve" even if most white New Yorkers didn't grasp this and otherwise resented him.
9
I hate to say this but you have to wonder if the media are race baiting. For instance, why couldn’t they just say Trump insulted Representative Cummings instead of saying a “black congressman”?
That said, I do believe Trump IS playing the race strategy. But unlike his political ancestors( Wallace, et al ) he does not hide behind a dog whistle. He just flat out says things that he believes will rile up his base.
Democrats and the media are taking the bait. Ignore Trump when he does this. It will be the best strategy against him— other than pointing out his policies that hurt the poor and middle class but help the rich, not to mention the socialist bailout for the farmers.
10
This is the president of the United States writing drek like this. It’s on the record for posterity, and millions of our fellow citizens love it! It is mind boggling.
18
I am a white guy who only hates one white guy. Spoiler Alert: It ain’t me, Y’all...
17
The White house has been defiled by a bigot.
Trump is trying to incite a racial war. He has spoken of having the military, the police and the motorcyclists on his side.
What brave patriot will end this nightmare ?
11
There’s not a single thing wrong with Sharpton hating whites. It seems a healthy response to generation after generation of institutional racism in this country. I don’t blame him in the least. I’m white.
60
@Bethannm great comment I would hate whites, too, if I were black - wake up white people!!!!
14
What a shame that you think it is alright to generalize like that.
17
Give him some credit at least: that was a decent reset. Sharpton is a better target of this sort of silliness than an entire Congressional district that is lot more varied than all the noise would lead one believe, although to be as evenhanded as possible, Cummings was the real target, as an irritating critic though and not as some identity representative.
2
Sharpton has learned and improved himself while trump has growing more vile in front of us
8
Evidently, Trump hasn't heard his wife's (an immigrant)"Be Best" slogan! He is a disgrace.
10
This comment is as long and complex as Trump's wisdom.
1
@SHAKINSPEAR: You overestimate Trump’s wisdom.
1
Trump is horrid and evil, no question.
But I have nothing but disdain for Sharpton. I was a newspaper reporter in the Hudson Valley 30+ years ago when Rev. Al was showboating around during the Tawana Brawley fiasco, which culminated with him publicly accusing a county prosecutor of being one of Miss Brawley's "rapists." Let me get this MO straight: Make up a shocking lie and destroy someone's reputation to distract people from the fact that his meritless and fraudulent "case" is going nowhere. Who does that sound like?
They are both despicable. I am a big MSNBC fan but I change the channel when Sharpton comes on. I can't believe they ever hired him. He does not help the cause -- he just contaminates it.
18
Two words that make no sense together, are president & Trump.
This fowl mouthed ignorant man is always accusing others of exactly what he is, says, and does.
4
@D. Healy Okay, but I think you meant "foul" mouthed.
6
Donald Trump had his 'Central Park Jogger' racism.
Al Sharpton matched it with his 'Tawana Brawley' racism.
Donald Trump and Al Sharpton are two shades of the same coin. These two old con men are matching bookends.
12
@Joe Miksis "two shades of the same coin. "
A plug nickel
5
I don't care for Al Sharpton but I am getting sick and tired of this person in the White House tweeting his opinions. Just run the country for crying out loud. Even if he is polluting it with his swamp.
8
This is a good one, he'll start another civil war just to get re-elected.
6
People, it is time to rise up, take to the streets, and send a unified message to the world that we do not support this vile leader's divisive politics of racism and hate.
If you are sitting at home, tweeting, remaining complacent, thinking that democracy is going to make a return appearance in 2020, you are in for a shock my friends. The time is NOW!
11
Let's see how this nomination comports with the statutory requirement that the DNI must have "extensive national security expertise."
Before becoming a Congressman in 2015, Ratcliffe was a U.S. attorney for ONE year and mayor of Heath, Texas, pop. 6,000, for eight years.
Let's see how Mitch McConnell spins this one.
5
I’m definitely not a Trump supporter, and have had black teammates, friends, business associates, and clients for almost 50 years. Unfortunately, I agree with Trump on this one. Sharpton is a shady opportunist who needs to remove himself from the political scene. He’s not objective, and I’ll bet very few people who actively follow N.Y. or national politics give his views any credence any more. A “con man”? Definitely!
17
Well, if we are talking about rats, we should be talking about Ben Carson and low income housing through HUD.
"The failing score was supposed to prompt swift action by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the building’s private landlord, who has a multimillion-dollar federal contract to rent the property to low-income residents, according to records obtained by NBC News. With citations for exposed wiring, missing smoke detectors and bug infestations, the Infill units racked up 113 health and safety violations — including 24 that HUD deemed “life-threatening.”
And nothing is being done by this administration to solve their rat and rodent infestation problem, including the inhabitants of the white house.
12
You may have a point, but the conditions in Baltimore didn't just appear 30 months ago.
3
Someone should start taking of the houses which sport MAGA and trump signs... Baltimore isn't that bad
..
@the downward spiral. taking of the houses ???
I can't say that I hold Sharpton in any esteem, but I did like that bit he said today about how he couldn't be a con man or else Trump would want to hire him.
11
Bond inversion shows recession is on its way....therefore make racist tweets. We teeter towards war with Iran....therefore make racist tweets. Impeachment inquiry is formalized...racist tweets.
Human rights violations at the border? Racist tweets! Poll numbers showing Trump vulnerable to ANY Dem? Racist tweets! Epstein? Racist tweet!
How much longer is this going to go on?
13
forever. Why are the Obamas silent? Do they no longer wish to lead up to hope and change? I’m disgusted with the absence of leadership by the former presidents and First Ladies. All should buy time to speak to us all. Tell us our country will survive.
3
We should blame the Republican Party as much as we blame Trump. And frankly, I am looking at anyone I meet who is a Trump supporter as a prejudiced, mean, and a nasty human being. And please don't tell me how "religious" they are--quite the reverse!
What I see on those MAGA red hats isn't Make America Great Again; it's "I am a proud racist and I have no shame!"
Trump is now the face of the GOP. He doesn't dog whistle racism to appeal to some Americans' worst inclinations, he uses a bull horn amplified by social media and cheering conservative media outlets such as Fox News. Why?
So he can aggrandize his bank account and his warped ego by being a bellicose bully that thrives off negative media attention.
Not the first one in American history. Our country has a very ugly underbelly of prejudice, discrimination, and cruelty. And look how many centuries we worked to try to achieve at least a veneer of civility. And now look just how quickly it can all be undone by an ugly demagogue and a political party that is both amoral and immoral.
All we can hope for now is that this reprehensible behavior motivates more voters than this country has ever experienced out voting against Trump in every single state in 2020 as well as every Republican running for office.
This appears to be the only way we can take back our country and return to democracy and hopefully decency.
4
By accusing someone -- anyone -- of "hating whites," Trump really is double-downing on the racial wedge. Sharpton has said he had never heard Trump "say anything racial." If true, that makes me think ... and I'm not sure if this is even possible ... that Trump's worse than a racist. A racist at least believes something, as despicable as that may be. Trump just believes in using whatever he can -- including leveraging the most despicable of beliefs -- to promote himself.
3
I love you Al Sharpton! This white woman marched with you in Detroit several years ago! You are an honest man!
The fact that Trump is calling you out means that you are doing something right.
I appreciate you and thank you. We are a better country because of you!!
4
Trump can spend until 2020 picking every black leader and not talk about any other issue. And the media will spend the until 2020 covering that.
Great stuff
8
I keep hearing how taking shots at women, women of color and actually anyone not white is good politics and a galvanizer of the base.
We are from Irish-American middle class stock. My 5 siblings and I are a good representation of the electorate. Myself and 2 of my siblings are college graduates and vote reliably democratic for better or worse. Of the 3 remaining none have college degrees 2 vote reliably republican and the other is an honest to god independent.
My point you ask? one of my sisters has a Brazilian daughter- in- law and now a lovely 1/2 Brazilian granddaughter. My brother is married to a woman from Costa Rica and I have a gay nephew who has an adopted a child with his long time partner. All of the above went to DJT in 2016.
These are voters DJT is not getting this time around and as everyone who doesn't live at that dump 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue knows full well is; my family is not unique. He may not know it, or maybe he does, his base gets smaller by the day.
10
@Williom
I believe you.
3
Please stop publishing every insane Trump Twitter message on the front page. It is disgusting. He is incapable of speaking in public at a news conference and is using this device to manipulate the media. There are important news stories. Focus on Trump's involvement with Epstein, his criminality and traitorous behavior, focus on the climate. Focus on why Congress is sitting silently by while this insanity is taking place. I want to know every Republican up for election next year so we can know who to vote against. Focus on why the citizens of this nation aren't out protesting en masse. They did it in Hong Kong with great success. But here is it just crickets and tumbleweeds. Why. I want to know who the people are at that rally screaming go back. Let us see them individually. I want to know why this insane man is still President. In every other country, he would be removed by now.
4
The trumpsters have hit on a sure winner. Rev Al is well known to critics as a man who totally fabricated a story of racism, rape, police brutality and official complicit conduct that served to create severe trauma with potential to ruin lives for everyone involved. He was successfully sued for this outrage and now he also serves as a tool to give people who support Trump yet another advantage. Go figure!
10
Suddenly This Summer - Punk'd. I can't shake this awful feeling. #DitchMitch
2
Reminder: sometimes both sides of a flame war are worthy of derision. You do not have to pick a side.
6
Having spent time in Baltimore in recent years there are areas in need of attention. A lot of attention. Rather than all the focus on the President ‘s comments I would like to see the President and those pointing out the insensitivity of his statements taking action to help the people living in the area. Actions are what count in my view.
16
@Charlie
So, what about the problems at HUD under Ben Carson? Rather than focus on excuses for Trump and looking past his race baiting, his immorality, his corruption, his narcissism, his destruction of democracy and thumbing his nose at our constitution, perhaps your action should be demanding better government.
5
I can't believe Trump calling someone else a "con man". Pot calling the kettle black, and, takes one to know one, come to mind.
16
Trump just keeps on throwing out Twitter bait for his followers. Please NYT and all the rest of us - stop taking the bait. It's not like we don't already get it: he is a vulgar, racist, attention-seeking agitator. His campaign is clearly to win in the Electoral College without a care for the popular vote. Focus and unity, not non-stop outrage and division is what will rid us of him.
23
All in all, this isn't a bad thing, really. Of course it's stomach turning, and embarrassing, and humiliating. But all that degradation falls hardest not where Trump intends that it fall.
Instead it lands like a ton of festering garbage on the Republican National Committee, and on the GOP in the Senate, particularly Mitt Romney and Mitch McConnell, and on the GOP's financiers and wealthy supporters.
The stink of this disgraceful president clings now and for a generation to the Republicans who stood mutely or mewled feebly as Donald John Trump revealed them all to be gutless cowards.
18
Sharpton is a squirrelly opportunist but the hypocrisy of Trump calling out Sharpton as a Con-Man is rich.
28
Con man is such an apt title for Donald. He seems to call people what he is. His brain is short circuited. Not bad on business and leveraging threats to get action though. Not sure that is enough to put up with abetting violence and unrest. Forget it, I am sure it is not.
7
It isn't apparent that The Rev. Al hates Whites, but here is a report from Ann Arbor, where Sharpton spoke some time ago.
The Rev. Al Sharpton was speaking at the Rackham auditorium. During the Q&A someone asked Sharpton a softball question about alleged antisemitic statements attributed to him. He went on a long lecture about the wealth of Jews originating from their dominance in the slave trade of the USA.
Take it for what it is folks, and it is clear what it is. BTW, isn't he a supporter of BDS and pals with Louis Farrakhan? QED.
20
"If he really thought I was a con man he would want me in his cabinet.”
Zinger!
Not that Trump would even notice. He admires con men, unless he is the one who is being conned.
13
Thanks Mr President for healing our wounds and bringing us together.
5
@Walnut only in Maine, perhaps, might someone say that....or think that "lashing out" is the same as "bringing us together."
2
Methinks walnut is being sardonic
6
@kenneth. If you criticize everyone in the state of Maine that is not bringing the country together. Inn fact, I would call it prejudiced and divisive.
Presidential candidates who support Baltimore without engaging Sharpton will have a path forward.
The rest? Might as well quit now and stop wasting your time and other people's money.
4
Maybe Trump isn't a racist. Really.
I think Trump is simply a Trumpist. Well, OK, a greedy, narcissistic Trumpist who wants to destroy democracy and install himself as King of the USA. He has put together an impressive coalition: the 500 or so families who control half the wealth in this country, but who want it all, and are sick and tired of paying taxes (after all, "only the little people pay taxes..."); corporations, who about 20 years ago figured out that they are supra-national and have no incentive at all to behave as if they are a part of our society; and the subset of society who are angry and filled with hate. They need to have their boot on *somebody's* neck, just to feel a little better. It doesn't really matter if it is black, or Latino, or Muslim. Just gotta hate somebody.
The first 2 constituents have been paid off, loyalty purchased at least for a while, until the next installment comes due (total elimination of inheritance taxes, *negative* tax rates for the uber-wealthy as an inducement to be a "job creator"...)
Keeping the haters enthralled is a little tougher. But the strategy of making George Wallace look like a Boy Scout seems to be working, so let's amp it up.
Nothing personal, as long as Don gets to be King for life and then succeeded by either Ivanka, or Jared or Don Jr. In fact, he can make that contest a reality TV show competition called "The Heir Apparent."
Nah, no racism. Just means to an end.
7
You would be surprised at how many Black Americans agree with Trump. It's why Hillary and democrats had trouble getting out the urban vote in 2016 and will have trouble in 2020. There are decent people trapped in these communities who have been given nothing but empty promises in return for their votes. They then saw President Obama sign executive orders and democrats rally for illegal immigrants.
Trump went to black communities talking about jobs and opportunities which did materialize. While democrats show up with insulting comments about increasing foodstamps. Despite what the media and Sharpton may say, Trump is winning on this issue. It's not racist to point out a truth that has actually made many Black voters turn away from democrats.
23
@Hellen
Please cite jobs created by Trump. Carrier moved its factories to Mexico leaving engineers and robotics to manage the work. There are a few floor workers still there, but for how long? Farm subsidies went to Big Ag which bought up many of those small farms. Where are the scholarships and grants to help farmers' kids go to college where they can study land management? Where is Trump investing in small communities? Outside investors are coming from the coastal "elites". Trump has done nothing for ordinary people. His Nuremberg style rallies are meals empty of protein.
While I share many peoples views on Sharpton I inadvertently met him many years ago, in person he’s funny and personable.
3
@John I'm sure that's relevant to this conversation, but I don't see why.
11
I'll respond to the president's comments in the language he'll be able to understand.... "Takes one to know one".
7
Tweets mentioning Al Sharpton (today) and Alfred E Newman (recently) make me wonder: what decade is trump living in?
11
If you want to know what is going on in a Republicans head, simply look at what they are acusing other people of and you will know. Let me make it wasy for you. Trump accuses Sharpton of racism, of "hating whites". This is because Trump hates minorities and is projecting this on to others.
9
How is your love affair with Kim Jong Un working out?
Tell us about the " tremendous " progress in your trade talks with china.
What have you done to stop the imprisonment of babies at the border?
What happened to your promise of 3 % annual growth ?
Where is the investigation of " crooked " Hilary that you said would be your first order of business ?
Why are your campaign manager, your personal lawyer, and your national security advisor all in prison ?
' Easier to point a finger at others.
Your whole life has been a scam.
24
Just what is the matter with this person?
3
Democrats prefer to see everything through the prism of racism, sexism, and Trumpism.
But set those aside and what Trump said about Cummings is 100% correct. In early days of his presidency, when Trump offered to work with Cummings to improve inner cities, Cummings rejected the offer and .. his excuse was, it is politically not good optics.
That’s a clear evidence Trump is right and Cummings cares about his politics more than his people.
11
Most cities have apartments that are owned by wealthy millionaires like Trump, Kushner and others who neglect their buildings and apartments - the conditions are not the fault of the low income tenants - they are the fault of the wealthy land and property owners who purposefully neglect the buildings. Sometimes they do this in an effort to get the low income tenants to move out so they can renovate and then sell the units as condo's to the wealthy. Baltimore is like NYC and every other big city in this country. The rich get richer, exploit the poor, and do not have enough housing for low to moderate income renters or buyers.
9
@Rain
Often in democratic strongholds protected by gerrymandering and/or local corruption. That makes it difficult to listen to democrats claim they are for the people. They would have more credibility if they could point to successfully helping working class and poor people in their districts. Instead poverty, homelessness and inequality has increased with American citizens fleeing if they can.
6
@Rain
"Sometimes they do this" because there isn't enough rent to cover maintenance expenses. Lower income tenants pay less rent, so there's less money to pay for real estate taxes, insurance, maintenance... maybe at the end of the year there's some profit, maybe not. It's not always "rich get richer."
2
@Hellen No, it's not at really difficult to hear without ear plugs.
2
I may not like the way he said it but there was a lot of truth in what Trump said. Many of these democrats , including members of the congressional black caucus, represent some of the most distressed communities in the nation. Which is why many of their constituents are upset about their preoccupation with illegal immigrants fleeing poverty and gang violence. As if that doesn't exist in their districts. It has been a money maker for them and their cronies getting grants for special programs that never seem to work. Poverty of the many has become profitable for a few.
Sharpton and the other revs have also made a nice living off people in communities they often don't even live in. Like Sharpton they often live in posh gated areas, expensive buildings with doormen or adjacent exclusive communities.
My favorite retort has been about Kushner having rat infested property in Baltimore. So why were democrats so quiet about this for years? It seems Cummings, Sharpton and the rest were willing to stay silent on this issue indefinitely. Only to defend themselves, not out of concern for the residents, did this issue get raised.
I wonder how many complaints about this and other issues were ignored by local democrats. It is why democrats are having trouble getting out black voters. The voters aren't enamored with Trump but they are fed up with local democrats. Crying racism won't deflect from larger issues and the underlying truth in Trump's loutish comment.
20
So what? Aren't we all totally sick and tired of these distractions? He is just Tweetie Trump tweeting away night and day. No self control. Nothing to say. Just tweet tweet tweeting away. And we care why?
14
@Deborah Actually, I'm not sure which would be worse, having him tweet away his idle hours or actually take part in the decision-making of our government. As long as he's only tweeting his venom and thumping his chest, we might just be okay.
1
@kenneth
If we want to talk about rat and rodent infestations, we only need to look as far as the white house. I am so tired of the media constantly taking the bait, focusing on Tweetie Trump Tweets - this time about big little Al - and ignoring issues, like the problems at HUD under Ben Carson.
What if we just ignored his tweets? What then? Taking part of the decision-making? I really don't think so. He thrives on reactions to his early morning tweet fests and rants from the golden throne. So, what if?
1
I dream of a day when I can criticize a person of color and not be labeled as a "racist."
18
@Nicolas Gutierrez .... and then wake up -- or at least comment on topic.
@Nicolas Gutierrez
Trump would look at your last name and worry that you might be a drug dealer who rapes and murders people.
2
@Nicolas Gutierrez
Criticize a person of color for what? Being American? Being from immigrants of color? Wearing a head scarf? Having progressive ideas and being articulate? Not accepting racism? Will you accept criticism from them? Oh - that's right. The squad criticized Trump, his policies and actions and look what happened. They were told to go back to where they came from and send her back to..... - NY, Michigan, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. So, if you want to criticize them for getting fairly elected (unlike Trump) and trying to participate in Congress and government and also criticizing government while being colored, no it is not OK.
3
The reality is that Trump just hates every one that is not white, and even being white is does not mean you get the green light from him.
He is just a despicable human being, shallow to the core. Certainly not fit to be our president. I can't wait for him to be done, he is disastrous in every way.
9
I think that it is brilliant that President Trump has been able to highlight the participation of the "Reverend" Sharpton in the defense of Baltimore City.
Baltimore is indefensible. 342 homicides in the 2017 and 309 in 2018. The homicide rate is ten times the national average of 5.7 murders for 100,000 in population. Sharpton should run for President again and make his support for dysfunctional municipal and state governments a part of his policy proposals.
33
@John Quinn
What do you mean by "Baltimore is indefensible"?
I live in Baltimore. The city's history includes racist federal, state and local policies that affect wealth distribution to this day. It's neighborhoods include safe, leafy park-like settings and rows of vacant housing.
Baltimore's people are as varied as America's. They are poor, wealthy, law-abiding and non-law-abiding to varying degrees (Do you speed on I-83, driving through our city?).
Am I, a resident of Baltimore, "defensible"?
You know nothing about me, John from Virginia Beach. I know nothing about you. Should I judge you or your neighbors based on Virginia Beach's racist history, current politics or recent tragedy? Do you deserve compassion in the wake of the shooting by a Virginia Beach city-worker that killed 13 (including himself) in Mary? Or should I write you all off as "dysfunctional," distinguishing you as "other" and washing my hands of our shared society's part in your pain?
33
@John Quinn The city can't be defended?
3
@law student I will compare Virginia Beach (VAB) to Baltimore. Both are about the same size in population. VAB gas gained 100K in population in the last 10 years, Baltimore has lost 100K in population. VAB has an excellent public school system; Baltimore's school system is a total failure. VAB has a violent crime rate of 12 per 100K, Baltimore's crime rate is 2,029 per 100K. Baltimore's homicide rate is 10 times the national average.
As a future lawyer you will have many potential clients.
10
Trump calling Al Sharpton a "con-man" is a classic case of the potus calling the kettlus black.
1191
@Jay Orchard, Trump is in a class all by himself. He has conned himself into the presidency. Your comment is cute, but not entirely true.
16
@Jay Orchard. Well done! But I think it actually works better Potus calling the Kettle black.
8
@Jay Orchard - great puns.
12
Trump is putting a spotlight on the problems of the inner city. Were it not for his tweets no one would be talking right now about joblessness, poverty, and crime in the Democrat-run cities. Obama was President for eight years. Cummings has been around for decades. Periodically there’s an incident, typically a police shooting. Tempers explode and there’s a riot in the streets. Democrat politicians posture about the situation, but soon everything goes back to “normal” and the usual neglect of the situation continues. Trump is at least trying to do something about it by concentrating on jobs while Democrats fixate on symbolism.
33
Perhaps you would be so good as to name so much as a single way that Trump has “concentrated on jobs.”
None of this jazz about the general economy (which is now right where Obama’s was), or lower black unemployment (which was already dropping, as it does during every economic recovery), or some whopper about car and coal companies.
What exactly is it that you think Trump did for inner-city jobs?
21
@Edward
Twitter is full of videos of Baltimore residents giving tours through their garbage strewn streets. It is they who are commenting on how Rep. Cummings is worried about conditions at the border while people in his district live in under these conditions.
Baltimore residents are probably thankful Trump has shown the country how badly their neighborhoods are. They cannot get basic services out of their government. Perhaps now this will change.
18
@Edward Utter nonesense. Someone once said, truthfully, but I paraphrase, "the poor will always be with us." Look it up.
In 2014, the situation allegedly became so bad in Michigan, that whites had to take over predominantly black districts, null their voting rights, dismantle their democratic structures, and "fix things." The result under whites? Rampant corruption and toxic water that left scores of children with permanent damage as a result of lead poisoning. That's "white supremacy" for ya.
8
This is the most vile president in US history. He is a racist, a misogynist, a narcissist and a pathological liar. What has happened to America? Who would want to defend this foul creature?
22
@Joe Miksis Correction: one of the most vile persons in human history. And I'm not exaggerating.
7
Donald Trump forgets (or does not understand) that he is a public SERVANT who represents ALL Americans, not just the few (63 million out of 330 million or about 20% of the population) who bothered to vote for him.
If he does not intend to represent ME, I can calmly say that HE IS NOT MY PRESIDENT.
On November 3, 2020, vote as if our democracy depends on it, BECAUSE IT DOES.
Donald Trump has proven that he does not deserve my vote. Neither do any of his Republican enablers.
NOT. EVEN. ONE.
868
@Joe From Boston
What is Trump doing to represent many (most) of the people who voted for him?
He is working against their interests on a daily basis.
They just have not had enough time to work that out.
35
@Dan
Most people who voted for Trump are part of the CULT OF TRUMP.
They are NEVER going to figure out that they have been conned.
The few who do figure it out would then have to ADMIT that they were conned, which is difficult to do.
61
@Joe From Boston
Let's please stop focusing on November 3, 2020. It is still a LONG WAY OFF. The focus must be NOW and on our Democratic leadership. How should they be responding to this daily spectacle of Trump? Is our current leadership effective? Is Chuck Schumer really the best member of Congress for Senate Minority Leader? Which members of Congress should be speaking on behalf of the Democratic Party? Who are our most articulate and compelling leaders? Certainly not Nancy Pelosi. Democrats had best take a hard look at themselves and be bold enough to make the changes necessary to win in 2020.
5
Trump calls it as he sees it.
Sharpton is a race hustler.
Until one can openly speak their mind and properly criticize people of any color or flavor without fear of being labelled, we are still a backward society.
The content of the criticism rather than the skin color of a participant is what should matter.
Is the new rule nobody at all can criticize the hustler Sharpton because he is Black or is that just Trump?
60
@Happy Liberal Isn't it funny that Donald Trump never takes a good look at himself?? He's projecting.
10
@Happy Liberal What kind of Hustler is Trump?
2
@Happy Liberal If you’ve read any of the reader comments, which I assume you have, then you’ve noticed that there are many “liberals” who are denouncing Sharpton for his past behavior. He’s not someone who has apologized appropriately for his actions. I haven’t seen any comments here excusing Sharpton.
But when I see so many comments, like yours, saying that Trump’s behavior and tweets are not racist, I see willful ignorance and a desire to increase racial tension as a political strategy. You say Trump calls it as he sees it, but evidently almost all problems he sees are created by people of color.
I think you could easily argue that W. Virginia is infested with poverty and drugs, but I have only heard Trump say positive things about that state, and I’ve also seen him throw money at a dying coal industry to help the residents and secure their votes. All I’ve seen him do for inner city poverty is reduce social programs and denigrate the black and brown people who live there. Defending that makes you either complicit in stoking racial tension—or unbelievably clueless.
10
Sharpton's actions and statements appear to be so hateful and if he cannot be called a racist, nobody else should be called a racist. But nobody in America dares to call him a racist except Trump. That is the beauty of Trump. Trump is not going to be intimidated by con artists peddling in the business of racist intimidation of whites and others. Trump cannot be intimidated not to criticize black leaders whose policies failed their communities, including Mr. Cummings of Baltimore. There are racists in every communities. It is no longer appropriate to single out whites to be called as racists for political and other purposes.
90
@Alex E yeah except that's not how racism works. Trump isn't speaking truth. He's deflecting and almost like clockwork, accusing others of things he is guilty of. corruption, racism,... Trump hismself is the walking definition of a "con man". To insist otherwise is laughable.
27
@Alex E You can be sure Trump is feeling intimidated. He's afraid of strong women. He's afraid of powerful men and women of color. Usually when someone is loudly blapping their mouth off against "others" it's because they are afraid. If you'll think about, Trump only attacks people he fears.
16
@Alex E . Bottom line is Trump has 0 credibility: Trump U, Fake Charity, Lies to all his wives, spent years pretending to be John Barron in NYC, Led the Birther movement: "You will not believe what MY dectectives are finding!!" (we are still waiting)topped off by his racist stunt calling for the death penalty for 5 young men AFTER DNA had exonerated them. Trump is professional conman.
14
The Senate and the GOP have no defense for their inaction, and even their endorsements of this president. He is a three year-old having a continual tantrum, and the GOP is the clueless parent that doesn't understand that left un-checked, these tantrums only get worse.
His racism was below the waterline for a while, but now it's on full display proudly standing on the bow shouting "I'm the king of the world."
Trump will be judged harshly by history, and he's just a passenger on the GOP's boat. The iceberg is racism, division, hatred, and they are smashing headlong into it.
Sharpton was never my favorite person, but he's a civil rights hero. He should be respected for his role in this fight for peace and respect for a whole race of people.
386
@RA GoBucks, I agree with your comment.
8
@RA GoBucks
I appreciate your points, except one: Al Sharpton is no civil rights hero. He is the very same kind of race-baiting politician as the other man you decry in your comment.
18
There's no defense, no defense at all, for continuing to call them a "GRAND OLD PARTY."
They way you did just now.
Three times.
Don't be complicit. Call them by their name, not their brand.
4
'Whites?' Two whites, three? Forty million? The degree of looseness in Mr Trump's speech is breathtaking. I suppose that comes from a lifetime of setting up deals and enterprises you know you may one day have to discount, deny or abandon. Crafty like a fox (like Fox, come to think of it). A rather disgusting fox, at that.
4
If out of a nation of 330 million, Donald Trump was the best the US could do, the world community of nations has no obligation whatsoever to take Americans seriously.
8
Please start calling out the Twitter board of directors- they have just as big of a hand in this.
4
Trump in one single week has managed to force Democrats into defending what most of the US population sees as indefensible: Ilhan Omar, Baltimore, and Al Sharpton. It’s very very clever—demonic.
Just this April, the NYT Magazine itself ran a horrifying depiction of Baltimore and its post-2015 violence and mismanagement. Suddenly we are supposed to believe it’s Charm City again?
Trump and the media have combined to make Ilhan, Baltimore and Sharpton the subject of the week. The Presidential candidates will no doubt be asked about this on Tuesday and Wednesday: “Raise your hand—who defends, etc?” And over the cliff they go.
The best policy is for the media and the Democrats to ignore Trump’s tweets. Ignore him. Do NOT let him set the agenda!
7
Saying that Mr. Sharpton hates whites is just Donald being the real jerk that he is. Remember when he and Hillary were in NYC at the dinner hosted by the Catholic leadership and he couldn't get the jokes? They were beyond his comprehension, and most by Hillary were self-deprecating. However, he couldn't even figure that out. Consequently, he went to the microphone and said that Hilliary hated Catholics, grabbed Melania by the arm, and left. I find it to be very sad that he is such an immature little boy who never learned humor.
6
as someone who was around for Tawana Brawley Al is not my fave. That said, hes a saint compared to the dictator in chief.
7
In accordance with his recent excuses for telling four female minority congressional representatives to leave our country, shouldn't Trump move to Russia?
Because when it comes to his whining insults and obsessive bullying and complaining about the people in OUR country, how many Russians has he done the same thing to.
Putin is about the only person he hasn't disparaged. He's complained about and insulted nearly 3/4ths of America's citizens, yet he's always got something nice to say about his big daddy Vladdy.
So it's time to tell Trump to move to Russia.
Before he does a "Lonesome Rhodes" on his own fans, resulting in no one left in this country he hasn't insulted.
2
Trump's best chance at reelection is by baiting the Democrats in the House of Representatives to impeach him ... and stuff like this brings impeachment closer and closer to reality.
1
Apparently intervention didn't help. Trump seems hopelessly addicted to hate.
7
We had dumped so awesome a power in the hands of so small and vain a man, disaster was bound to befall us.
7
Seriously NYT, WAPO etc. Ignore him! Ignore him! Ignore him! Stop feeding that malevolent ego. Stop giving him what he wants. It’s no longer news that he’s a vile, disgusting human completely without conscience, scruples or moral values, so why do you keep reacting the same way time after time?
12
How dare he disparage of color folks who speak out, and say it loud! RACIST!
3
You're a racist, nooooo you're a racist , no you're a racist. AOC calls Pelosi a racist, Trump and Biden have been called racists. And the media reports the back- and-forth like a tennis match, so silly.
16
Many Democrats, sick of Trump, believe we should ignore him and stick to the "real issues." But Trump's racism, his eagerness to use race-baiting to seek reelection, is no a side issue, not even just one more on a list. Trump's instinctual and calculated race-baiting is an open assault upon America's fundamental value of equality, as we have come to understand it to embrace all, regardless race, gender, religion, or nation of origin. Rather than ignore it, Democrats and Independents and, indeed, Republicans should rush to join the fight.
Trump's overt racism is singularly disqualifying, and picking up steam. He has 462 more days of this escalating ugliness in store for us. Under the circumstances, every American has a straightforward patriotic duty to vote against him, regardless the Democratic candidate. Have no fear, no Democratic candidate, whether "moderate" or "radical," will be able to dictate America's future. The Democratic House will remain divided on policy; the Senate will likely remain in GOP hands; and the Courts are well stuffed with Conservatives. We can and will go on fighting over all those "real issues" after Trump is gone and America's fundamental principle of equality is affirmed once again.
5
I like Al Sharpton. I don't know enough about his role in the civil rights movement to make a judgement in that regard. Everyone is entitled to reinvent themselves. I can't say he's an opportunist. He has a good show on MSNBC & he's a good talking head when he is a guest on Nicole Wallace's show. I actually look forward to him on her show because he brings a perspective of Trump's world that no one else can. All the times I have seen him his comments are thoughtful. If he was a race-baiter in the past (again, I didn't follow him that closely until the last 2 yrs) he isn't now. He's got street sense. And if Trump thinks Al is a con-artist, well, Mr. Trump, you can't con a con.
4
Al does not hate whites.
However, he is a opportunist who sows divison, much like Trump.
Furthermore, there are documentaries on the rat problem in Baltimore. Liberals need to confront the truth instead of labeling hard-to-swallow pills ( like West Baltimore really is a ghetto) as "racist". Come up with real solutions.
Now we are all grabbing our pearl necklaces over West Baltimore. Trump is right in his assessment as I've been through there, and east St Louis, East Cleveland. I have lived in transitional neighborhoods where I needed to carry as a white minority. Most commentators here have not. Full stop.
352
@Scott
Trump is the President of the United States of America - not white suburbia and farm country. He can't claim economic success and then from the other side of his mouth call Baltimore disgusting and it is the job of Cummings to clean it up. His policies have failed those people too.
And you completely glossed over him and his supporters chanting "send them back" to colored congresswomen who are all American citizens. Conservatives need to confront the truth of their overt racism instead of saying "the other side does bad stuff too!"
522
@Scott
So what is Trump as POTUS doing to revitalize urban policy? NOTHING. This isn't just the job of liberals. POTUS needs to set the agenda--if he's truly the president of the "united states" and not just his base.
But who has Trump appointed to those cabinet posts to deal with the issues facing those "transitional" zones in cities? What are they doing? Ben Carson at HUD slashing housing programs and budgets? I don't even know who's in charge at Health and Human Welfare.
Then again, since when has Trump ever cared about that--health and human welfare?
Trump is not delivering a "hard truth" to us when he maligns Baltimore, Elijah Cummings, and now Al Sharpton. Trump has power as POTUS to do something about the conditions he mocks, but he chooses not to. Why is that?
What it tells me: Trump is ginning up his base like the racist shock jock he is. He's unabashedly making racism an appeal in the 2020 campaign. Full stop. If you align yourself with Trump's hatreds and cynicism, that's on you.
465
@Scott you miss the point. A president, any president, is President of ALL the people, and this one goes out of his way to act in an unbecoming manner (not how I'd say this in person.) He is divisive, ignorant, lies like a sieve, wallows in unabashed misogynism and racism (both overt and via innuendo.) He has made this country a laughingstock, mocked our allies; brown-nosed Putin, Un, Saudi Arabia. He's caused and/or aggravated the issues with Iran, NoKo and at the border. He's helping pollute our environment, cutting funds for education.
Yes the Market is up further, but so is the Trade Deficit. Taxes? Unless you're also in the top 3% you didn't get as much of a break as I have.
He renegotiated NAFTA but didn't get much, if anything, extra for it. Trade war with China? Well lets see where that ends up.
Republicans have blocked every effort of the House to write new laws, for all (except for a few, rare, bipartisan bills.)
In short, he is the worst of all Presidents including Buchanon (Do nothing) and Nixon.
Will he win again, I hope not; but fear he may due to the majority of people who dont actually see the truth.
337
It seems to me that in addition to his comments being racist lately, what you may be seeing is Trump gambling big on a pure political power move. By throwing all these comments out left and right he is baiting the Democratic majority in the House to impeach him. At least right now, he knows the Senate would not remove him. Should he prevail in the Senate he will break the Democrats. They should amass their data and downplay his commentary. If they fall for his bait and fail, they will lose. It’s all about power.
1
anyone still questioning whether this man is fit to be president really isn't paying attention. his behavior and personality has shown itself from before he was helped into the White House. i say this all the time and i'll say it here: People show you who they are everyday. BELIEVE THEM".
5
The so called President would lash out with smears at Dr. Martin Luther King too.
Some higher power (are you there God? It's the America that promised us) has to intervene with this so-called President.
How low can yo go, Trump?
5
"Trump lashes out at..." "Trump attacks..." "Trump belittles..." When are we going to get rid of this dangerous child?
11
Gosh, for a dyslexic adult with significant mental health illnesses, Mr. Trump seems to be lashing out at 6 people of color this week.
I wonder who the white supremacist murderer at the Gilroy Festival, voted for president?
6
I don’t think he was old enough to vote in 2016
How...how, did either of these people become mainstream? I worked in news in the 80's and 90's. These two were cartoon characters and now they are on the front page of the NYT. It's pathetic.
5
Donald Trump has a nasty habit of tweeting about what other people think and feel, generally only negative aspects. Because Trump has clearly shown that he has no capacity for empathy, anything that he would say about anyone's character would be bogus. He has no capacity for introspection and when it comes to relationships, he's a hollow shell. I'm certain if his wives and children were truthful, they would say that his capacity for human emotions are limited to hate, rage, and a desire for vengeance When he tweets about others' hate, it's simply a projection of his own feelings. What a pathetic man he is.
2
Mr. Trump is a con man and racist. And trying to deflect by picking on Al Sharpton.
Saying that Al Sharpton hates white people is preposterous.
Bottom line: if you vote for Trump (or any of the GOP, for that matter, since they now are nothing more than cheerleading team for him), you are a racist and would rather throw this country down the tubes than vote for Democrat.
4
Trump was triggered by the fact Sharpton tweeted about flying to Baltimore.
What a snowflake.
7
Trump needs to be shunned by the Press, the Democrats, and all of his critics across the board.
Focus on policy and help the opposition party do just that. And to Trump's political opponents...
if the press asks for a comment on the latest Trump tweet, respond with a "no comment."
This could very well push Trump to a complete
meltdown.
5
Trump's brays have no authority over any of us. Stop listening to him and get busy with the important work of getting him voted out of office.
7
A pair of angry men who push in where they're not wanted and who used one another over the years. We are blessed with an embarrassment of riches here, if you can call troublemakers "riches."
2
In 1961, The Twilight Zone broadcast the episode, “It’s a Good Life”, with Billy Mumy as an childish, but all-powerful, bully. This is what I think about now, when I hear these awful things Mr Trump says, over and over. No one stands up to him. Why?
4
@William Taggart
I remember that episode well. EXCELLENT analogy!
2
Please America.
Don’t take the bait.
Ignore what he says.
4
I heard the "Go back to your country" slang for many decades while in New York and everyone knew what a Queens person was like, basically tough guys, some famous gangsters.
The "Disgusting, rat and rodent infested" remark is another typical remark in the city, and is especially notable that Trump said having owned many hundreds of apartments there with a history of discrimination.
I think the most glaring fact about his attacks on black men of stature, going back to Obama indicates he is just another Queens tough guy absent any personality of notable desire and totally lacking in people skills and empathy after having grown up privileged and rich surrounded by white yes men and women all his life. It's culture shock to him that he met any resistance after becoming President.
He never should have run for office. His character is the polar opposite of one with the necessary political acumen needed to be a leader. He can't handle people and can't get along with others.
He is the Republican persona on all levels. The Republican culture of hate and anger created the environment for Trump to become President.
There is some good news in all this; He's so bad and attracts all the loose cannons such that no lunatics would want to hurt him because he is to their liking. Weird but true.,
4
Takes one to know one. Sharpton
is a 100% opportunist. Like Trump he has has no moral core. No Democrat should associate with this proven liar. With Trump as president we don’t need such easy foils as Sharpton.
17
As a Nation . . . we are going out backwards.
If given a second term . . .
His Majesty Admiral General Commandante PFC Donald J(erk) Trump will create and sign an Executive Order reinstating Slavery in all the States that he carries . . . to the standing ovation of all the GOP in both Houses of Congress.
4
Mr Trump. Your are president. If Mr Cummings' district is in trouble: HELP FIX IT! That's your job.
Real presidents unite. Trump divides.
21
Reading many of these comments, I feel like I live in a different country. And considering I live in middle Tennessee, one could make the argument that I do, indeed, live in a different country than what’s reflected on the coast, or in many major cities. What is hard for many people to understand, outside of the left-leaning communities, is that this is exactly the reason why most of America not only will continue to support Trump, but will also ensure his re-election. His words reflect the majority of what America wants to say. His feelings reflect what the majority of Americans feel. Do not assume that I derive any joy out of those statements, because it actually breaks my heart to type that. But Trump is not only America’s president, he is America’s conscience. All that he is doing is giving a public voice to what the majority of Americans have said in the privacy of their own home. I remember reading an article that argued that people who voted for Trump voted for him in spite of all of the terrible things he had done in the past, terrible things to women, terrible things to minorities. But that is not the case, people voted for Trump not in spite of these things, but because of these things. He is a role model for the red nation under which we live. America, we hardly knew ya.
8
@Asher well, objectively, a majority of americans did NOT vote for him, but, you know, electoral college things
20
It’s like you go to the Doctor and he says - don’t exercise and eat as much bacon and cheese as you want, and you say ‘wow - what a great doctor’
Leaders (and Doctors) should be setting an example - at least with their words - and helping us aspire to better things.
3
@Asher. Twenty-five years ago when my family and I planned a cross-country drive a mom friend whose family did the same warned us not to travel through the Deep South; mixed race couples would not be welcomed. If the same holds true now, as you seem to suggest, little wonder I am and will probably remain a bi-coastal resident. BTW, during our car rip, we stopped by a flyby roadside pizza place. The young lady behind the counter asked, "How long will you be be staying?". I replied, "Not long, don't worry".
Is there anything we can do to stop giving DJT the audience and attention he seeks. Can the print and TV/Cable media just ignore him and move onto other issues. Maybe by ignoring him, he will go away.
8
Don and Al really are cut from the same cloth.
Ambitious publicity seekers and entertainers who cannot be trusted. When I think of Sharpton, I am reminded of the preacher rabble-rouser in Bonfire of the Vanities. I am certain - as was everyone else at the time - that the movie character was modeled after Sharpton.
At least Sharpton has been trying to re-invent himself over the past decade as a serious journalist. Although it will be hard from me to take him seriously until he comes clean and apologizes regarding the Twana Brawley incident.
I can’t imagine ever taking Trump seriously.
9
If Baltimore is such an awful place to live, perhaps Trump should look no further than the problems created in Baltimore by his own family members. He might have his son-in-law address the poor, and in some cases hazardous, living conditions in the apartment complexes that his company owns.
13
Aside from the current comments, there is no doubt that Baltimore has very serious problems, as yet not lined up for solution. Baltimore's problems are shared by other cities, like St. Louis. These problems, and what they portend, for the future, do not get the attention they must have. There is increasing public frustration over this situation.
8
Enough
Trump’s comments about Elijah Cummings and previous personal attacks on others should be ignored.
An appropriate response:
“We will not respond to infantile, cowardly, and false accusations from the president. They are not worthy of our time & energy nor the attention of the press. If supporters of Mr. Trump enjoy his ‘narrative' that is their prerogative.
When the president decides to have respectful, serious discussions concerning our problems, here is a partial list:
Border issues require effective, compassionate, far reaching solutions.
Environmental problems demand a visionary response which does not diminish ‘freedom’ but increases it. Welcome new industries & the professions this technology generates.
Our election system requires adjustments so America achieves the aim of ‘one person-one vote’.
International diplomacy and cooperation should be viewed as a total program in the context of the past and future.
Progress & freedom are not ‘free’. Tax cuts for the richest people & corporations have not in the past created innovation and do not now. Instead, income differential grows.
Taxes are how successful people invest in the future so others participate in progress. During the 50’s under the republican Eisenhower, the federal government taxed people to build the intestate highway system, a huge peacetime infrastructure program. It generated employment in many fields for decades. We need a new version of that program and vision.
2
Just when we thought the rhetoric couldn’t get any lower, he plummets to a new nadir. We all need to uplift one another and focus on uniting to achieve common goals rather than attack and divide. The Russians love this too you know. This is exactly what they want. Talk about playing into your enemy’s hand.
3
Most people, including The Donald, don't make good decisions when they are angry. Apparently, The Donald becomes angry quite easily and lashes out at whomever comes to mind.
Back when President Obama was in the White House, if he came out and said "Good morning," the republicans and Fox, Rush, Coulter, Hannity, and company would erupt in paroxysms of outrage and criticism. I often wondered if he ever did things deliberately to get the right wing going. It seems like it would be easy to keep them in a dither all the time. Keep them in a perpetual state of anger and rage. None of them were ever going to vote for him or support him anyway, so it would not have mattered if they were angry all the time.
The same with The Donald. There are a lot of Democratic politicians and public people who have some time to spare. Let them plan amoung themselves to take turns saying things so that The Donald will lash out and get in a twitter war. As far as I am concerned he can have a twitter war everyday or have several per day.
The republicans in congress are afraid to cross The Donald because the trump faithful might primary them. But The Donald and the republicans aren't going to do anything for the Democrats or support them, so what is there to lose.
Mr. Sharpton seems to know how to deal with him.
It think that in politics any day that your opponent is out in public making a fool of himself is a good day for you. Lets get out of way.
2
It's difficult for me to think of two people in the political arena I hold in less respect than Donald and Al Sharpton. I have to go from singularly Sharpton and allegedly on the left, to a chorus of elitist oriented reactionaries on the right after him to find more in such categorical disfavor.
I don't wish to read much of what Fauxpo says about A.S. for fear that I might agree with him on something.
7
Trump’s race-baiting utterances probably mean that he is diverting attention from something of very critical importance.
What’s he done, or what is he about to do, that is so potentially damaging that he worries it may upset the American populace, including his “no boundaries/no filters” supporters?
2
Seeing as how Trump spends all day commenting on everything, he should wake up and realize he’d really rather be a commenter. Therefore, he should withdraw from running again, and get his buddy Murdoch to give him what he really wants. A seat on that fox and friends couch in the morning, when he seems to be nice and fresh. There, he’d be at home in his beautiful toxic element, surrounded by foxy friends, who are ready to lick his fragile ego and agree with everything he says all morning. Maybe then, this incredibly angry child man will finally be happy
3
Tweet away Mr. President. There are plenty of white, suburban, college educated professionals as myself, that are disgusted by this bigotry and outrage. Because of the positions we hold in our communities, unlike the current President of the U.S., we must maintain some dignity and composure in our daily lives and not get caught up in your war of words for fear of being misunderstood, or worse labels something we are not. But we will remember these things come November 2020, because many of us were raised to, by default, oppose every breath of racist sentiment and bigotry that comes from the mouths of the ignorant, black, white, brown, or from anyone of any background does against any other race or culture. The man is tweeting his way into the opposition. I’m certain of this.
4
Ah yes, suburban. Never were chased by gangs, never beaten with bats, and chains, never been shot at, never feared to leave home at night. It all happened to me but what do I know? I lived in the city and I am white.
3
This beast cannot vacate the White House soon enough. He is poisoning the present and destroying the future.
I hope the Democrats can manage to unite behind one viable candidate. I would be a Bernie supporter but don't think the masses are ready for social democracy. Especially when it's called democratic socialism. Besides, I emigrated 45 years ago to live in a more advanced country.
We need the supporters of the man in the White House to wake up before it's too late.
No matter who you are, you are being film flammed and sold out. Eventually, you will see he is not helping you.
If you can not support a Democratic candidate for president, find a Republican with principles and a backbone to nominate. There must be a man or woman already in politics whom you could count on beating that man.
Your country needs you to do this.
2
But @al, are you not backing the ideology of hate, xenophobia, division and corruption. Good thing there are more voters in your area that do not believe in those ideologies.
2
@Joan In California
"Eventually, you will see he is not helping you."
I don't need his help. I want him to help my country by fighting the mob religion of liberalism. So far, he's been the only president with guts to do it.
Trump 2020!
Down with liberalism and any ideology for that matter.
4
I don’t ascribe to “liberalism” any more than “conservatism”, but saying “down with any ideology” is truly the rallying cry for our descent in to the end of days.
Trump displays his racism to win votes from so many Americans who are relieved to have a leader who believe what they believe. Sad but true he speaks to a majority of our population.
3
“Al is a con man, a troublemaker - just the sort I would hang out with for 25 years.”
Oh, stop trying to worsen your reputation, Trump. You can't make it worse. Just shoot somebody on 5th Avenue already.
As Trump's 'Art of the Deal' ghostwriter said in 2016: “Something I saw early on w/ Trump: most negative things he says about others are actually describing him. Read his tweets with that in mind”. So of course he's going to accuse everybody else of racism.
Still, it would be better if he weren't president and we didn't have to bother with his increasingly unhinged tweets at all.
7
Let's face an awful truth---the pres of the USA is an autocRAT!
And "Jared Kushner owns lots of apartments in the Baltimore area. Some were infested with mice. Kushner’s complexes have been cited with hundreds of code violations." W. Post.
HUNDREDS OF CODE VIOLATIONS? How apt!
Our Tsar Trump the Terrible needs to be cited with severe and atrocious 'Code Violations' of American principles, political ethics, and of basic human decency. Then, we need impeachment, electoral repudiation and indictments, or preferably all.
In fact, how unsatisfying it will be to only dump Trump by a small voter margin. As if he's any run of the mill candidate.
Trump will live in infamy and his danger to our democracy will be taught in history classes into the far future. Other world democracies see the warning.
Trump is heating up and he'll only get worse as this historic election campaign goes on--and on. Be ready for what he'll think up to spout after the coming Dem debates.
3
While trump flails about liberally dumping on political adversaries with fabrications (lies) galore why waste the effort when he can easily go after the senate leader where he doesn't have to fabricate at all. All he has to do to see where Mitch McConnell's priorities lie is glance at the statistics about the state he has 'helped' govern since the mid-1980s. By any measure, Kentucky is a mess*. It is poor, unhealthy, under-employed, non-competitive, poorly educated, addicted, and despairing. While Mitch has been off playing tactician, his state has continued to sink. Clearly McConnell is a heartless, cold, ruthless man who is out for himself.
* Kentucky:
/ #46 in Educational attainment..
/ #46 in Poverty.
/ #43 in Employment.
But #5 in receipt of federal subsidies & #1 in obstructionist politicians
10
@me They lead in OPiods.
3
Donald Trump is all about projection -- projecting his own negativity and bad actions onto his critics. So when he accuses Al Sharpton of hating certain people, what he is really doing is exposing his own hate of anyone he considers to be "other." And "other" in his mind seems to be anyone who is not white and not adoringly approving of Donald Trump.
2
I am not a big Trump fan. But as a fellow man of no color, I get offended that I so often get called a racist because I am a man of no color. As a man of no color I have to be extra careful of what I say. What people of color can say without reprisals I can not. I am sick of being discriminated against because I have no color.
17
Trump tries to galvanize his base by appealing to their racist stereotypes, and they eat it up. Because a racist never think they are racist, Trump’s methods can be quite effective. And because the GOP has few morals to begin with, they, by default, are in on it too.
3
There is far too much disgusting false attribution of motives of others by trump and the GOP, generally exactly that what they are guilty of. Here trump attributes hatred of all white people to Al Sharpton, which is just slanderous and should not stand in our public discourse, even as a verbal threat. It is just too cruel and hateful to tolerate.
2
Why is the media still allowing this man to dominate the coverage from both right and left leaning publications. Surely you understand this is exactly what he intends.
He succeeded in 2016 and STILL you haven’t learned. He says anything to get attention and it works! Please try and focus on the issues and try and hammer the fact that his Administration has not managed to put in place anything that might help the country or the people. No infrastructure, no decent health care, no tax advantages for the average working man or woman. Think about it all we ever hear from him is The Wall and how badly he is being treated ad nauseum . The man is a sociopath you can never win as long as you give him a voice.
I hate seeing how easily he manipulates you the Press. You are his tools and he plays you like a fiddle.
Now that your congress is on hiatus how about a few weeks without an acknowledgement of his ridiculous tweets.
1
If I read one more title or lede that starts out “Trump lashes out at . . .” I think I’m going to scream. As another poster suggested, can we please cordon off this Twitter nonsense, name calling, and purposeful distraction in its own small area, continued in the back of the paper, and not push the real news below the fold?
4
Al Sharpton has grown and evolved over the years - Trump only gets worse.
4
All those who defend Al Sharpton need to search for "Freddy's Fashion Mart" 7 innocent people were killed there.
Baltimore has a murder rate more than 10x the national average, 10% of the people living there are addicted to heroin, Baltimore's schools are not performing and a deputy police commissioner was just robbed at gun point. It is about time someone called out the elected officials who are supposed to represent them.
15
Republicans - hellooooo. The (illegitimate) "president" is inciting racial hatred in America from his platform in the Executive branch. And the Republicans just act as if there's nothing to see.
No more peace for Republican lawmakers. They must feel unwelcome anywhere they are. Sanders' restaurant experience should serve as an example of how these people should be treated.
11
@Chris
"Sanders' restaurant experience should serve as an example of how these people should be treated."
Why not the shooting on the golf course then?
1
Why does the media continue to make this breaking news? POTUS is a racist. By repeating his repulsive tweets, hate speech, etc., you’re giving him exactly what he wants: attention.
14
And mice in Trump's restaurants? What a joke this blowhard is so let's rid our country of him in 2020. Please.
5
His statement appears to be the pot calling the kettle black. Pun intended.
1
Where is the Republican who will criticize Trump as a con man? Where is the Democrat who will criticize Sharpton as a con man?
7
@Alex Excuse me? Al Sharpton is not the president of the United States. Slippery though he may be, he actually does do some good works in the community. No one expects Al to be anything other than Al--he's living up to his promise. The president should be held to a much higher standard.
4
There's a bumper sticker out there with Trump dressed up as a clown that states,
"Elect a clown...
... expect a circus.
And that's just not right, because Trump and his appointees are an insult to both clowns and circuses.
11
Using the term 'racist' in the context of any criticism, implied or otherwise, that somehow is associated with 'people of color' undermines meaningful conversation. It is practically Orwellian.
I am glad Trump is showing up many Dems as the true racists they are. Every second white/black person could be a true racist and it would still be wrong (and stupid and ignorant) for the rest of us to continue to talk as if the views of those racists are meaningful.
Fake outrage over (false) accusations of racism sells like hot cakes to those eager to buy, it seems.
10
@Logan
"It is practically Orwellian."
Not practically but simply Orwellian.
2
How about if reporters stop using "Lashes out"? Just stop.
5
Anyone with half a brain can see that Trump is a total buffoon, and is breaking his Constitutional oath, almost on a daily basis. No President that is fit for office should be saying what he tweets on a daily basis. Malignant narcissistic personality disordered person is who we have as a President.
7
Wait - Now Trump hates whites too? Is there anyone Trump doesn't hate...besides himself?
5
Donald Trump calling anyone a con man is the height of projection. What's next, accusing someone of being a lying blowhard?!
9
People forget. Does the name Tawana Brawley ring a bell? To know that name is to deeply understand Al Sharpton.
15
@Joe so you'd rather a leader who digs up a dead 40 year hoax over one who starts the day as a leader, speaking out against a less than 24 hour old mass shooting that took the life of a 6 year old child?
3
The man is a living laboratory of abnormal psychology. Projection, malignant narcissism, inferiority complex, misogyny, racism, sociopathy, bullying and extreme mendacity. While Sharpton has some ugly history himself, he has reformed to a degree (unlike Trump). And as to Elijah Cummings his legacy will be likened to MLK while Trump will be viewed in the vein of Joe McCarthy and George Wallace. These are sad and embarrassing times for the U.S.
7
I can't stand Trump, but he's right about Sharpton being a con man, big time.
21
@Joe yes, and this is breaking news. Far more important than a mass shooting.
2
A mass shooting happened yesterday. Again. A 6 year old was murdered, people were killed and shot and injured while attending a food festival. It is heartbreaking story, and terrible that we've become so numb that it's not top of page news.
Heading with the imbecility of Trump is making people dumb. Trump is racist, nothing new there. He's infuriating. Sharpton is a windbag too. Please, nytimes, be responsible with placement. And you need to start a separate news section called "mass shootings today."
5
"Al is a conman, a troublemaker, always looking for a score."
Takes one to know one.
6
No one is above the law, as a bunch of empty suits in Congress keep insisting...
incitement (plural incitements)
1. A call to act; encouragement to act, often in an illegal fashion.
(https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/incitement)
1
Oh dear! We have a raving lunatic who has his fingers on the button that launches nuclear weapons! The world is at risk I am afraid.
3
Trump is critical of everyone - he speaks his mind - black or white -- Prove him wrong - Baltimore is the murder capital of the east coast - because????
9
So, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Congressman Elijah Cummings are racists, but the participants in the Charlottesville rally weren’t? I don’t remember this kind of condemnation from our President of anyone white and who actually, objectively exhibited racist behavior.
7
It’s unpresidential and unpatriotic for the POTUS to behave this way. What a bully we have to represent us in the world. SAD! Vote him out in 2020.
8
Thats right folks Trump sows division where ever he goes, just like Vladimir Putin has instructed him to do. A classic ploy to make our country weak, exploit any and all of our divisions. We were and still are being attacked by Russian intelligence and our illegitimately elected President is aiding and abetting these invaders and their activities. Donald J. Trump and his sycophant Mitch McConnell are currently the number one threats to our national sovereignty. This must stop and at this point I no longer care how it stops, just stop it now.
9
@ridgewalker1
The Republicans have been stoking these racial fears and hatreds for decades. Remember Willie Horton?
Please just create a regular column on trump's twitter and use main headlines and stories for all the wreckage that is happening meanwhile. like concentration camps on the border, the corruption of his cabinet, kushner's saudi money ties, failed roadways and bridges, Moscow Mitch, voter suppression....
4