It has been so disheartening to hear the political discussion this country and news outlets have been having for the last few days about Donald Trump's comments on Gonzalo Curiel, the American judge overseeing the lawsuit against Trump University. The fact that we're even discussing whether or not the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party made racists remarks about the judge should be appalling enough. But the fact that the two top leaders of the Republican Party can't bring themselves to calling Trump's comments what they are - racists, is even more appalling.
Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, when asked by Chuck Todd three times on "Meet the Press" this past Sunday if Trump's comments were racists, he responded, "I could not disagree more with a statement like that." "I couldn't disagree more with what he had to say." "I don't agree with what he had to say."
But Senator McConnell would not admit what is obvious to everyone else who understands what racism is. Donald Trump's comments cannot be described as anything but racists.
Moments later, on that same interview, Senator McConnell said, "I think the party of Lincoln wants to win The White House."
http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/mcconnell-trump-judge-comments-i-couldn-t-disagree-more-n586056
Well, Senator, I'm pretty sure that if Lincoln could see what is happening to your party, who the party's presumptive nominee is, and that you, the Senate Majority Leader are planning to vote for a man like Trump, he would turn in his grave.
But Paul Ryan's response was even more disheartening. When asked by Vicki McKenna on Friday about Trump's comments on her WISN radio show (and then his comments printed on The Walt Street Journal), the Speaker of the House responded, "Look, the comment about the judge the other day just was out of left field for my mind..."
Really, Mr. Speaker? Out of left field...?
Ryan went on to say, "It's reasoning I don't relate to. I completely disagree with the thinking behind that. And so, he clearly says and does things I don't agree with, and I've had to speak up from time to time when that has occurred, and I'll continue to do that if it's necessary. I hope it's not."
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/06/03/paul-ryan-donald-trumps-judge-comments-out-of-left-field/
But like Senator McConnell, Speak Ryan would not call Trump's comments racists.
Here's the thing. Donald Trump's racist rants did not start with his comments on Judge Gonzalo Curiel. Or even with his comments about Mexicans when he announced his run for President. They started when he decided to question the U.S. Citizenship of our current President. That was racist too. But no one brings that up anymore. And it is shocking how little the press is doing to make the correlation between the two.
So let me remind you, Mr. Speaker, Trump's latest comments did not come, "Out of left field." And to suggest that they did, is an insult to millions of Americans, and to the office you hold.
To the rest of the Republicans out there, including Senator McConnell, I leave you with Maya Angelou's words. "When someone shows you who they are, believe them; the first time."
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/335-when-someone-shows-you-who-they-are-believe-them-the
And then decide if you're still willing to put party before country by supporting, endorsing, or voting for a man like Donald Trump.