As a news wonk with journalism training, I am often struck by the words selected by headline writers. As I read the headline on Michael Gerson’s column in the paper to my editor, she said, “appealing – it should read appalling, not appealing.”
Obviously, the writer meant to use the word “appealing,” but I view Donald Trump’s actions to be “appalling.”
An op-ed writer for the Washington Post, who was once a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, Gerson used his column to reference Trump’s unthinking response to a question posed by MSNBC’s Chris Mathews calling for the punishment of women who get an abortion. Gerson followed with other examples of Trump’s off-the-cuff controversial statements on Illegals – calling them “rapists” and “criminals” – and banning immigration of Muslims.
Yes, in earlier posts I have written how many Americans find Trump’s blusterous attacks on political correctness appealing. I remarked about Trump’s success in stirring interest in the 2016 presidential election. All, however, while calling for specifics behind his wild pronouncements.
Trump’s unthinking, spontaneous response to Mathews’ question was appalling. For someone seeking the highest office in the land to be so unprepared and nescient is unimaginable. It is inexcusable that that a conservative candidate not be better prepared to discuss this important topic. When you add Trump’s constant put-downs and personal name-calling to this ignorance I see a man who is not only unprepared for the presidency, he lacks character, a major qualification of leadership.
We continue to hear that there’s no turning back for Trump supporters, but I have to hope that they will come to their senses and realize that the presidency of the United States is not celebrity apprentice.
Trump has had to walk back a number of “misstatements.” To that, Gov. John Kasich often says, the presidency is not a position for on-the-job training.
