There was a lot of talk this past week about how President Donald Trump might be more than a little unhinged. People questioned his mental health, and his fitness to hold the country’s highest office. By the way, those are two completely different things.
I am no expert on mental health issues, but don’t believe our president is mentally unbalanced. It seems to me he generally knows exactly what he is doing, even if he doesn’t always carefully consider the consequences.
No, Donald Trump appears quite sane to me. His remarks and actions and inconsistencies seem to come not from any mental health issues, but instead from one fairly obvious and demonstrable fact.
This president is just not a good person. He’s pretty much a miserable human being.
Do I say that for political reasons? No, although I understand it will be viewed that way. After all, I am clearly a Democrat, and President Trump is clearly … well, he’s somewhat of a … well, I’m not sure exactly where he fits on the political spectrum. But suffice to say, I disagree with him on most things political.
But it is not his politics that bring me to say what kind of person the president appears to be. Rather it is his words, actions and deeds.
It is his use of hate to inspire Americans to follow him and support his political goals. President Trump is the most hateful and fear-mongering president in United States history.
One day he speaks on how “this administration and this movement is built upon love,” and proclaims “a wound to one American is a wound upon all Americans.” He calls himself a “unifier,” and promises to bring us all together as “a team.”
Yet the next day he lashes out at those who dare oppose him. He calls American media members “sick people,” “dishonest people,” “terrible people,” and questions their patriotism and loyalty to their country. He never misses an opportunity to attack those he dislikes, but constantly passes on opportunities to be compassionate and level-headed in respecting those with differing points of view.
Instead of working on the many problems facing this nation, President Trump held a campaign rally last week — nearly 3-1/2 years before his possible re-election. He held it in Arizona, the home state of Sen. John McCain — war hero, senate veteran, former Republican presidential candidate, and someone currently fighting for his very life against brain cancer.
Yet not once did this president acknowledge the service of Sen. McCain, or wish him well in his fight against the deadly disease. However, he did (without mentioning his name) point out McCain voted against a recent healthcare bill favored by the president. He made a huge deal out of that, waving his arms and inciting supporters. He told Arizona residents to “talk to their senator”.
I understand the president is a leader, not a good-will ambassador. But it is stupid – not to mention ignorant – to do what he did to John McCain without also wishing him well in his health battle. And if you support the president in that regard, then I would apply those same descriptions to you.
You cannot talk about “a wound to one American is a wound to all Americans” and then walk around inflicting wounds upon many Americans and expect to maintain a shred of true credibility.
You can disagree with journalists without calling them stupid, dishonest, or questioning their commitment to their country. They, too, are Americans, and you represent them just as much as anyone else.
The president can’t rail against hate and bigotry and prejudice one day, and then pardon a racist sheriff convicted by a court of conducting racial profiling the next, without looking bigoted and/or biased. His blatant disrespect for the judicial branch of government creates a constitutional crisis. His attack on transgender members of our military just reinforces that appearance.
And his pardon of the convicted sheriff, Joe Arpaio, sends a message to loyalists considering testifying in the Russia probe: “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.”
No, I don’t believe this president is crazy. I just believe he has shown himself to be dangerously self-absorbed, uncaring, and not a good person.
And frankly, I’m not sure which is worse.
Bill Gouveia is a local columnist and a longtime local official. He can be emailed at billsinsidelook@aol.com and followed on Twitter at @Billinsidelook.