In an attempt to disparage President Barack Obama’s social justice reforms, Republican nominee, Donald Trump, stated, “Our country is totally divided. There’s so much hatred. There are so many problems. Our president [Barack Obama] was a terrible unifier. He was the opposite of a unifier—he was a divider. I will unify and bring our country back together…We will be unified. We will be one.” Also found on Trump’s substance-lacking online platform, just a few scrolls upward, is another short clip in which he says, “To be politically correct just takes too much time. It takes too much effort.” Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines “politically correct” as “conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated.” Trump calls himself the nation’s unifier, yet claims he has no time for political correctness; one contradicts the other. Somehow, Trump plans on unifying the nation while simultaneously verbally bashing minority groups and women.
And somehow, without providing evidence or any inkling of a plan in store, Trump tries to persuade the population that he is the right candidate for the job. Unfortunately for him, his own actions and words seem to constantly speak against his presidential competency; Trump just can’t seem to say the right thing, ever. More often than not, Trump has reduced women to their physical appearance, implying that beauty merits professional success, not brains. When interviewed by a female reporter, Trump said, “Like you wouldn’t have your job if you weren’t beautiful.” A sexist man cannot and will not unify the country.
When Trump was asked to support his racially-based claim that Latino immigrants were murderers and rapists, he responded, “Well, somebody’s doing the raping…I mean, somebody’s doing it. Who’s doing the raping? Who’s doing the raping?” More recently, Trump insinuated that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel had “an absolute conflict” residing over the Trump University lawsuits because of his “Mexican heritage.” According to The New York Times, Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, disavowed Trump’s “racist” comments in regard to U.S. District Judge Curiel’s heritage. A prejudiced man cannot and will not unify the country.
During a speech in Ames, Iowa, Trump blatantly disrespected former prisoner of war Sen. John McCain, saying, “He’s not a war hero…He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.” Sen. McCain was a prisoner of war for over five years, and still suffers today from injuries accrued. A man who deliberately disrespects our troops cannot and will not unify the country.
Furthermore, a man who must be constantly monitored by his own team of social media correspondents evidently does not possess the composure a presidential candidate must embody in hopes to unify the nation.
Where his platform is lacking, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s online platform fills in the gaps, providing evidence of a plan in store. To name just one example, Clinton plans on “acknowledging that implicit bias still exists across society—even in the best police departments.” Pulled directly from her platform, “Hillary will commit $1 billion in her first budget to find and fund the best training programs, support new research and make this a national policing priority.” Trump says, “our law enforcement officers deserve our appreciation for the incredible job they do,” but fails to acknowledge the implicit biases that permeate our police departments today.
Mr. Trump, if you continue to disrespect minority groups, women and “people you just don’t like” because you don’t care to be politically correct, how could you possibly unify this nation? Maybe work on unifying the Republican party, first.
