Lack of integrity a bigger issue than age
Since the June presidential debate, there has been a constant stream of commentary about how President Biden’s age might affect his re-election chances. This fixation has drawn attention away from the performance of Donald Trump.
It’s true that Biden is old, but it’s important to remember Trump is only three years younger and has had problems with slurred speech and incoherent statements. The lies and distortions made by Trump during the debate have been overlooked. His lack of integrity is a much bigger issue than Biden’s age.
Here are a few examples of Trump’s many lies. He claimed we are living in a failed nation, which is obviously false. He denied calling veterans “suckers and losers” despite John F. Kelly, Trump’s onetime chief of staff, verifying that he did. Trump denied that while his wife was home with their 4-month-old baby he initiated a sexual encounter with pornstar Stormy Daniels. Daniels testified to the event under oath during the trial in which Trump was convicted of 34 felonies. In this case, like in the sexual assault case he lost to E. Jean Carroll, Trump declined taking the stand.
Just as he lies about his sinful behaviors, Trump lies about the truth of his failed administration. Short memories and the constant reinforcement Trump gets from extremist media have distorted the truth about his time in office. In fact, this convicted felon gave us a radical Supreme Court which disregards the Constitution and judicial precedent. He increased our nation’s debt by giving massive tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. He lies about having good relationships with world leaders while he broke with other nations on the climate crisis and offended our NATO allies. He cultivated friendships with authoritarian leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, a fact that should frighten us all.
During the last year of the Trump presidency, nearly half-a-million Americans died from COVID-19. Analysts have concluded 40% of those deaths could have been avoided if Trump had not so severely mismanaged the crisis.
It doesn’t matter who Trump is running against. Highlighting the shortcomings of any opponent while ignoring the truth about Donald Trump is like prioritizing a blemish over a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The results of Trump’s term in office were terrible. A second would be disastrous.
Donald Fitch
Amity