Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

question everything

(48,797 posts)
Fri Jun 14, 2024, 01:14 AM Jun 2024

I was Bill Clinton's press secretary. Here's what Democrats need to say to defeat Trump - Lockhart

Former President Donald Trump held a pre-sentencing interview Monday with a probation officer after being convicted last month of falsifying business documents concerning hush money paid to conceal an alleged affair. In the aftermath of the trial, Democrats have struggled with delivering a consistent response to the verdict and taking advantage of moments like Monday’s probation interview.

(snip)

In other words, it’s not about Stormy Daniels or payoffs; instead, the conviction should be the centerpiece of a campaign arguing that Trump is unfit, not because of infidelity or shady business practices, but because he is a convicted criminal. Though some Americans don’t see this case as being as serious as the others pending against him, it’s one in which he was still found guilty. We need to go big here, and the conviction is a small piece in a sordid life of a man who has no business leading our country or the free world.

(snip)

In 2016, voters rationalized a vote for Trump saying “It won’t be as bad as everyone thinks.” He’ll have smart people around him and there will be other safeguards. Today it’s just the opposite. Essentially: “It really wasn’t that bad, was it?” Both are completely wrong. The Biden campaign must remove any and every justification that allows voters to “reluctantly” vote for Trump.

It’s not only voters who have forgotten or glossed over the carnage that was the Trump presidency. I recently talked with a group of seasoned political professionals about the impact of Gaza on the campaign. Several argued Biden would have trouble with Arab Americans, particularly in Michigan. I countered by asking how they could vote for the man who banned people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the country. I was dumbfounded when several people claimed Trump had never done that. (He did.)

(snip)

We are what former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright famously called the “indispensable nation.” The world, whether they’ll admit it or not, depends on the United States to both forge alliances and deter opponents. Our democracy stands as a model copied around the world. This is not the country that can be led by a convicted criminal — that’s what happens in countries that don’t follow the rule of law. We are better than that.

That’s a message all Democrats can and should get behind.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/opinion-not-crime-criminal-084823548.html

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I was Bill Clinton's press secretary. Here's what Democrats need to say to defeat Trump - Lockhart (Original Post) question everything Jun 2024 OP
And not lose the fact that Biden's administration ended the "American Carnage" CREATED by Trump Layzeebeaver Jun 2024 #1
Key words: 'convicted criminal' 'unfit' 'no business leading our country or the free world' nt sprinkleeninow Jun 2024 #2
Better yet, and easier to understand IMO: brand him a loser Auggie Jun 2024 #3
Uniformity in presentation of a commonsense message based on plain fact should carry the day. jaxexpat Jun 2024 #4
That's all good BaronChocula Jun 2024 #5
98% of their attention goes to their cellphone screen FakeNoose Jun 2024 #7
BWAAAAHAHAHA BaronChocula Jun 2024 #8
The level of misinformation about Trump and his administration is appalling. lees1975 Jun 2024 #6

Layzeebeaver

(1,866 posts)
1. And not lose the fact that Biden's administration ended the "American Carnage" CREATED by Trump
Fri Jun 14, 2024, 01:33 AM
Jun 2024

If a citizen remains undecided regarding their vote, then they are absolute idiots.

jaxexpat

(7,783 posts)
4. Uniformity in presentation of a commonsense message based on plain fact should carry the day.
Fri Jun 14, 2024, 03:56 AM
Jun 2024

Amazingly, however, there are those who simple-mindedly waive this and all other Trump scandals, improprieties and well publicized criminal heists as unimportant, untrue and, finally, liberal propaganda. I don't count on the votes of those folks. It's really a matter of convincing enough people that their vote is indispensable to their pro-generational wellbeing and impactful enough on their current lives to merit the exercise of casting a ballot.

I wonder if there are very many who fear vote addiction. We all know the signs. The compulsive desire to show up at every election to cast our vote, living in dread of the crippling self-loathing which occurs if a ballot opportunity is missed. We even vote early, saying, "it's because we want to miss the crowds", when it's really our fear of forgetting the date or being ill or being caught in traffic or some sort of scheduling conflict. The burden of participation in the democratic process can be life-altering and crippling for many, I think. I remember back before I voted. Carefree, easy going, unfettered by political interest, nothing but 3 squares and blue skies. Then came R. Reagan...............and I knew I had to do something. I couldn't just leave it to others anymore. They were obviously entirely too moronic to be left roaming the electorate without reason of logic or basic responsibility. I had to do nullify their vote. So, I voted, then I voted again, then my candidate won, and I was hooked. Now I haunt the back alleys of the Democratic Underground looking for my daily fix, something to satisfy the craving. I've tried to stop. I tried to pass up opinion polls, but the internet proliferation makes it just too easy (and sort of anonymous). I'm hooked. I've had to face it...and own it..........for the sake of my children's children. Please don't judge too harshly, it could be you some day. I know, TMI, right?

BaronChocula

(2,517 posts)
5. That's all good
Fri Jun 14, 2024, 04:10 AM
Jun 2024

It's all true, but it misses the bumper sticker rule by a lot of words. It would be a perfect world if people didn't have the attention span of bacteria.

lees1975

(5,943 posts)
6. The level of misinformation about Trump and his administration is appalling.
Fri Jun 14, 2024, 10:43 AM
Jun 2024

"Trump never did that."

Yes he did, is the comprehensive answer. He was a disaster in every possible way, a misfit and a complete incompetent. He was what one would expect of someone who got hired as a lawyer without ever having graduated from college or law school. Or a medical doctor who never finished college.

And his entire life, long before politics, is a mess of bigotry, incompetence, horrible business management, being bailed out by associates, and of losing millions of dollars in waste on horrible business decisions, loss of credit because of bad debt he still owes. Along with the fact that he's just a completely narcisisstic, misogynistic, ego-driven idiot.

Latest Discussions»Editorials & Other Articles»I was Bill Clinton's pres...