Republicans already have a reputation for callousness and insensitivity toward Americans in need. Much of that is coming out in the manner in which they are responding to Hurricane Harvey. Of Texas’ twenty-six members of congress, twenty-five of them voted against aid for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. That includes their two GOP senators. Now they they are begging Trump for assistance from the federal government.
As for Donald Trump, he’s begging for assistance as well. Not for the suffering people of Texas, but for himself. In the midst of an historic natural disaster, organizations like the American Red Cross and the Greater Houston Communities Association are in dire need of funding. [For a list of organizations taking donations, click here]. And the American people, as usual, are demonstrating their generosity and compassion.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, has yet to make an appeal to the nation to help out. He has tweeted about everything from his pardon for Joe Arpaio, to his imaginary border wall, to the size of his rally crowd. He even posted a pitch for a book by a corrupt crony. But he hasn’t posted a single link to the Red Cross or any other aid provider.
However, Trump is on the money trail. He just sent out another of his relentless appeals for donations for his reelection. That campaign is still three years away, if he manages to avoid impeachment. The campaign letter pleaded with supporters to cough up cash because:
“All I ever want is the support and love from the AMERICAN PEOPLE who’ve been betrayed by a weak and self-serving political class.” […]
“[T]he media will be waiting to see if the American people have walked away from our movement.” […]
“I didn’t run for president to be a puppet for the political class. I ran to be a champion for the people.”
Inbox: Trump campaign seeks money to "CRUSH" its August fundraising goal, "make this our best month ever." No mention of #HurricaneHarvery pic.twitter.com/MNBxtSzK4G
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) August 28, 2017
If the only thing Trump wants is the love of the American people he must be sorely disappointed. He is still languishing at the bottom of the polls, and doing worse than any president before him. The majority of the people were never part of his movement. And as we all know, Vladimir Putin is the puppeteer who holds his strings.
The letter also hit on common Trumpisms like his bragging about economic gains that he had nothing to with with. And he seemed so proud of his alleged disassociation from lobbyists, corporations and politicians. Never mind that his cabinet is cram-packed with those very same swamp-dwellers. And what could be more political than soliciting campaign donations three years before an election?
How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.
It’s amazing that no one on Trump’s staff has advised him to stop watching Fox and Friends long enough to tweet a link to hurricane relief. It’s a cost-free way to drive up donations to something that can actually help people. But the only thing Trump is concerned about is his own PR. That’s why when he showed up in Texas on Tuesday he marveled at his reception saying “What a crowd. What a turnout!” This was his way of acknowledging the citizens of a state in turmoil. You almost wonder if he knows that thousands of people didn’t turnout because they are stranded in raging flood waters.