A PLEA TO THE UNDECIDED VOTER
In a nation so fiercely divided on every imaginable issue, I’ve long wondered whether adding my two cents to the debate over the upcoming presidential election could be helpful. I’m still not sure. I’m not generally in the business of telling people how to vote, and if I wasn’t so concerned that the outcome could have irreparable, existential consequences, I’d probably just keep my mouth shut—not because I don’t care or because I lack the courage to speak up—but because I don’t see the benefit in adding fuel to the fire unless I think my efforts stand a chance of being productive. In this instance, I’ve narrowly decided in favor of stating my case against Trump, and reluctantly, for Biden/Harris. While I don’t mince words in what follows, I’m committed to civil discourse and further understanding—particularly with people of opposing views. My friendships and social associations aren’t predicated on the sharing of all aspects of my worldview. I’m hoping to present a compelling case for those still undecided, to vote for Biden/Harris—but I don’t, and will never claim, that anything I have to say is unchallengeable. To anyone who wishes to engage with this thoughtfully and in good faith, I welcome you. First, let me clarify a few points:
This IS an attempt to convince those still undecided to vote for Biden/Harris, largely and unfortunately, by arguing that Trump is severely unfit to be president.
This is NOT a glowing endorsement of Biden/Harris.
This is NOT a judgment on political ideology. While I surely hold positions of my own, herein I won’t be making the argument for any particular political ideology over another. Much of my criticism of Trump and, effectively all of it that follows, is shared by a litany of Republicans, Independents and Democrats. These grievances are just as valid from a conservative viewpoint as from a liberal one—and in some cases, even more so. In fact, my most damning claims against Trump don't apply to many conservatives, including Mitt Romney, John McCain or even George W. Bush. (Okay, Tucker Carlson. Before you start calling these guys “RINO’s,” let me remind you that they’re precisely the men your own party selected as its leaders, most recently preceding Trump). For what it’s worth, I think there are essential ideas to well-functioning societies found on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as from non-conventional perspectives—so if you’re already planning your rebuttal to my anti-Trump position with an arsenal of typical right-wing talking points, assuming I’m lock-step with the Democratic establishment, save us both the time and energy.
This is NOT an attempt to convince anyone firmly in the Trump camp to jump ship. While few things would make me happier, I’m not that naive.
Like many of us, I first heard the name Donald Trump by way of his hit TV show, “The Apprentice.” Older generations already knew of him, as his obsession with the limelight was impossible to miss. When Trump launched his campaign for presidency in 2016, I, like many, thought there was no way he’d win the Republican nomination—not because he was an “outsider,” but because he was so obviously morally bankrupt. After all, this was no John McCain or Mitt Romney. This guy had a perfect, life-long reputation as a fraud, conman, pathological liar, misogynist and otherwise asshole—not exactly “conservative values.” To my incredible surprise and to that of so many others, this didn’t stop him from being nominated and ultimately ascending to the presidency. I remember being dumbfounded by so many of his supporters, eager to make excuses for his behavior—a portion of them even championing him in the name of religion. This has continued since 2016, though I’ve still yet to hear a single person (and not for lack of trying) make sense of this delusional moral contradiction.
A long list of disqualifying traits are signature of Trump. Above all, his willingness to lie—at any time, about anything, and to anyone. Of course, most politicians lie regularly. But Trump lies so frequently, so flippantly—even in entirely inconsequential situations. There doesn’t seem to be a master plan—just a man-child riddled with insecurity, unable to handle the idea that he may lack an answer or have to claim responsibility for a mistake. Honestly, is there evidence of even one time he’s apologized for something? This drive to always be perceived as “right”—this inability to admit fault or to express humility—this stubbornness at all costs—are any of these virtues? Are they American values? Are they Christian values?
Many defend (or at least pass off) his lying as insignificant to the big picture, separable from his ability to affect policy and to lead. But these pathologies of dishonesty and narcissism, from which Trump so clearly suffers, are deeply informative of his worldview and they impact all of his thoughts and actions. There could be no other way.
His personal ethos is one of zero-sum domination and winning at all costs. Just a few minutes of research paints a picture of a deeply corrupt businessman—where most of his apparent successes are nothing more than elaborate Ponzi schemes. The more we learn about his business ventures, the more charitable one must be to view him as successful by any standard. The allegations of unpaid contractors, mistreated employees, and screwed over customers are plentiful. And, why has he so actively protected the release of his tax returns (breaking tradition with all former presidents) if he has nothing to hide? The New York Times recently broke a story claiming that Trump reported losses during most of the last decade, while paying a measly $750/year twice. Smart businessman, failed businessman or cheater? You decide. I suspect we’ll be hearing more on this soon, especially if we’re fortunate enough to vote him out of office on Tuesday.
The Mueller Report, on the Investigation of Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election: Contrary to the widely believed public narrative (actively promulgated by Trump’s own Attorney General, William Barr), Trump was not exonerated in this investigation. Mueller clearly stated that the report will serve as a record of the case findings, and that after leaving office, presidential immunity from indictment would no longer apply. While there were clearly politically motivated aspects to this investigation from both sides, it should be noted that Robert Mueller is, in fact a life-long republican, widely respected across party lines. The fact that Trump tried to interfere with the investigation of General Micheal Flynn, and has since fervently defended Flynn, is deeply concerning. Flynn pleaded guilty of lying to Congress in 2017—not exactly a minor offense. Whatever you make of the details, Trump’s connection and loyalty to Flynn is significant. While the report didn’t demonstrate a coordinated effort by the Trump campaign to collude with Russia, the questions surrounding Trump obstructing justice are much less clear. At the very least, any honest assessment of the report does not bode well for Trump and if he loses the election Tuesday, I suspect we’ll also be hearing more about this investigation. We can assume Trump is well aware of this too.
Ukraine “Quid Pro Quo” Impeachment Trial: A partial transcript of the phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was released to the public. Trump, of course, repeated incessantly that the call was “perfect.” Perhaps he meant a perfect example of quid pro quo. Yes, he was acquitted of the charges—but the votes to impeach in the House and to remove in the Senate fell almost perfectly on party lines—clear evidence that neither side was voting their conscience, but rather prioritizing party loyalty over country, which again should be terrifying to us all. Was this a witch hunt? The evidence suggests otherwise.
Examples of Trump’s lack of morality can literally be found all around us. He’s trailing more than 26 sexual misconduct allegations, and those are the ones we know about. Yes, Biden has also been accused of sexual misconduct, in one case, allegedly 29 years ago. None of us have any way of knowing for sure which allegations are true or false. But I’ll take one on Biden over Trump’s 26+ please. You may recall that shortly before the 2016 election, an audio recording surfaced of Trump bragging about making an advance on a married woman—the infamous “Grab Her By The Pussy” recording. This should have (and for most would have) unequivocally spelled the end of his political career. This was not “locker room talk," as his staunch defenders claim; it was a disgusting, demoralizing and indefensible abomination. More importantly, it was illuminating of his actual character and lack of values. The recording has been transcribed and can be found online in case you need a refresher. This is the man so many continue to support (however reluctantly) as the protector of “life,” “Christian values” and morality at large. Perhaps a more comprehensive model of morality should be considered. This contradiction is impressively delusional.
During one of his 2016 campaign rallies, Trump mocked a disabled person. Sit with that for a moment. When directly asked if he would denounce white supremacy on national TV during last month’s presidential debate, he just couldn’t quite utter the words, “Yes, I do.” Is Donald Trump a racist? I think his brand of narcissism supersedes any particular ideology—that’s to say, he’s equally willing to exploit any group or individual that may serve his immediate agenda. But if he’s not actually a racist, why didn’t he just say that he condemns white supremacy? Again, none of these examples are benign. They’re evidence of deeply distressing attributes, fundamental to his worldview. They're part and parcel to his being. This is our President.
You may recall Trump’s personal attacks on Republican Senator John McCain. McCain was as widely respected as any politician in American history. He was known for his integrity and ability to work across the aisle to accomplish actual good for the American people. He also spent five years as a POW in Vietnam, around the time Trump received a deferment from the war for bone spurs. McCain gave the most gracious concession speech after losing the 2008 presidential election to Barack Obama—a speech Trump would never have had the courage or humility to deliver. During McCain’s final few months of life, battling brain cancer, Trump continued to defame the American hero, stating “I like people who weren’t captured.” Presidential indeed.
Literally every issue that will challenge the survival of humanity over the coming decades—climate change, threat of nuclear war, global pandemics, the implications of AI, tribalism, etc., will require massive and coordinated international efforts, predicated on the trust and respect of our leaders. While Trump is feared by many, he’s respected by few—generally authoritarians like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un—other bully types, who share his megalomaniac personality disorder. The solutions to these issues are not achievable in isolation, and by definition cannot be—must not be— zero-sum. America should be viewed as a leader, but not as a domineer at the expense of other nations. Under a Biden/Harris administration we could at least expect to be well-respected internationally. Biden may not be the inspiring, charismatic leader many found Obama or Reagan to be, but he’s likely to stack his cabinet with a broad arsenal of competent professionals. Trump, on the other hand, has surrounded himself largely by members of his own family and other “yes-men,” who often lack any relevant experience to the position for which they’ve been appointed. While some highly qualified people have served in Trump’s administration, most have either been fired or have resigned at this point. Trump doesn’t encourage or even tolerate opposing viewpoints. This is not a politically motivated judgment; it’s a well documented fact.
To be clear, I don’t dismiss the allegations against Joe Biden or his son Hunter offhand, just because I hope he wins the election. With our trust in institutions, and the media in particular, understandably at an all-time low, it’s nearly impossible to know what’s true and what’s not—but it seems likely that Biden has some questionable history that should be concerning to us. I should also note that I agree with the charge that the majority of mainstream media often choses not to report stories potentially damning to Biden or the political left in general. This is unfair and insidious to our democracy. But do I believe that the extent or nefarious nature of Biden’s questionable behavior is comparable to Trump’s? Absolutely not. Even if each allegation against Biden were true, there’s simply no ethical comparison worth making between these two men. Donald Trump is not only a repudiation of all the things we care (or should care) about— integrity, intelligence, curiosity, compassion, empathy, wisdom, humility—he’s the perfect embodiment of the opposites—dishonesty, dogmatism, willful ignorance, selfishness, narcissism, short-sightedness and arrogance. Let me reiterate that these attributes are, and can only be, fundamentally defining to anyone who possesses them. Trump is no exception.
To those infuriated by my criticism thus far: Have I misinterpreted Trump? What details have I omitted or confused? Have I misrepresented him or been somehow unfair? One’s capacity to be offended by my claims is not itself, a rational argument against them. If you take issue with anything I’m saying, I welcome your specific engagement with the points themselves. I don’t use terms like “narcissist,” “conman," and “pathological liar" with even a sliver of hyperbole—they’re simply the most accurate words with which to articulate my position. I've heard Trump supporters say that to speak critically of him, in this vein, is disrespectful to the office itself—that it's “unpatriotic.” But if a critical claim made of the president (or anyone) is actually true, how is it disrespectful to merely state the claim? In fact, doing so is protective of the office and of our democracy, and as citizens, we bear this responsibility. Respect is not granted—it’s earned.
There’s been an ever-growing plethora of bi-partisan and republican individuals and organizations that have emerged speaking out against Trump over the past few years. In 2016, several national publications including USA Today took unheard of action in endorsing Hillary Clinton, compelled by duty to state that Trump was unfit for the office. Is it possible these media endorsements were politically motivated? Well, we know media bias is rampant and exists on all sides. But in these instances, I don’t think bias was the relevant driver. Certainly the opposition to Trump, held by John McCain, Mitt Romney, Chuck Hagel, Colin Powell, and James Mattis isn’t ideologically motivated. Rather, these highly qualified and widely respected republican patriots had the courage to call “bull shit” on Trump out of deep and sincere concern for our country—fully aware of the political disadvantage in doing so. It’s also worth noting that no former U.S. presidents, Democrat or Republican, voted for Trump in 2016. Have we anything to learn from this?
With Trump and Biden dominating the headlines, it’s easy to miss that this election may effectively be more about Kamala Harris than Joe Biden, given his obvious and progressing senescence. Harris wasn’t anywhere near the top of my list among the democratic candidates, and I take issue with plenty of her past positions and prosecutorial record on benign drug offenses. I also think her aggressive and often personal opposition to Biden during the primary is only further proof of the circus that is our politics. Nonetheless, she’s undeniably tenacious, commands respect, and I’d take her in a heartbeat over Joe, Donald or Mike. I also think she stands a chance at being an effective negotiator, both domestically and abroad.
I hear frequent calls for unity, love and peace from all sides of America. Believe me, these are messages I support enthusiastically—but can these virtues be called for credibly and cogently while supporting a man who so obviously doesn’t value them himself? How are we suppose to believe in the power of civil, good-faith conversation to solve the issues of our time, if our leader doesn’t engage this way himself? Can we really denounce hate while supporting a figure who is so transparently hateful himself, and who routinely entices violence and division amongst our own people?
The fact that we’re in a position where Donald Trump and Joe Biden are the final two candidates for the presidency, is itself evidence of a broken system, in which traditional and social media, have largely contributed to the disfunction. While some media sources are undoubtedly more concerned with getting the details right than others, it’s maddening to watch the vast majority of them devolve into entertainment companies, happy to deliver confirmation bias, and at the expense of our democracy. While I’m not immune to these forces, my rejection of Trump herein, which is shared by so many, isn’t inherently tied to an ideological agenda. These conclusions can be drawn by examining Donald Trump right at the source. Listen to him speak. Learn his history. Read his Twitter feed. CNN and MSNBC are not necessary for one to find him utterly repulsive—and it shouldn’t matter whether you’re a democrat, republican, independent or a Miami Dolphins fan.
Ultimately, I believe a Biden/Harris victory would at least be a sigh of relief in the face of the imminent, existential threat we face each day Trump is the leader of the free world. It may give us the chance to regroup and reassess as a nation, and to reclaim our credibility internationally. To be clear, there are plenty of Biden/Harris positions as well as those of the political left that (beyond the scope of this essay) I find deeply confused and detrimental to progress; but when voting for one of two realistic candidate in an election, we necessarily compromise our positions. I’ve had plenty of conversations with people who’ve been through this “lesser of two evils” game too many times before—those who think either compromise is just too severe—who plan to opt out of this election entirely. I guess I haven’t lived long enough yet to feel quite that disillusioned—and for precisely this reason, I’ll refrain from passing judgment on such individuals. I’ll simply restate my firm belief that the difference between four more years of Trump or a Biden Presidency is still well worth distinguishing—and potentially of dire consequence.
Sooner than later, I hope we can get to the point where politics can be the enthusiastic collision of differing ideas, rather than a team sport. There shouldn’t be proud “winners” and defeated “losers” in a system where group loyalty trumps integrity and the common good. I’m desperately hoping we can outgrow our tribalism and come up with ideas and solutions that will scale and will serve us all. Our entire political system needs an overhaul, ending the dominance of the corrupt Democratic and Republican Party duopoly—a trap that functions more to perpetuate its own power and to keep us divided, than it does to serve its citizens. The most innovative solutions to the challenges of our time aren’t likely to come from party-motivated group-think of any kind, but rather from open minds dancing with ideas in concert, striving towards a common purpose. I stand by the claim that the majority of us actually want most of the same things—a fair system that provides opportunity for ourselves and loved ones; a safe, clean and sustainable world; freedom to speak, think and love as we actually do. The differences exist in the details and the methods to achieve the ends, but the goals aren’t as disparate as we’re led to believe. Mind you, I’m not suggesting the solutions will be obvious or easy to implement—in fact, quite the contrary. We could all benefit from a healthy dose of humility and a routine reassessing of our arrogant certitudes. It seems like humanity is on the verge of a number of painful reckonings. There’s no question that we have our work cut out for us.
I wish I could close on a more inspiring note, enthusiastically explaining how Joe Biden will step in and save the world and how Donald Trump will surely honor the results of the election, after his defeat. I can do neither. I campaigned tirelessly for Obama in 2008 but I can tell you, I wasn’t worried that the world might fall apart if he lost the election. You see, his opponent, John McCain was a decent man, who, while I may not have agreed with on many issues, I never doubted his sincere care for our country or his moral compass. In contrast, if we double down on Trump, we further solidify the message to ourselves and to the world, not only that he’s re-electable to the highest office, but that we actually celebrate his brand of humanity—that he represents quintessential American values. How can we square this with our conscience? How do we explain this to our children as we try to impart upon them the virtues of kindness, integrity, love, compassion and wisdom?
While I hope the Donald J. Trump nightmare is over soon, I’m committed to doing my part to make my community, nation and world a better place, regardless. Whoever wins, much of the county is going to be furious and feel defeated, and this serves none of us. The prospect of working together to address the critical challenges of our time seems as messy an undertaking as it’s ever been during my lifetime—but if we fail to meet this imperative, we all lose. Most of the time, I’m still quite optimistic that we can accomplish this work, and in a positive-sum manner—but we must all have buy-in. You can be sure I won’t be unfriending anyone on social media or taking it personally when my viewpoints are challenged, and I hope I’ll be treated the same in return. I’ll continue to have and encourage difficult conversations and to state unpopular opinions, not only because I believe doing so is the best way to cultivate a deeper understanding of each other, but because our very survival may depend on it. As I said at the outset, my friendships don't only extend to those who share my worldview in lock-step—what an undesirable, unchallenging and unproductive existence that would be. While I really hope Joe Biden wins on Tuesday, I sincerely love you all—regardless of who you vote for.