Trump is NOT a Racist… He’s Worse

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Trump might NOT be a Racist… He could be something worse.

Trump appears to be a megalomaniac who unconditionally supports whatever group or individual who supports him. 

So far, he has targeted the most fanatical and unwavering groups of voters: 

-Pro-Gun

-Anti-Immigrant

-Pro-Religious Freedom

-Anti-LGBTQ

-Pro-Police (Regardless of Brutality)

-Anti-Black Lives Matter

-Pro-Military Expansion

-Anti-Globalism

-Pro-Big Business

-Anti-Government Programs

-Pro-Birth

-Anti-Planned Parenthood

-Anti-Tax the Rich

-Anti-Universal Health Care

He targets these people because he knows that:

1. They will never waver in their support for him, regardless of his egregious mistakes.

2. They are very disciplined voters. 

Only 58% of Americans voted in 2016. That means Trump only needs 29.1% of the country to support him and actually vote. Trump does not care if 70.8% of the country is for or against an issue, so long as his positions line up with the 29.1% of people who will definitely vote for him (his base). 

But to think that Trump is a racist because he supports the Alt-Right or other blatantly racist organizations is a mistake. Trump supports anyone or anything that supports HIM.

If everyone in the Black Lives Matter movement supported Trump and voted for him unconditionally, he’d say (and at least pretend to do) whatever they wanted him to. As it were, Trump does not see this group as obtainable, loyal to him, or worth pursuing so he goes after the lower hanging fruit: the fanatical, simplistic White Nationalists who don’t require much persuading to gain full support (just some coded, “dog whistle” type statements that they hear loud and clear as supporting their cause while everyone else is skeptical of the true meaning).

If Trump knew that he’d be unconditionally backed by:

-Pro-Gun Law Reform

-Pro-Immigrant

-Anti-Religious Infiltration of Public Institutions

-Pro-LGBTQ

-Anti-Police Brutality/Discrimination

-Pro-Black Lives Matter

-Anti-Military Imperialism

-Pro-Globalism

-Anti-Big Business Monopolies/Deregulation

-Pro-Government Programs

-Pro-Planned Parenthood

-Pro-Taxing the Rich

-Pro-Universal Health Care

He’d support THOSE groups instead… (in other words, he’d be Hillary Clinton: another megalomaniac who definitely could have been the subject of this writing had SHE won).

This recent DACA flip-flop is remarkable evidence of Trump’s neglect for any real values and gravitation towards whatever he thinks will make him appear more favorable. Perhaps he doesn’t feel supported by the anti-Dreamers in the GOP as they have not helped him create any meaningful legislation since taking office. Consequently, Trump sees a victory for himself as siding with the Democrats who support DACA because together they might create the first success of his tenure in office (even if he completely trashes a hallmark value of his campaign and Presidency: getting undocumented immigrants out of the country). 

But this is the dangerous thing about power and politics. These men and women don’t necessarily believe in anything. They just want your vote, your money, your supportive social media posts, and your shaming and harassing of the people who oppose them. Maybe integrity, honesty, and consistency should rank above policy when choosing the next leader of our country. 

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Independent Responds to Conservative… Transgenger Ban Revisited

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On August 29, 2017, LCR Contributor Right Army Veteran published an article about Trump’s decision to ban transgender service members. He suggested that both administrations (Obama and Trump) dropped the ball regarding the policy implementation and ban. He also mentioned costs as a driving factor for the ban.

“Military service members retire after 20 years and then collect benefits for a lifetime. That’s an expensive investment- especially if 2 years may make them non-deployable for surgery at a minimum, and for years after they continue with guaranteed medical needs and lifetime complications (and sanitary requirements) that may be difficult to ensure in the filthy, harsh business of war in dark places.”– Right Army Veteran

His full article can be viewed here: Transgender in the Military – A Case in Political Hijackings by Democrats and Republicans

I disagree…

This is a farce of epic proportions. Using medical costs as a reason to exclude a person from serving in the military is a coverup for bigotry and hate against a group of people too many are unwilling to fully understand. The medical costs excuse is a smokescreen. If the military really wanted to curb or prevent medical costs they wouldn’t allow our presidents to get us involved in unjust wars. Iraq and Afghanistan are already costing us $1 trillion, that’s with a T, in medical costs. And most veterans from those two wars aren’t even 40 years old yet. If it’s really about costs, then why not completely cut medical benefits after retirement? Find me a profession in the private sector in which merely retiring at any level provides healthcare benefits for you, your spouse, and family, until death. So let’s be honest, it’s probably not about the costs. Becuase if it was then the military wouldn’t spend $41.6 million annually on Viagra alone, which according to the Military Times analysis that figure is five times the estimated spend on transgender transition-related care.

 I could accept a policy of not covering active service members who wanted to have the elective surgery; however, this ban is a universal ban – no matter what, if you identify as transgender you’re not eligible for military service.

 If this ban stays in place, the irony would be noteworthy… We’d be the world’s freest nation, yet not everyone would be free to serve and defend it.

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Trump Strikes Deal with Dems

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Despite (R) Paul Ryan publicly scolding Democrats and calling them “shameful” for playing politics with the debt ceiling, just hours later Trump struck a deal with (D) Chuck Schumer and (D) Nancy Pelosi. They agreed to extend the debt ceiling for 3 months as well as pass $8 billion in Hurricane Harvey relief. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell were hoping to push the debt ceiling fight into 2018, but Trump sided with Dems instead and agreed to only fund the government through December 15th. Paul Ryan has to be pretty upset considering the president decided to cut a deal with Democrats, who don’t control the House or Senate. Most Republicans were shocked by Trump’s closed door agreement with Dems; yet, this move shouldn’t shock too many as Trump has been known to do what he wants… when he wants… how we wants.

Will Trump continue to cut deals with Democrats?

Does this deal give Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi leverage in future negotiations with Trump?

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Reflection… When Trolling Backfires

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Two weeks ago, a New Jersey high school decided to travel to Washington DC to tour our Nation’s capital. Lunch at Howard University’s Bethune Annex Cafeteria was on their schedule, and two of their female students decided to wear Trump tee shirts and Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats during their visit. Needless to say, or I wouldn’t be writing about this, their experience did not go as smoothly as planned. The two girls would later post a lengthy tweet detailing the “harassment and racism” they experienced while on campus. Howard University’s social media accounts were in an uproar and many alt-right and Trump supporters responded posting negative comments on every post mentioning Howard University.

This incident is nothing more than trolling gone bad.

Founded in 1867, Howard University, is a private research university comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Most importantly, Howard University is a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). HBCUs were created in the post civil-war era as institutions of higher learning where African Americans were welcome to attend, at a time when most Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) banned Blacks from stepping foot on campus. For years, HBCUs have provided African Americans a safe space to learn and grow without the constant second-guessing because of the color of our skin. As an alumnus of an HBCU, I will say an added benefit is learning more about Black American and African history that is not traditionally taught in school. Learning this history establishes pride and teaches you to love your Blackness, though the world tries to convince you it’s a negative.

Knowing this history of Howard University – what made these girls, White girls at that, think parading around an HBCU in Trump and MAGA paraphernalia was a good idea… a week after Trump refused to immediately denounce white supremacists in a press conference following the Charlottesville incident? Maybe that’s the problem, they didn’t know the history of HBCUs, which is indeed a part of American history. It has been noted that black students on the tour advised them not to go on Howard’s campus wearing that particular shirt and hat. Also, some upperclassmen who saw the girls walking towards the Annex cafeteria told them it’s best not to wear that shirt and hat on campus simply because Howard University is an HBCU. The two girls, unfortunately, chose not to heed the multiple warnings, which makes many people believe their true intentions were to bait a reaction out of the Howard students (in true troll fashion).

I am sick of hearing the freedom of speech/expression excuse when a person is blatantly disrespectful. Just because you can say and do what you want does not mean you are free of consequences and get to play the victim. If you choose to not pay your taxes, that is perfectly fine as it is your choice. However, there is a high probability that you are eventually going to jail. If you walk down the street in an area where there is a lot of gang activity wearing the opposing gang members’ colors, be prepared for the backlash. These girls were warned yet they chose to be disrespectful and offensive in someone’s house, disturbing their peace. Just as it is viewed as disrespectable for an American woman to walk around in a Muslim country wearing booty shorts and a low-cut shirt, it is just as offensive to walk around an HBCU wearing paraphernalia of a man who refuses to denounce white supremacists, but wants to bring back Stop and Frisk (a tactic which disproportionately targets African Americans). I blame their chaperones, the supposed adults, on the trip as well. Why did they not say anything to these girls? Why were they not inclined to have a conversation about etiquette and courtesy in someone else’s space? Why did they not do research on the history of Howard University if they planned to visit the campus? Were these teachers not trained in cultural sensitivity? I have so many questions for these so-called adults. Overall, there is too much political correctness in letting the oppressor continue his oppression, and Howard University students weren’t about to sit around and be trolled in their safe space without speaking up for themselves.

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Bannon’s Exit Was Expected? The LCR Responds…

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Steve Bannon’s addition as Chief Strategist to the administration might’ve been the most controversial of all the president’s picks. Many suggested that Bannon, the former Breitbart executive, wouldn’t be in the White House much longer after John Kelly replaced Reince Priebus as the new Chief of Staff, and they were right. We asked three of our contributor’s to weigh in regarding his sudden, yet expected, departure. Here’s what they had to say…

“With the ouster of Steve Bannon, the Trump Administration just started eating its own young. Trump’s ever-loyal base, consisting of the some of the worst humanity has to offer – so cleanly coined the “Alt Right” – is now beginning to fracture, collapsing under the weight of scandals that have rocked this administration from the very beginning. But this isn’t the beginning of the end; it’s merely the end of the beginning. We are only seeing the first part of a very long battle. It’s not over yet.” – Registered Independent Voter 

“This is a good step forward for the administration – the too slow professionalization of the West Wing. It was clear last week when the President was threatening involvement with the DPRK, Venezuela and Iran simultaneously that Bannon’s agenda was no longer the President’s. The next question is whether the President will operate with any vision at all, or whether he will simply react to World affairs.” – Right Army Veteran 

“Have you ever heard that quote “success is where preparation and opportunity meet”? It’s one of those cliche lines that actually makes sense and is a good reminder in times like Bannon being booted from the White House. The White House is crumbling. The presidents supporters are slowly but surely deserting him. Impeachment, once a far off possibility but now seems more like a prediction of our near future. What will happen when/if they move forward with the removal of #45? Are your thoughts and beliefs represented by the people who are left in power? It’s time to really think about that. When the time comes, are you prepared to be successful? We will have the time to vote again and let our voice be heard. Are you ready for that?”– Center Left HR

One of our contributor’s details Bannon’s exit: Sith Lords Run the White House

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Remove Confederate Statues? The LCR Responds…

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The descendants of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson have stated that confederate statues should be removed. Yet, many American’s still have mixed feelings about the statues and their place in society. Municipalities and institutions are scrambling trying to figure out what to do. Last week, the City of Baltimore and the University of Texas decided to remove their confederate statues overnight. Our contributors share their thoughts about the meaning of the statues, and what we should do with them…

“They say the victor writes history; however, when it comes to the Civil War, the monuments tell a different story. We need to stop paying homage to men who inspired the hate we saw in Charlottesville. If we keep the monuments in place, it creates the impression that we pay homage to those men that represented oppression and hate. If we look to move past history to a state of respect and equality, we need to remove them, acknowledge the facts of slavery and the negative effects we still see today.” – Center Single Mom

“We’ve been holding on to the past for way too long. It’s time to remove those statues so that there isn’t a constant reminder of the ugly times of our past. Instead of holding on to those statues, we should be examining why they mean so much in the first place. Why are some people so intent on holding on to symbols of oppression from the past? Is it because they aren’t ready for that time to be over? If that’s not it, then why the resistance? It should be understood that those statues and monuments represent an ugly period of time in our country’s history. Those statues are the manifestation of hate for a disenfranchised group of people that never deserved the ire to begin with. If we truly want to move past that time, the statues need to go. No one needs that constant reminder of a time charged with hate. It’s time to let it go.” – Center Left HR

“Union North won the American Civil War, slavery ended, and the USA attempted to move forward together with the Confederate South even after unspeakable violence. Imagine continuing to exist in a country where your ideas are not just rejected, but physically beaten out of existence. It can’t be easy for the surviving losers. Consequently, the Confederate monuments were probably meant to be pacifiers for the defeated Southerners and their “way of life” (heavily built around slavery). However, none of those Confederates are still alive (even if their grandchildren are), and slavery is an abhorrent idea rejected entirely by more than 99% of the population. Now these monuments only stand to encourage racism and antagonize black Americans who share the same rights as everyone else to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.” – Unaffiliated Humanist Musician

“Confederate statues belong in museums not public squares. The difference between statues of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson and statues of Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis is that the former never waged war against the United States. It’s also important to remember that many of these statues are not meant to be historic monuments – they were erected to intimidate African Americans. There is an important distinction between remembering the dark parts of our history and glorifying them.” – Center Left College Student

When Trump held his press conference after the Charlottesville incident, in a facetious tone he hinted towards removing statues of George Washington as well. An important question – is the fight to maintain confederate monuments rooted only in reminding black people of their ancestors being enslaved? I’m not sure, but that seems to be reason they were erected in first place. Perhaps a better question – will the inability of our political leaders to listen and understand the perspectives of all Americans, and not just their voting base, cause us to one day extol another in stone, despite great ambivalence amongst our citizens?” – Independent Atlanta Teacher 

LCR Perspective: Kaepernick Vs. The NFL

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Sith Lords Run the White House?

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Steve Bannon represents a group of people who are the epitome of hate and bigotry, and that coincides with his vision of America being a very extreme place. The problem isn’t Steve Bannon – the problem is, characters like Steve Bannon find employment and comfort in the Trump administration.

Shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration, recently removed White House Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon infamously said this about the media: “They don’t understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the President of the United States.” Those two lines might be the wisest words ever uttered by Bannon. Not only do those lines accurately describe media outlets and the 24-hour frenzy following Trump’s November victory, but it also describes Steve Bannon himself and his role in the Trump administration.

Prior to being removed from his newly created White House position, Bannon was never the face of the administration. But many feared that his influence and most importantly his ideals would weigh heavily on the policies implemented by the Trump administration. Bannon seemed to have the feel of a Star Wars Sith Lord, and he nefariously embraced that image. The fear of Bannon was real, and his background had all the makings of being on the wrong side of history. From his workings at Breitbart to being labeled racist and anti-Semitic – Sith Lord Bannon, I mean Steve Bannon, luckily wasn’t on the job long enough for any of his true influence to transpire.

So, what does this mean?

For starters, a man like Bannon should’ve never held a position in the White House given his history. Imagine if President Obama had appointed the likes of Louis Farrakhan to “anything” in the White House. The outrage would’ve been immediate! If conservatives and pundits can spend weeks talking about a strapless dress worn by Michelle Obama, I’m pretty sure a Farrakhan appointment would be as action packed as the 9th installment of Fast and Furious. Nonetheless, Bannon was appointed under the title “Chief Strategist.” One would have to conclude that by selecting a man with such a past who has strong views and ideologies the Trump administration had plans to carry out or at least incorporate many of the same views and ideologies. Bannon being in the White House really isn’t of consequence, but the notion that he is able to call the White House a place of employment is of major consequence.

Going forward, those not cheering for Sith Lords and the dark side, I mean non-Trump supporters, must not bother with the musical chairs of job placement within the Trump administration. What’s most important is why certain people are there.

Post Charlottesville, Trump has made it clear there isn’t a clear line between which side of right he stands. That ambiguous stance translating towards true policy has yet to be seen, and like Bannon being fired, I hope it stays out of the White House.

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U.S. Military Leaders Denounce Racism

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Over the past week, U.S. Military leaders publicly denounced racism, hatred, and extremism. While their sentiments toward racism should be assumed, the events in Charlottesville and the president’s lackluster reaction prompted many of them to make public statements via Twitter. Rarely do such leaders in the military make public statements. However, many would suggest that they felt the need to make statements considering the unfortunate weekend in Charlottesville, which claimed the lives of three people.

John Michael Richardson is an Admiral in the United States Navy who currently serves as the 31st Chief of Naval Operations:

Robert Blake Neller is a United States Marine Corps four-star general who currently serves as the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps:

Mark Alexander Milley is a United States Army officer. A four-star general, he is the 39th Chief of Staff of the Army: 

David Lee Goldfein is a General in the United States Air Force who currently serves as the Air Force Cheif of Staff:

You’ll notice they chose their words carefully and not one of them mentioned Trump or his administration in their tweets. Do you agree with their tweets? If yes, were they strong enough? If no, should they have tried to address their concerns with the president in private, instead of Twitter?

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Charlottesville, Virginia… The LCR Responds…

by with No Comment CultureFeaturedPoliticsUncategorized

We asked 4 of our contributors with different political views to weigh in on the Charlottesville rally that unfortunately turned violent last week, and this is what they had to say…

“Watching the events unfold in Charlottesville, Virginia confirmed to me that we as a Nation are truly going backwards in time. Seeing the violence erupt and hearing the vile chants saddened me. I waited patiently for President Trump to come out and address the Nation. Though there are many of his stances I do not agree with, President Trump is still my Commander in Chief. Unfortunately, though he had the ear of America, President Trump’s speech left so much to be desired. I was not comforted, not inspired, and especially did not like President Trump’s underlying tone when he stated “on many sides.” – Left Healthcare Professional 

“This past weekend’s terrorist tactics of the white supremacist groups in Virginia shouldn’t be too shocking. Though outwardly violent and thankfully not the everyday norm, many non white Americans feel a form of extreme and punishing outcomes everyday. Outcomes in which white Americans never deal with. From racial driven draconian drug law enforcement to environmental racism, many Americans saw this weekend as another episode in the story in which is America.” – Independent Texan Male“

All Americans have the right to assemble and peaceably protest (even White Supremacists). The issue in Virginia is that a subsection of White Supremacists are taking violent action against their counter-protestors, possibly feeling bolstered and empowered by the aggressive rhetoric of our current President. The so-called “alt-right” no longer feels ashamed, with their ideologies represented in the White House by Steve Bannon at the very least. Although it is unfair to judge an entire group or ideology by the actions of a single terrorist in their ranks, it IS fair to judge a group by their reaction (or lack thereof) to this gravest of crimes against our Country and our Freedom. Anyone who views the violence in Charlottesville, VA as unacceptable must explicitly condemn it as so or America will endure much worse.” – Unaffiliated Humanist Musician

“The events of the last two days in Charlotesville are a worrying sign of where this country is headed. The hatred that was on display in Charlottesville as was the terrorist attack that resulted from it was both shocking and upsetting (an attack reminiscent of tactics used by ISIS). The president’s refusal to explicitly call out white nationalists was disgraceful, especially coming from the man who criticized Obama for not using the words “radical Islamic terrorism,” and was seen by those groups as a tacit signal of support. It was however encouraging to see the backlash he received for his comments from his colleagues in the GOP. One can only hope that they will continue to take principled stands against him.” – Center Left College Student 

Related articles:

Heather Heyer, “A Very Strong Woman”

Merck, Under Armour, Intel: “Unacceptable!”

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Priebus Resigns, Kelly Named New Chief of Staff

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After 6 months, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus resigned yesterday. He left just days after the well-publicized squabble with new White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. Trump tweeted that Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly would replace Priebus immediately.

Amidst rumors surfacing about Priebus being a leaker, it’s surprising that this news did not make it to the press within the past 24 hours. Understandably, the White House did not want to make such an announcement during the healthcare debate and vote last night.

Comey out… Spicer out… Scaramucci in… Priebus out… Kelly in… Sessions heavily criticized… That’s a lot of turnover in 6 months… Should the American people be worried?