the trump card

Donald Trump is an idiot and a fool. I'll assert that without argument and I'm happy to hear from those of you who disagree. Moreover, I'll anticipate his rebuttal and make it clear that I think he is an idiot and a fool even if he does have more money than Mitt Romney. His transparent sham of a presidential campaign ought to be laughable; unfortunately, it is deeply unnerving for all of the attention he has gotten. His high poll numbers probably say more about a lack of enthusiasm with the slate of Republican candidates so far than they do about voter interest in Trump himself. All the same, as someone who lives in the USA, I find it deeply depressing (if tantalizing as someone who wants the Democrats to win again in 2012).

Consequently, I was very disappointed when President Obama released his long form birth certificate, vindicating and legitimizing Trump and all the other crazy birthers he was riling up. It is hard for one to overstate how profoundly offensive this whole 'campaign' has been. Let's call a spade a spade: these absurd birther claims are awful and frighteningly vicious examples of racism. Trump reinforced the racial animus in his attacks when he bizarrely began to make claims that President Obama was somehow unqualified to attend Columbia and Harvard (read: affirmative action admit). Again, I will refrain from even making arguments here, because this is not a legitimate conversation or critique.

The point is this: what a low moment for a great democracy when the President has to sustain continued attacks on the legitimacy of his birth and citizenship, of all things! Have any past Presidents even come close to this kind of a blatant disrespect? In my view, the unnecessary release of this document was a surrender to lunacy. Trump doesn't deserve the time of day, let alone the satisfaction.

Arguably, there was some political gain in this release. I don't see it-- obviously the Democrats would love for Trump to be the Republican nominee, because he would be so easily defeated. Nonetheless, it's hard to believe there is any actual chance of this happening. Given this, I can't see what the political motive would be. On the other hand, President Obama has obviously proven himself to be politically masterful, and his strategists no doubt have better instincts than mine.

Speaking of which, President Obama went on to crush Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Check it out.