Donald
Trump and Race: It’s a Long Story
A reader
sees expediency, not race, at work in the president’s dealings; another finds
his claim of being “the least racist person you have ever met” in effect an
admission of the truth.
July 22, 2019
President Trump leaving Air Force One on Friday in
Morristown, N.J. Over decades in business, entertainment and now politics, he
has approached America’s racial, ethnic and religious divisions as openings to
achieve his goals.Credit...Al Drago for The New York Times
To the Editor:
Re “Trump Turns to Old Tactic: Using Race for His Gain”
(front page, July 21):
This powerfully insightful article by five star reporters
clarifies the true nature of our president. He is neither a racist nor a
non-racist. He is a person who lacks the certitude of conviction; he is,
rather, a chameleon who changes his speech and attitude to suit the occasion.
He will do whatever gets him higher ratings and helps him
win. He will befriend blacks and allow them into his club but will refuse to
allow them to be his tenants when it suits him. He will switch from Democrat to
Republican, when it suits him. He will change into whatever garb suits the
occasion.
He will love-hate the same ideal or person, lacking a
firmness of attachment to any ideal or belief. He changed wives and lovers
frequently. He is dangerous because whatever he says now is not what he really
believes and not necessarily what he will say an hour later.
The leader who lacks firm beliefs and flits like a moth to
whatever seems brightest at the moment is not someone the world will trust.
Only his base is blind to his true nature.
Simon Raskin
Spring Valley, N.Y.
To the Editor:
Donald Trump may claim that he is the “least racist person
you have ever met,” and he no doubt has encouraged others in his private circle
to agree with him.
Though he may be comfortable with his private views, Donald
Trump is president of the United States, and when he stands before a crowd of
people and exhorts the crowd to anger, he becomes the cheerleader for the
racists who live among us. That’s the problem we have to deal with.
Ellie Berner
Stratham, N.H.
To the Editor:
Donald Trump has repeatedly said that he is the “least
racist person you have ever met.” Most of us would agree that the person who
claims to be the least racist person we have ever met is probably not the least
racist person we have ever met.
John Friedland
Chicago
To the Editor:
When our children use offensive, obscene or racist language
or degrade and put down people, we reprimand them in no uncertain terms and
tell them never to repeat it again. We do this to make sure that they
understand what is not acceptable and to convey our values.
Why won’t the Republicans do the same thing with Donald
Trump and his crowds?
Stephen Gold
Philadelphia
To the Editor:
Re “Democrats Recalibrate as Trump Exploits Race” (news
article, July 22):
The cornerstone of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is
to focus on his enemy: four nonwhite women in Congress who are “socialists” and
who “hate America.” The president has nothing else to offer.
The ugliness has just begun. We’re going to hear a lot more
chanting “send her back,” or worse. Republicans may cringe at first, but
they’ll get used to it, and fall helplessly silent.
Do Republicans know what to do? The answer is yes: nothing.
William Goldman
Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
To the Editor:
“Impeachment Bid Fizzles, Showing Democratic Split” (front
page, July 18) documents the division in the House Democratic caucus; more
important, it hands President Trump an unnecessary win.
It is apparent that the caucus lacks the will to bring Mr.
Trump’s many malfeasances to light via an impeachment action. Further, after
all these months, the caucus has shown only a minimal will to bring his
outrageous dismissal of congressional requests for documents and testimony
before the courts for action.
Congress controls the purse, especially the House of
Representatives. Perhaps it is time to refuse funding for the executive branch
until and unless the requested information and testimony are produced. This can
be considered a nuclear option, but it may be what it takes to get Mr. Trump’s
acquiescence if not cooperation.
Kenneth Robbins
Charlestown, R.I.
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