"Why Im thankful for Donald Trump"

http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/370627-why-im-thankful-for-donald-trump

Why I’m thankful for Donald Trump
By Jamal Simmons, opinion contributor — 01/26/18 06:30 AM EST


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The American presidency is often the brightest political spot in the sky, projecting an image to the world like the Bat Signal in Gotham City. Instead of a call for help from a strong hero, Donald Trump’s image highlights our weaknesses. The reality-show president personifies the petty part of ourselves that pauses before holding the door open when someone rushes to catch the same elevator. He exemplifies that prickly bit of our psyche that yells profanities at cars that cut us off on the highway. More ominously, he relishes in the fearful assumptions we make about people we see on the street because of what they look like.

Most of us feel pangs of guilt, shame or disappointment in ourselves when these frailties emerge. Not Trump. The president doesn’t seem to have those self-reflective emotions. In a conflict, Trump reacts like an internet troll; he gives the boastful, brash response we imagine we might have said if we weren’t adults with responsibilities and an aversion to negative consequences. He delights in using crude epithets to take down opponents for mild slights. He proudly rejects apologizing, even when obviously wrong. He blatantly lies about his casual racism even when men of higher integrity bear witness to it.

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Trump is making clear the line that divides us. Do we believe that opportunities and resources are meant to go first to straight white Christian men, or does everyone in America get a chance to achieve? Do we all get to participate?

Despite Trump, or maybe because of him, many people are moving in a positive direction. Pew reports that “54 percent of whites think the country needs to continue making changes to give blacks equal rights with whites.” That’s up from 39 percent in 2014. Among Democrats, the gap has narrowed considerably since 2009 between whites, blacks and Hispanics on the need for more changes to ensure equality.

Americans will still argue over policies. We have differences over public spending, policing, immigration laws and a host of other issues that impact race. That’s fine. But shouldn’t we agree on the goals of equality, opportunity for all and shared responsibility?

The Trump presidency is making clear that it’s time for each of us to choose.

Thank you, Mr. President?


Jamal Simmons is a Democratic strategist who has worked for the Clinton White House, Congress and the Clinton, Gore and Obama presidential campaigns.