Friday, March 29, 2024

It's like déjà vu all over again

It was late August of 2016 when then GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump toured hurricane ravaged Louisiana. After witnessing the thorough destruction a recent storm had caused, Trump donated money and a truckload of supplies to residents in an effort to help in the region's recovery. There was even a photo showing him assisting in unloading trucks upon arrival of supplies. Naturally this was dismissed as "opportunism" by supporters of his Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton. But whether or not this was a publicity stunt by Trump, it was undeniable that those who were suffering received some welcome relief thanks to his generosity. And it also wasn't lost on the American people that Mrs. Clinton herself was conspicuously absent. 


Fast forward to Thursday of this week when Trump was invited to New York to attend the wake of Jonathan Diller, a 31-year old member of the NYPD who was killed in the line of duty. 


And what was the White House's current occupant up to that evening in the very same area


President Biden participated in a star-studded fundraiser with former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Thursday in New York City in an event expected to raise more than $25 million for the president's re-election campaign.

Thursday's New York City fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall was hosted by actress Mindy Kaling and featured performances by several musical guests and artists, including Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo and Lea Michele. The event was capped off with a nearly hourlong discussion between Mr. Biden, Obama and Clinton moderated by "The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert.


I wonder how many of those celebs named support some sort of "defund the police" initiative? 


Yeah, I know. We are still a little more than 7 months away from Election Day, so a lot could happen between now and then. But what we can't get around is how Biden ran in 2020 on "restoring decency and compassion" but has failed to deliver on that campaign pledge. Whether it was taking more than a year to visit East Palestine, OH in the aftermath of a severe train derailment or bizarrely inserting himself into the Maui tragedy with a fabricated story or butchering the name of a murdered college woman only express regret for how he described her killer, Biden's reputation as an empathetic figure has proven to be an urban myth. Meanwhile, Trump is making inroads with Americans who are feeling marginalized......just like he did in 2016. 


I'm not here to suggest that Trump is this 100% genuinely compassionate figure, but I'm guessing people will accept his goodwill (contrived or not) over someone who claims to have empathy but shows the exact opposite. 


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