How can the GOP, the Party of Lincoln, throw its human and financial resources behind a candidate so many of its prominent members have described as racist?
The lyrics in one of the late James Brown's songs posed the question, "Can I pull a sheet off 'em?"
What he was asking, for those unfamiliar with Brown's unique form of colloquial expression, was permission to expose and bring out in the open that which was known but poorly disguised.
Well, the sheet has been pulled off of Donald Trump, and he has been exposed as a racist of the highest order. Don't get mad at me. I did not call Trump a racist -- his friends did.
I did add the phrase "....of the highest order," though. I believe that is an apt description when Republicans as high-ranking as U.S. senators House members (including its speaker) publicly call Trump a racist.
The reason so many within his own party were inclined to pin the "Scarlet R" on The Donald's lapel is that he believes U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel will not preside fairly over a civil lawsuit brought against Trump University because the judge is Mexican-American. Trump said Curiel was very hostile toward him because he is "Mexican" and that he should be "looked into," whatever that means. No matter that Curiel has an impeccable judicial record.
Trump apparently did not get the memo from the Republican National Committee that implored party members be nice to those of Mexican and Latin American decent because the GOP desperately needs their votes. Latinos may currently be in the minority, but not for long. I have a relative living in San Antonio, where residents routinely are fluent in Spanish and English. The United States long ago may have taken Texas from Mexico, but it seems like the Mexicans are taking it back in a unique way.
Here is part of a long list of politicians left aghast by Trump's attack on Judge Curiel: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.;,Sen. Marco Rubio. R-Fla.; Sen. Lindsey Graham. R-S.C.; Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Sen. Susan Collins R-Maine; U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah; Florida Gov. Rick Scott; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who recently met with Trump and endorsed his candidacy, said the comment about the judge was "textbook racist."
But here is the most perplexing dynamic: Even though these folks condemn Trump's remarks, many still articulate support for his candidacy. How can the GOP, the self-proclaimed Party of Lincoln, throw its human and financial resources behind a candidate so many prominent members have described as racist?
How can anyone believe that our nation would best be served by electing someone who, if not a racist, at least does not hesitate to make racist comments? Even if the main alternative to Trump supposedly has a checkered past, she doesn't exhibit any sense of superiority based on race, nationality, religion or gender.
Our own Gov. Chris Christie was one of a very few who actually defended Trump's attack on the judge. Christie's position is that he has known Trump for 14 years and has never seen any racist behavior from him. That statement seems to ignore the obvious, as the governor never specifically addressed the comments that Trump had just made.
Christie seems to have lost all the bravado and machismo he used to display.
Gone are the days when he would yell and shout at those with an opinion different from his. In fact, in his new role as "The Apprentice to The Donald," he appears not to be the shouter, but the shoutee. Trump says "Get on the plane;" Christie starts walking toward the ramp.
When, during one speech, Trump spoke of job loses in New Jersey, Christie stood there with a grin on his face. Trump, at times seems to go out of his way to embarrass the New Jersey governor, as if he receives some type of pleasure from it.
I am actually starting to feel sorry for Christie. No one, much less someone in a high-profile public office, should have to endure such public humiliation while trying so hard to position himself for a cabinet post.
Milton W. Hinton Jr. is director of equal opportunity for the Gloucester County government. He is past president of the Gloucester County Branch NAACP. His column states his personal views, not those of any organization or agency. Email: mwhjr678@gmail.com.