On MLK Day, Trump Dedicates Liberty University Address To Dr. King Without Talking Civil Rights; Confusingly Mentions ISIS, Hillary, Obama Instead
One of the most annoying things about Donald Trump is this: Although he’s a successful business mogul, the GOP presidential frontrunner is having a hard time selling his ideology to minorities.
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2016, MLK Day, Donald Trump held a rally at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and tried to court the Christian crowd, according to CNN. Trump somniferously dedicated the convocation address to Dr. King, but never mentions the Civil Rights Movement — a temerarious omission. He even managed to bungle a Bible reference.
Instead, Trump talked on a macro level about topics like ISIS, immigration, trade deals, prisoner swaps, Iran, Syria, and more. Arguably, his bullet points wouldn’t resonate with inner-city youth, single women on public assistance, retail workers vying for a higher minimum wage, middle-class families living paycheck to paycheck, and even Joe the Plumber. You get the picture.
This college invited Donald Trump to be their speaker on MLK Day https://t.co/EzQzwv2lk8
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) January 18, 2016
The former reality TV personality made slight mention of “protecting Christianity,” but only about the war on Christmas by those pushing for political correctness. Even then, his time spent on the Church and State divide lasted mere minutes. And as he often does, Trump spent an inordinate amount of time irrepressibly boasting about his rising poll numbers and “winning” strategy.
Donald Trump’s remarks about Martin Luther King were mostly about Donald Trump https://t.co/ej0t3FFWaf pic.twitter.com/hkeS39F4Kx
— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) January 18, 2016
On MLK Day, Dr. King is likely rolling in his grave and wondering if Donald Trump is out of touch with reality and being disingenuous. Arguably, King would have never bragged about his accomplishments. No, sir; he would have had a cup of coffee at a local shop and met with other disenfranchised citizens to lead the next charge against social inequities.
.@realDonaldTrump cites ‘Two Corinthians,’ sparks laughter at Liberty https://t.co/gphNuKdWc3 pic.twitter.com/usV9d5LRlr
— CNN (@CNN) January 18, 2016
The late Civil Rights leader spent most of his adult life fighting for “the least of these,” trying to bridge the gap between whites and people of color and class structure disparities — while dreaming of social solidarity. Foreign policy and macroeconomic issues weren’t part of his “dream.” He was a drum major for justice, not a leader who hid behind the bully pulpit.
King could have targeted communism, the growing threat of thermonuclear war, and a host of other issues about foreign affairs. However, those larger issues were not in his wheelhouse — he let the politicians address those jutting issues.
So, why did Trump use a nationally recognized holiday that celebrates a man’s quest for freedom and inherent liberties to preface his speech? The short answer is this: it’s anyone’s guess, and only Trump knows.
Trump opens his speech that is disconnected, sharply irrelevant to MLK Day, trite in scope, and lacking in theological rendering. After all, Liberty is a non-profit Christian learning institution. In his defense, he made reference to “hell,” not the Biblical home of condemned souls and ruled over by Satan, but “hell” as an informal exclamatory.
Dr. King’s legacy was about service, but Trump spent his time discussing issues appropriate for Wall Street executives, politicians, and lobbyists — not everyday people. What does the presumptive Republican presidential nominee think when he speaks extemporaneously?
We rationalists know the drill during election years: talk the language of your audience of the moment, while speaking summarily on a prevailing issue in the larger community. Nonetheless, it’s unclear if Donald Trump believes in this nonsensical approach to campaigning — and that’s worrisome.
I’m led to opine that Dr. Martin Luther King’s holiday is a virtual crutch that allows Trump to blend in with the spirit of service and equality for all men, women, religions, genders, and creeds. His passing reference to King is like the worker who reports to the meeting, signs “present,” but leaves; it only shows they were “there,” so to speak.
Critics suggest — and I agree — there is a certain vapidity about Trump’s talking points in the presence of potential voters. Ironically, it’s that same prosaicness that’s launched him to the top of election polls. Political pundits are left wondering why he resonates so well with the electorate.
Listen, Trump is not being impeached for dishonoring King on MLK Day; there’s no hard evidence to support that angle. Instead, his one-size-fits-all approach to prospective voters — talking point insipidities — calls into question his sincerity about matters most important to the nation’s one percent.
And that’s troublesome.
[Image via AP Photo/Steve Helber]
