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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhat Elijah Cummings Once Told Trump in Private
by Peter Nicholas
After President Donald Trump took office, I spent some time talking to people who had met with him privately in the White House, trying to get a sense of what hes like when the cameras are off.
At the time, I was a reporter at The Wall Street Journal. One of my most surprising interviews was with Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland. The duo didnt seem like theyd hit it off when they met in the White House in March 2017. Cummings, a Democrat, is the son of sharecroppers from South Carolina; Trump, a Republican, is the son of a rich real-estate developer in New York who once faced federal allegations that his company refused to rent apartments to black tenants. When the two of them sat down to talk about lowering prescription-drug prices that spring, the conversation took an unexpected turn: They fell into a candid give-and-take about race.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump had painted black neighborhoods as hellscapes from which there was no way out. Youre living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, Trump said at a rally in Michigan in 2016, trying to court black voters. What the hell do you have to lose?
Sitting together in the Oval Office that day, Cummings was blunt. The 13-term congressman told the president that his words were insulting and that most black people are doing pretty good. Trump didnt get defensive or angry. He listened quietly, taking it in, Cummings recalled. Probably nobody has ever told you that, Cummings told the president. Youre rightnobody has ever told me that, Trump replied.
They parted on good terms, agreeing to talk more. Soon enough, it all came undone. That summer, Trump would tell reporters that there were very fine people on both sides of the clash between white supremacists and protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned deadly.
Around that time, Cummings was growing steadily disillusioned with the president. He didnt believe that what he had told Trump earlier in the year had made any real impression. Phone calls between the two stopped. What had looked like a fledgling alliance between two men of different parties, backgrounds, and racesa rarity in this political eracollapsed. Now that I watch his actions, I dont think it made any difference, Cummings told me after the presidents first year in office. I thought it had an impact at the moment, but his actions have not shown that.
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https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/what-elijah-cummings-once-told-trump-in-private/ar-AAF06ay?li=BBnb7Kz
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)who does all of his big talking behind people's backs and on Twitter. He would never have the nerve to challenge anything Cummings says to his face.
So, of course he just sat quietly.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)How many people has he fired via tweet now? Rex Tillerson was on the f-ing toilet when he heard the news via tweet.
Heck, when lightweight journalist Megyn Kelly hosted a Republican debate and asked him about some misogynistic quotes, he couldn't challenge her there - he had to wait to Twitter or a campaign rally afterwards to attack her for blood coming out of her wherever.
iluvtennis
(19,864 posts)SWBTATTReg
(22,144 posts)Cummings. And folks in the media etc. keep saying that we need to reach out to the other side (repugs)...
We grabbed the ring first and look what it got us...more of the ignorant behavior that has been on display for the whole world to see...and a slap in the face to us on the other side of the fence.
Pathetic.
Reminds me of a book titled 'The Ugly American'. I read this when I was a high schooler, and Rump would be a classic character in that book. I recommend it to anyone to read, but also, we're all getting real time exposure to 'The Ugly American'.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,786 posts)What we are seeing Trump DO is rage in a overt racist manner that African-Americans, Latinos. Asians, Muslims, anyone not considered a WASP, is an "animal", live in '"rat infested" cities, a "rapist", a "Terrorist", and on down the live.
A pattern has been developed and we need to address that with our Reps in Washington, D.C. NOW.
Bluepinky
(2,275 posts)Trump, his family and his friends swim around in a cesspool, bringing others down there with them. Its not surprising that Trump chose to ignore offers to work with Cummings on a positive agenda, he doesnt know how to be decent.
You can put a swamp rat in the Oval Office and call him President, but hes still just a swamp rat.
hlthe2b
(102,304 posts)even care enough to make a pretense.
Every evening I think I just can't take any more...
and every morning it is clear that we have no choice.
theaocp
(4,241 posts)They need to be beaten to a pulp in the media and through the election ballot. Talking about working WITH them in any way, shape, or form is folly. They will stab you in the back and stick you with the tab.
47of74
(18,470 posts)Fuck that. Were in this whole fucking mess because our side keeps trying to work with people who would rather see a lot of us dead and are willing to take themselves down to achieve that goal. Its time to stop being so fucking goddamn nice to Republicans.
Now youll excuse me while I go cram a fucking twenty in the goddamn swear jar.
Edit. REACH not TEACH. Fucking autocorrect.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,492 posts)Just like mama in the Haggard song.....
mgardener
(1,817 posts)They don't listen to anybody.
They think they are smarter than you...
Therefore, we have the stable genius.
FakeNoose
(32,658 posts)... was that Chump will agree with whomever he just talked to, and it only lasts until the next person enters his office. Usually the next person is a racist, or a greedy and power-hungry Repuke.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Misjudged the man across from him...
Not that it matters...