Time to end the conspiracy of silence about Trump

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Wed Aug 9, 2017, 09:38 AM - Edit history (1)

Right Turn Opinion

Time to end the conspiracy of silence about Trump

By Jennifer Rubin August 7

Praising people in public while trashing them in private isn’t limited to Hollywood or high school. According to Buzzfeed News, Peter Thiel, President Trump’s most outspoken cheerleader from Silicon Valley, supposedly has expressed dismay bordering on contempt for the president. “His private doubts underscore the fragility of the president’s backing from even his most public allies,” Buzzfeed writes. “Thiel’s comments may sting in particular in the White House as they come amid a series of hasty and embarrassed departures from the Trump train, as conservative voices from the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page to the floor of the US Senate have begun to distance themselves from the administration.” The report adds: “Thiel’s views remain private — but various disparaging comments were recounted to BuzzFeed News by three separate sources, and others who subsequently confirmed those accounts. These people requested anonymity for fear of damaging personal relationships and possible retribution.”

Let’s assume the article is correct — Thiel actually thinks Trump is “incompetent” — the lesson of the story is not that Trump has lost support from his base (although he has) or that he is incompetent (he surely is); rather, it’s a vivid example of the degree to which people in positions to influence others continue to bite their lips publicly, withhold criticism of damnable behavior and even give Trump cover. Perhaps more executives will, as did Disney’s Bob Iger and Tesla’s Elon Musk, decide to quit the president’s business advisory council — or at least stop showing up. (“CEOs returning home facing criticism from employees and the public, {Silicon Valley} executives may decide the trip is no longer worth it,” writes one commentator.)

Now, business leaders, we concede, have obligations to shareholders and must balance enabling a dangerous president with protecting their companies. But it seems the time for attending dog and pony shows should end. Unlike business leaders, politicians act purely out of self-interest — and cowardice. So far the pressure has been to pretend Trump is behaving like a normal president and to refuse to speak candidly about his unprecedented, inappropriate and disturbing behavior.

Certainly, Republicans in the Senate have begun to ignore his demands (e.g., to stick with health care) and take actions that put Trump on the defensive (e.g., pass sanctions, block him from firing the special prosecutor). Aside from Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), however, very few words of direct, personal criticism are uttered. Perhaps now that lawmakers are back home they’ve begin to pay a price for their sycophancy. They must feel more pressure to speak out than they face to shut up and stay in line.
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Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective. Follow @JRubinBlogger

[longship]

1. But why did the flaky Flake vote to repeal the ACA?

It appears that some are not so committed as they position themselves.

Actions speak much louder than words.

Flaky Flake!