John Kelly is wrong. These were not good people.

[Zorro]

Opinion by Jennifer Rubin

Former White House chief of staff John F. Kelly — the man who enthusiastically presided over the separation of children at the border; defended President Trump’s lies and accommodation toward Russia; and enabled arguably the most destructive president in our history — told the Atlantic: “The vast majority of people who worked in the White House were decent people who were doing the best they could to serve the nation.” He added, “They’ve unfortunately paid quite a price for that in reputation and future employment. They don’t deserve that. They deserve better than that, because they kept the train from careening off the tracks.”

This is dead wrong. These people are not victims. Their reputations have been besmirched for the best of reasons: They participated in an administration unparalleled in its corruption, meanness, racism and authoritarianism.

The excuse that things would have been worse without White House aides is weak, at best. Would we have lost even more than the 312,000 Americans who died from covid-19 if not for them? Would we have been even more lax in failing to respond to Russia’s interference in our election, its bounties on U.S. troops or its hacking of our government?

Self-congratulatory aides did not stop the child-separation policy. Nor did they prevent Trump from trying to delegitimize the election. Or from lying about hush money to pay off an adult-film actress. Or from failing to warn the public early on that covid-19 was far worse than the flu. Or from refusing to wear a mask. Or from encouraging Chinese President Xi Jinping in his efforts to place millions of Uighurs in concentration camps. Or from spewing more than 20,000 lies. Or from extorting Ukraine to manufacture dirt on a political rival. Or from defaming our intelligence community. Or from using tear gas on peaceful protesters outside the White House. I could go on, but you get the point: Their hands are dirty because they enabled a dishonest president and allowed him to continue his reign of chaos, death and authoritarianism.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/20/john-kelly-is-wrong-they-were-not-good-people/

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Well John, psst....the train did careen off the tracks

what utter bullshit, but certainly not a surprise.

[2naSalit]

2. K&R

[catbyte]

3. I suppose he has to rationalize his part in this epic clusterfuck in order to sleep at night.

Although he doesn't deserve even one minute's peace.

[bullimiami]

4. All the decent people quit or were fired due to run-ins w asshole. The rest, evil shit.

[Bobstandard]

5. Bolton trying the same stunt..

These guys are trying to rehab their reputations but face it, they screwed us during their time in office. We need to continue to vilify them. They deserve to have angry demonstrators on their doorstep every once in a while

[Irish_Dem]

6. Trying to rehab their reputations by painting themselves as victimized selfless public servants.

I's certainly not buying it.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Kelly has always been a

hard core Imperialist. His actions from day one bringing in his hard core Staff was Kelly showing his true Racist Colors.

[Politicub]

8. He was part of it. Of course he defends the behavior because he has

zero ability for self-criticism.

[Midnight Writer]

9. Germany did not accept this excuse from their Nazi citizens. We shouldn't, either.

[Avis]

10. Rep Frederica Wilson

His comments were lies about her and unforgivable.

[Solly Mack]

11. Not by my definition of decent or good.