The republican President Donald Trump is up to stirring up the culture wars again in order to cater to his base of voters.
He has this thing for his successful Black brothers and sisters who refer to him in less than flattering terms. Somehow he uses that loud whistle where he describes them as less intelligent. I noticed this tell when he asked to see the former democratic President Barack Obama grades. President Obama only graduated from Harvard Law School, Magna Cum Laude and was editor of its famous Harvard Law Review which is no small accomplishment.
Magna cum laude puts a student in the top 10% of their class in Grade Point Average over three years of Law School. President Trump on the other hand attended Wharton undergraduate school of the University of Pennsylvania. There is no evidence that he excelled there and his Wharton classmates hardly remember him.
Recently the award winning CNN host Don Lemon interviewed the famous basketball star LeBron James about his political leanings among other subjects. There was a rebroadcast of this interview on Friday evening, the 3rd of August 2018. One of the subjects, was about Mr. Lebron’s recent opening of a school that he set up for at risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The other was about politics.
Lebron James is only a three-time NBA Finals MVP and double Olympic gold medalist.
This one comment by LeBron James shared with Don Lemon must have sent the thin skinned US president over the edge. “What I’ve noticed over the past few months,is [that President Trump has] kinda used sports to kinda divide us, and that’s something that I can’t relate to.”
This time the president responded by tweet, slammimg both these successful Black men about their supposed lack of intelligence.
Here’s the rest of the story…
As per the August 4, 2018 CNN report by Nicole Chavez, “President Donald Trump slammed basketball star LeBron James on Friday night over his appearance on CNN this week.”
President Donald Trump yet again stoked his culture war by going after a black athlete (8/3/18). This time, he took aim at NBA star LeBron James, who on Monday sat down with CNN’s Don Lemon to discuss his new I Promise School for at-risk youth in Akron, Ohio.
“Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!” Trump tweeted, seemingly weighing in on whether James’ greatness has surpassed that of retired NBA star Michael Jordan.
James discussed multiple topics during his sit-down with Lemon, including politics and race. He said the president is dividing the country over race — and using sports to do it.
“He’s dividing us,” James said. “And what I’ve noticed over the past few months [is] he’s kind of used sport to kind of divide us, and that’s something that I can’t relate to, because I know that sport was the first time I ever was around someone white, and I got an opportunity to see them and learn about them, and they got an opportunity to learn about me, and we became very good friends.”
James also talked about his own activism, which he said began with the murder of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old black teenager, in 2012.
From that point on, I knew that my voice and my platform had to be used for more than just sports,” he said.
Trump has attacked multiple black figures, including athletes, during his tenure. He has frequently criticized black NFL players for peacefully protesting during the national anthem ahead of football games. He called for the NFL to suspend Oakland Raiders player Marshawn Lynch for sitting during the anthem in November, and he has consistently attacked former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“At an Alabama rally last September, he said NFL owners should “get that son of the bitch off the field right now” ifanyone protests during the anthem.”
“It’s all wrong,” James said. He later continued, “I believe [Trump] uses anything that’s popular to try to negate people from thinking about the positive things they can actually be doing and try to just get our minds not to be as sharp as possible right then.”
“Jordan on Saturday responded to Trump’s tweet and sided with James. He told NBC News through a spokesperson that he supports James and believe’s he’s “doing an amazing job for his community.”
The president has a history of insulting the intelligence of black figures, as he did with Lemon and James on Friday. Trump has on multiple occasions referred to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) as “low IQ.” And he tweeted that someone should “please inform” Jay-Z of his policies after the rapper in January gave a thoughtful assessment of Trump’s “shithole countries” remarks, describing them as “disappointing” and “hurtful” in an interview with CNN’s Van Jones.
The context of all of this: James is opening up a school for at-risk kids
James on Monday (7/30/18), the day the interview originally aired, opened the I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The school, put together by James’ philanthropic Family Foundation and the Akron Public Schools system, will serve low-income and at-risk children.
James hasn’t responded to Trump’s Twitter attack. Instead, on Saturday, he tweeted about the new school. “Let’s get it kids!!” he wrote. “Love you guys.”
Gronda, a rhetorical question would be “Why Donald?” Why would a President worry about what is said about him by anyone? Of course, we know the answers.
Why does someone have to demean others to build himself up? Why must a man tell us how smart he is by telling us how stupid other people are? Of course, we know the answer.
I was interested in those that came to Lebron’s defense. Dan Rather. Michael Jordan. Even First Lady Melania Trump. I found that last one interesting,
Paraphrasing Mark Twain who said something pertinent, “It is better to let people think you are a fool than to speak (or tweet), and remove all doubt.”
Keith
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Dear Keith,
I like that one. “It is better to let people think you are a fool than to speak (or tweet), and remove all doubt.” But I must add, “What doubt?” He’s removed all doubt ages ago.
Those who support him are backing a fool, and a dangerous one, at that.
LeBron James has behaved like the perfect gentleman in response. That just adds insult to injury in President Trump’s book. He can’t really touch the likes of Mr. James.
Who’s company would you rather have? It’s not even a close vote. Lebron James wins hands down.
Hugs, Gronda
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Gronda, thanks. I think Lebron has handled himself with class, a word that is not top of mind in defining the US President. To me, the best way to debate Donald Trump is to not get in a mud fight with him. It is bumper sticker tweet fodder. He has a difficult time with someone who knows the issues. That knows full well Trump is lying and can articulate why with examples.
I just typed in a comment to Jill on her “Labels, labels, labels” post that a minister who is bigoted from the pulpit is as good a metaphor for Trump’s dereliction of duty as President. When the leader is derelict, it is harder for the flock to condemn him. But, they must condemn actions that are not right. The dilemma is the poor actions are recurring. Keith
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