If your priority is "getting things done" (with the "things" being the policies that you agree with) then all that matters is that those things" get done. If the policies being implemented are those that one is opposed to, then character traits might seem more important. Three decades ago Bill Clinton's character was so important to Republicans that he was impeached for lying to Congress about a blow job. His marital infidelities were prima facie evidence that he was a bad president. Democrats were willing to overlook his cheating because he was their cheater. We often intuit that dishonesty in one area necessarily means general untrustworthiness, but it's not that simple. People who fudge the truth about their finances on their tax return don't automatically conduct affairs. Someone who takes home paper clips from the office generally aren't robbing banks or embezzling company funds.
No one expects politicians to be perfect, to be completely free of any flaws. We generally put up with minor peccadillos. Donald Trump is in a whole 'nother category.
While we elect people primarily to enact policies with which we agree, it's also true that they are elected to represent all the people in their constituency, not label those who didn't vote for them as enemies to be rolled over like a conquering army. We should expect a certain level of respect from our elected officials. Trump, rather than treating our citizens with even a minimal level of respect, treats anyone who is not actively kissing his ass with utter contempt. He reacts to legitimate questions as a personal attack, responding with childish name calling and vicious rhetoric. How can we trust someone with such a hair trigger temper and an immature response to any challenge to make reasonable, rational decisions affecting the security and prosperity of our nation? How did we get to the point where treating people like garbage has become normal and acceptable?
One thing about the presidency that we have long understood, if only on a subconscious level, is the president, in addition to being an administrator and executive, is also the face of the whole nation. In the previous paragraph I addressed "representing" in the sense that he carries out the will of the people. But he also represents us in the same way a nation's flag, national anthem, or any other symbol represents us as a people. The president is what citizens of other nations see when they envision "America". Most voters have barely a surface understanding of policy, if that. They vote based on the image that their candidate portrays. The president is a distillation of American-ness to the electorate. What does the fact that we have twice elected Trump say?
It's not like Trump's horrible character was a secret. It was well known that he was a dishonest businessman, often looking for ways to avoid paying contractors. His family business was credibly accused of racial discrimination. He cheated his siblings out of their share of his father's business. He bankrupted casinos. The NY Times ran several articles detailing his shady business and tax avoidance practices. He sexually assaulted women and was recorded bragging about it. He boasted on Howard Stern's radio show of walking in on contestants in a beauty pageant while they were in various states of undress because, according to him he "was the owner, and therefore inspecting it". His presidential campaign was a full of bigotry, misogyny, and other assorted hatred.
It says that around half of the electorate, for the last three elections, believes that a misogynistic, bigoted, hate-filled man who brags about sexual assault, cheats on his taxes and screws over small owners represents them. Many of these same voters were horrified...horrified! that Bill Clinton cheated on his wife, yet had no problem with Trump, who cheated on his first wife, married his girlfriend, then cheated on her with the one who would be his third wife, then cheated on her with a porn actress, paying her off so she wouldn't tell anyone.
Finally, and this is something that gets overlooked in the tsunami of personal attacks and dictatorial actions—he is ignorant. The only thing he is knowledgeable about or good at is self-promotion. He doesn't understand how things work and has no interest in finding out. And he makes myriad decisions every day based on his lack of understanding. Intelligent people are looked down upon.
Our fellow Americans, quite a few of them, believe that this is who we are.
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