CLEVELAND -- Over the past few weeks, I've spoken to voters who are thinking about voting for Donald Trump for president. I wanted to learn what they were thinking about. Here's what they said:
1. Donald Trump calls it as he sees it.
Maybe Mr. Trump follows his instincts and doesn't mince words, but nonpartisan fact-checkers find that his statements are more often wrong than right. (See the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Politifact's "Truth-O-Meter" comparison of Trump and Hillary Clinton.) Imagine being led by a president who knows so very little, or is just lying most of the time. Neither possibility should give us comfort.
2. Donald Trump has a better plan for the U.S. economy than Hillary Clinton.
Mr. Trump has no plan other than his boast that he will "make things better." Secretary Clinton's economic plan is published.
3. Hillary Clinton is not personally trustworthy.
There are things in Secretary Clinton's past performance that give some Americans pause. And while they should be acknowledged, they are not nearly as serious and damaging as:
* Mr. Trump's four bankruptcies that left many American lenders without full return of their loans.
* The unaccredited Trump University, which allegedly charged students up to $35,000 each for useless get-rich quick schemes. Mr. Trump donated thousands of dollars (were they bribes?) to the attorneys general of both Florida and Texas and somehow these states elected not to investigate Trump University that is the target of lawsuits in other states.
* Mr. Trump still refuses to make his tax returns public. Why? It's possible that this billionaire paid less in taxes over the past 20 years than you did.
* Mr. Trump takes every possible opportunity to boast about himself. In your own life, do you trust men like that? Would you follow a man like that?
4. Donald Trump is a patriot.
He attended the New York Military Academy and, when asked to serve his country during the Vietnam War, he dodged the draft by claiming to have a bone spur in his heel. Yet both before and after this draft-dodging he has lived an athletic life and regularly boasts about his health. He was fit enough to be an athlete but not fit enough to serve his country.
When a military veteran gifted his own Purple Heart to Donald Trump during a campaign event in August, Mr. Trump said, "I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier." What a tasteless joke from a man who received five draft deferments.
5. Donald Trump is a highly effective and successful businessman.
Mr. Trump inherited great wealth from his father, a real estate developer. Donald Trump has had multiple bankruptcies and has reported debts that, according to The New York Times, exceed $650 million. He also refuses to reveal his tax returns that would allow us to see how effective and successful he really is.
On a copy of his 1995 federal tax return that was reported by The Times and that neither he nor his campaign representatives dispute, he claimed a stunning $916 million loss that was attributed to his failed business ventures. Maybe he is a successful businessman, but we have no real proof of this. Even Michael Bloomberg, the former (Republican) mayor of New York, has labeled Mr. Trump as a "con" man.
6. Our political and economic systems are broken and we need an outsider to fix them.
There is no doubt that our systems need some fixing. Tax loopholes like the ones Mr. Trump uses unfairly tax the middle class. (Most Americans could not survive a $916 million loss that current tax laws allow business investors to deduct from future tax liabilities.) Corporations have undue influence on government policies, and financial institutions take risks and use illegal strategies that put us and our financial stability in danger. A Congress paralyzed by partisanship has lost the art of compromise. The globalization of the economy has had profound impact on our industries and our jobs.
These problems need thoughtful and effective approaches for their resolution. Mr. Trump's off-the-cuff answers to these problems reflect nothing more than the simplistic ideas of an amateur. I'm not opposed to engaging some outsiders in our national enterprise, but let's pick some who know what they are talking about.
7. Donald Trump will protect us from terrorism.
I don't know how Mr. Trump — who has no experience in foreign affairs and regularly makes mistakes when talking about them — will do this. In an open letter, 122 Republican members of the national security community wrote that Donald Trump is not fit to lead our country and that he is "fundamentally dishonest." Gen. Colin Powell called Mr. Trump "an international pariah." Would you want an angry man like Donald Trump to have control over America's nuclear arsenal?
8. I just don't like Hillary.
You don't need to like your leader but you do need to respect him or her. Can we possibly respect Mr. Trump? A man who brags about himself repeatedly? Who has escaped full payment of debts via bankruptcy at least four times? Who built an unaccredited university (Trump University) that charged its students thousands and thousands of dollars on get-rich-quick real estate schemes?
9. Times are bad for many of us; we need a change.
Selecting a president of our country is one of the most precious rights and duties we citizens have. When times are tough, these rights and duties are challenged the most. We must remember that it was during tough times that other democracies elected or empowered charismatic leaders who led their nations to ruin by appealing to their greatest fears. Let's not make that mistake now by voting for Mr. Trump.
Dr. Michael M. Lederman, a physician scientist, is the Scott R. Inkley Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of his employer.
#1: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
He says Trump has no economic plan? What a f**king idiot!
misterwhite posted on 2016-10-24 15:14:13 Reply Private Reply
#2: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
"Great wealth"? How much? Today, Trump's company is worth $10 billion. I guarantee you he didn't inherit $10 billion.
Conclusion? Donald Trump is a highly effective and successful businessman.
misterwhite posted on 2016-10-24 15:23:06 Reply Private Reply
#3: Vicomte13 To: Willie Green (#0)
Vicomte13 posted on 2016-10-24 15:25:02 Reply Private Reply
#4: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
6 of Trump's 515 real estate investments filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to reorganize and restructure their debt. Trump wasn't the only investor. None of those investments ever liquidated under Chapter 7.
And Trump, personally, never filed for bankruptcy.
misterwhite posted on 2016-10-24 15:36:15 Reply Private Reply
#5: calcon To: Willie Green (#0)
calcon posted on 2016-10-24 16:05:38 Reply Private Reply
#6: Willie Green To: calcon (#5)
No sweat... Trump is doing everything in his power to help the Hildebeast all by himself.
Willie Green posted on 2016-10-24 17:16:01 Reply Private Reply
#7: nolu chan To: Willie Green (#0)
If you do not know whether this is factual or not, you have not provided a reason to do, or refrain from doing, anything.
Hillary has participated in operating the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative, et al. One may read about Clinton corruption in Clinton Cash by Peter Schweizer, or reading the Podesta emails at Wikileaks. If Hillary is elected, we may need additional security for the furniture and silverware.
Mr. Trump donated to most of the political world, including Hillary Clinton. Did he bribe Hillary Clinton? Is Hillary bribable?
Because he is under audit and any lawyer would advise him not to release them while under audit. And, of course, he is under no legal obligation whatsoever to do so. On the other hand, Hillary could have easily turned over the transcripts of her paid speeches.
Of course, there is no evidence that Trump did what is alleged as possible.
It's possible Hillary Clinton will be put in prison for corruption.
Trump thrives on braggadocio. If the choice is between a an successful executive braggart and a less than mediocre corrupt politician, I prefer the successful executive braggart to fill an executive position.
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-24 17:43:18 Reply Private Reply
#8: rlk To: Willie Green (#0)
Neither does most of the rest of the foreign affairs establishment have any experience as has been demonstrated by their performance. The standard practice has been to get somebody with a big family name or having acquired visibility in some area, declare them to be experienced, install them in office to trip over their own feet while cavorting among other big wigs. Hillary Clinton's only only action of any significance was to deliver the Mid East to jihadists and threaten to start WWIII with Russia. We need her and her experience like we need a second set of hemerhoids. If Dr. Lederman doesn't use any more judgement in his practice of medicine than he does in his judgement of Hillary Clinton, he's a dangerous God damned quack.
rlk posted on 2016-10-24 18:15:06 Reply Private Reply
#9: Hank Rearden To: Willie Green (#0)
He wins the comparison.
QED
Hank Rearden posted on 2016-10-24 18:47:38 Reply Private Reply
#10: misterwhite To: rlk (#8)
Versus Hillary Clinton -- who has experience in foreign affairs and regularly makes mistakes when dealing with them.
misterwhite posted on 2016-10-24 19:06:34 Reply Private Reply
#11: Titorite2 To: Willie Green (#0)
FUCK YEAH Hillary for.prison 2016
Titorite2 posted on 2016-10-24 19:27:26 Reply Private Reply
#12: rlk To: misterwhite (#10)
Those weren't mistakes. They were applications of a countercultural policy deliberately subversive to America's best interests. It was engineering a long term defeat of this nation desired by both Obama and Hillary. Everything they do has a negative twist obscured by fancy rhetoric.
rlk posted on 2016-10-24 19:47:34 Reply Private Reply
#13: redleghunter To: Vicomte13 (#3)
redleghunter posted on 2016-10-24 19:57:42 Reply Private Reply
#14: Hondo68 To: Willie Green, *2016 The Likely Suspects* (#0)
Powerful: GOP Congressman Scott Rigell Video Endorsement of Libertarian Gary Johnson
"We don't just have two choices. We have a third choice, a better choice....We can change things. We can change the system."Hondo68 posted on 2016-10-24 22:19:53 Reply Private Reply
#15: GrandIsland To: hondo68 (#14)
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-24 22:27:53 Reply Private Reply
#16: buckeroo To: GrandIsland, hondo68 (#15)
buckeroo posted on 2016-10-24 22:36:04 Reply Private Reply
#17: paraclete To: Willie Green (#0)
there is only one good reason and that is to keep Dilliary out of the White House
paraclete posted on 2016-10-25 02:06:02 Reply Private Reply
#18: misterwhite To: buckeroo (#16)
I love this forum for the high level of debate arguments like this one.
misterwhite posted on 2016-10-25 10:45:18 Reply Private Reply
#19: TrappedInMd To: misterwhite (#18)
Trump style of debate is to talk about how some ex-miss-America is too fat. Key issues affecting America.
TrappedInMd posted on 2016-10-25 11:00:28 Reply Private Reply
#20: misterwhite To: paraclete (#17)
Which means we're right back to where we started -- another special interest backed RINO who looks not that different than the Democrat.
misterwhite posted on 2016-10-25 11:03:17 Reply Private Reply
#21: GrandIsland To: buckeroo (#16)
I'd punch him in his big fucking libtard nose just for his pro liberal drug and faggot views.
How many times have I told you LIBERALterian assholes that you are mostly liberal with a love for guns.
Shut your shiteater.
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-25 18:43:05 Reply Private Reply
#22: buckeroo To: GrandIsland (#21)
buckeroo posted on 2016-10-25 19:47:51 Reply Private Reply
#23: GrandIsland To: buckeroo (#22)
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-25 19:49:52 Reply Private Reply
#24: buckeroo To: GrandIsland (#23)
Do you have any faith?
buckeroo posted on 2016-10-25 19:51:14 Reply Private Reply
#25: Hondo68 To: GrandIsland, buckeroo (#23)
Hondo68 posted on 2016-10-25 20:00:59 Reply Private Reply
#26: buckeroo To: hondo68 (#25)
buckeroo posted on 2016-10-25 20:27:05 Reply Private Reply
#27: GrandIsland To: buckeroo (#26)
I personally don't give a shit that Trump called a fat beauty contestant, FAT. I don't care what he thinks of woman or retards. The sheep vote with their TWATS... not their brains. Like you.
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-25 20:47:12 Reply Private Reply
#28: buckeroo To: GrandIsland (#27)
Your candidate looks to be LOSING, pal. It is probably because you don't give a shit.
buckeroo posted on 2016-10-25 20:52:12 Reply Private Reply
#29: GrandIsland To: buckeroo (#28)
That's what they thought about Brexit. lol
The fed up independent voters WILL SPEAK next month. Not the (R)'s, not the (D)'s and certainly not all the paultard worthless LIBERALterians.
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-25 20:58:19 Reply Private Reply
#30: buckeroo To: GrandIsland (#29)
buckeroo posted on 2016-10-25 21:03:05 Reply Private Reply
#31: nolu chan To: buckeroo, GrandIsland (#28)
Why do so few bother to show up at Clinton/Kaine rallies?
Reagan 39%, Carter 45% - October 1980
nolu chan posted on 2016-10-25 23:55:39 Reply Private Reply
#32: buckeroo To: nolu chan (#31)
Paid shills get little money in their pockets? I don't get it, nolu chan.
buckeroo posted on 2016-10-25 23:59:40 Reply Private Reply
#33: GrandIsland To: nolu chan (#31)
GrandIsland posted on 2016-10-26 18:02:18 Reply Private Reply