The Absence of Decency

Obama:

Trump:

And still, Republicans lack the courage to call out the leader of their party.

We know many of them are thinking it in private. Who says something like that when people are tragically killed? Who suggests the wonderful, loving parents drove a child plagued by addiction and illness crazy? But beyond the president, who has rarely shown any signs of decency, where are the voices of calm and decency in the party that spent decades billing itself as the party of family values? They are few and far between. Only four House members that I can find spoke out, with empathy for the family: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, Mike Lawler, and Stephanie Bice.

But not Trump, who doubled down on his social media post during a medal presentation this afternoon: “I wasn’t a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned…The Russia hoax, he was one of the people behind it. I think he hurt himself career-wise. He became, like, a deranged person. Trump derangement syndrome. So I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country.”

Reiner was part of a chorus of strong voices rising to criticize Donald Trump from the moment he entered the presidency. In 2017, he told Variety, “Donald Trump is the single most unqualified human being to ever assume the presidency of the United States. He is mentally unfit. Not only does he not understand how government works, he has no interest in trying to find out how it works.” Trump, obviously, disagreed and was unable to restrain himself from taking a final shot after Reiner’s death.

It was just weeks ago, following Charlie Kirk’s death, that Trump said, “It’s long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible.”

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin defended Trump, saying on CNN, when asked about his comments, “I don’t think they’re controversial. Because he was respectful to him, he said he was once a really good actor and all that. And pointed out the fact that he didn’t like him at all, but wished him, you know, ended the text fine… I didn’t think it was distasteful at all.”

The lack of courage is as contagious on one side of the aisle as courage itself is on the other.

Trump is waning. He is a lame duck president with some serious monkeys on his back: the Epstein Files, skyrocketing health care costs, outrage over his violent anti-immigrant tactics exploding among Americans. Sure, he has his hardcore 30% base, plus or minus. But his overall approval ratings, although they recovered slightly this week, should be encouraging Republicans to distance themselves, especially when Trump does something as heinous as the comments he made this morning. The most recent polls show his net approval rating at -16%, up 2.3 points since last week, but overall, only 41% approve, while 57% disapprove, and 4% are not sure. Still, they support the man they fear can end their own careers. There is no other reason to keep saluting when the president behaves like this.

I did not know Rob Reiner well, but we had some interesting conversations. As Elon Musk was purchasing Twitter, we discussed whether Twitter could survive as a free marketplace of ideas and whether an exodus was in the making. Rob was the first person who mentioned Bluesky to me. Ahead of the midterm elections in 2022, he wrote to me, “I’m terrified about what’s happening in our country. We all have to pray for a good outcome on the 8th.” He continued to work for that good outcome every chance he got. We all need to keep working for it.

At the end of a weekend full of sadness, it’s an inconceivable tragedy that we’ve lost Rob Reiner and his sweet wife. I miss Joe Biden, the great consoler. I miss Barack Obama, who sang Amazing Grace at the service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney, murdered along with members of her congregation at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina. I miss George Bush, who brought the nation together in the days following 9-11. I miss Jimmy Carter, the underappreciated humanitarian president. In a moment, today, where decency is called for, this president has none to offer.

We’re in this together,

Joyce

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