Donald Trump has unleashed a new wave of racism, and emboldened an ignorant and fearful remnant of America's cruelest club. With his words, with his actions, through the way he orchestrated and managed his apparently 'successful' campaign, he has proven himself a practitioner of hatred, division and deeply disturbing bigotry. If this doesn't disqualify the man to serve as president, tell me, what exactly would do that?
Candise Woods has served and continues to serve her country with grace. She is a gifted woman who has dedicated her life to others, embodying the very best of Christian faith and practice. And beyond all that, she's one of us, an American citizen; it's just that simple. And Donald Trump has unleashed the menacing forces of hysteria on women like Candise Woods. And that's wrong. Just plain wrong. And evil.
I believe it's time for Donald Trump to resign, to withdraw, to do whatever it is that elected candidates do before they take office. His overt encouragement -- over months and even years now -- of white nationalism, racism, misogyny and anti-Semitism disqualifies him from serving as President of this country. Whether or not he 'publicly' denounces Richard Spencer, whether or not he 'distances' himself from these characters, he has systematically built a presidential campaign to take advantage of their hatred and bigotry. He and his team choreographed their campaign in the right places, at the right times, with the right language and all kinds of incitement--to thrill and encourage Richard Spencer. Precisely Richard Spencer.
And my Jewish friends, and my LGBT friends, and my Mexican-American friends, and Candise: they cannot be asked to bear the weight of his terrible and vicious exercise in egotism and provocation. It's time for President-elect Trump to step aside. It's the only thing for him to do. If he loves his country, if he cares about Candise and her brother, it's the only thing.
For a bit of sobering perspective, the US Holocaust Museum offered this statement just today: "The Holocaust did not begin with killing; it began with words," the museum staff said in their statement. They added a call to "all American citizens, our religious and civic leaders, and the leadership of all branches of government to confront racist thinking and divisive hateful speech," seeming to reference President-elect Trump's not having publicly distanced himself from the racist leaders and groups that support him.
