By Ed Hoffman
The Northeastern primaries are this week, with Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and Rhode Island voting on their party nominations. So naturally, I emailed with a close relative in one of those states to find out who she was voting for Tuesday. She replied, “Since I am Democrat, I will be voting for Hillary. Too bad I didn’t reregister as Republican so I could vote against Trump.”
Since I’m a Trump supporter now, that intrigued me. But what interested me even more was her discouragement over the candidates on both sides. “This is going to be the worst presidential election that I can remember,” she said. “No good choices in either party.”
No good choices in either party? Interesting.
Here’s what that tells me: First, that Democrats do not love and revere Hillary as much as we have been led to believe for years – and second, that they don’t necessarily all love Bernie Sanders either (as much as the media wants us to believe they do right now). Think the only smokescreens are on the Republican side? Think again. This conversation proved that to me.
Next, she gave me the same old answers we are now accustomed to seeing in regards to Trump – and of course, I gave my answers. Here they are:
- “Yes, Trump is a businessman and has employed people and has large sums of money. But, he knows nothing about how the government works.” This is probably a good thing.
- “He also knows nothing about international politics or relations.” Trump runs an international business; what presidential candidate has more experience in that arena?
- “Except for the fact that countries have to give time and deal with the POTUS, I doubt that many other countries will take him seriously.” Who takes Obama seriously? Not Russia, Not Israel, Not North Korea, Not Iran…shall I continue?
- “His method of analysis is to decide if something is too expensive or not profitable, without regard to the geopolitical implications.” Trump is probably the only one who really has knowledge of international economic implications.
- “He is an abrasive, loud mouthed bully who doesn’t find any issue insulting any particular group of people.” No argument on that point – he is all of those things – but every successful person is at some point. Those are the people who get things done.
- “He makes outrageous claims about things he is going to do.” He is probably the only one that will get them done.
- “He probably believes he could do them, but he will have trouble doing those things within the confines of the law.” Trump will abide by the laws, unlike that guy you voted for who has resided in the White House for the last eight years.
- “He will upend our system of checks and balances.” What checks and balances are working today? Obama does whatever he wants, which includes destroying our country.
- “His only redeeming quality is that he’s only running as a Republican because he knew he couldn’t compete on the Democratic ticket with Hilary. He is probably more liberal than most Republicans.” If that is really true, then Democrats – especially those Democrats who are disenchanted with Hillary – should have no problem supporting him.
I think I made my point.
Ed Hoffman is host of The Main Event on AM590, which airs Saturday 9:30 AM- 10:30 AM and Sunday 4:00 PM- 5:00 PM. Follow him on Twitter @EdHoffman, and like him on Facebook by searching The Main Event 590.