I just heard Eric Bolling (co-host of Fox News show The Five) say that he’d like to see Donald Trump have the following dudes lined up on stage at the RNC convention:
- Chris Christie
- Newt Gingrich
- Mike Pence
- Ted Cruz
- General Flynn
Then, in Bolling’s verbalized dream board, Trump would point to each dude and say:
“You’re my Chief of Staff.”
“You’re my Attorney General.”
“You’re the next Supreme Court Justice.”
“You’re my Vice President.”
(Not sure who gets what job, but if you’re counting, someone’s left without a chair to sit in).
So Eric Bolling would love this. Okay.
You know who would NOT love this?
Most women in America. Most minorities in America. Thoughtful people in America. Hell, even moderately informed people in America.
Here’s a question for Eric Bolling: What does it say about Donald Trump that the only people he would seriously consider as Vice Presidential picks were all dudes?
Here’s a question for Eric Bolling: What does it say about Trump that the only people he would seriously consider as VP picks are all dudes?
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Actually, here’s a better question: Eric, what does it say about YOU that the only people YOU can imagine loving as Trump appointees are ALL men, four out of five checking the “white” category? (Question follow up: Can someone explain why “Ted” Cruz doesn’t go by his given first name, Rafael?)
I don’t love identity politics. They’re often used, by both political parties, to drum up support on the basis of nothing. There’s no reason an entire staff of white men couldn’t do a bang up job running the government. There’s no reason an entire staff of minority women couldn’t do an equally amazing job running the government. Choose the right set of either, and there you go.
Based on merit, both possibilities are definitely sound.
But merit alone can leave us wanting.
When our history as a nation includes centuries of minorities and women being shut out – legally denied – the opportunity to participate in their own government, you know what?
Making some kind of effort to demonstrate we’re no longer in that biased era means something.
Are there really NO Republican women or minorities capable of being an excellent Vice President? Or Attorney General? Or Chief of Staff?
Count me amongst the unsurprised that Donald Trump is going full-bore backwards in this regard.
But here’s hoping someone fires Fox News President Roger Ailes, and all the Fox lackees (I’m looking at you, Bolling) who did his bidding and stumped for Trump.
Just another reminder that almost any time I venture to give FNC a chance, the cable “news” network lets me down.
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