What if Obama did that?
Can former presidents help with the mess Trump has started? It’s certainly promising that one wants to try. President Barack Obama has broken his silence about what’s happening in Washington. President Obama made it clear that Trump and his Republicans enablers are a direct threat to the Constitution and democracy. The enablers likely already know that, but they’re too afraid of Donald Trump to say anything. Trump knows it too; he’s decided he will bulldoze over it if he must, and that’s what he’s been doing. He knows he won’t get any of his crazy legislation passed otherwise. It’s funny, but Kamala Harris told us exactly what Trump would do if reelected. Everything she said has either come to pass or is in the process. President Obama backed that up, and he has seen about as much as he can take.
Speaking at Hamilton College, President Obama said: “Imagine if I had done any of this. It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me or a whole bunch of my predecessors …Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps.” No speculation necessary here. These are the same people who thought the world was coming to an end because Obama wore a tan suit. No way would they allow a Black man to take on the role of dictator, including his disrespect for the courts of this nation. Are you kidding? That would have lasted about an hour into Obama’s presidency. Trump, on the other hand, does what he likes, including defying court orders and his ridiculous executive orders, which Harvard University will not tolerate.
Trump is, of course, vowing to withhold federal funding if Harvard doesn’t comply by “ending its DEI programs, adopt merit-based admissions, and cooperate with immigration authorities.” Harvard is the first university to push back against Trump. If they would all do so, Trump’s power will be weakened. Harvard’s president Alan Garber wrote that the university “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.” Right on, Harvard. More institutions and people should fight back against Trump. His executive orders are unconstitutional, and Harvard faculty members have filed suit to block Trump from withholding funding. The lawsuit calls what Trump has done “an unprecedented threat” to free speech and freedoms. That is Donald Trump’s goal. He wants so badly to turn us into an autocracy where freedom is only a fantasy, and our rights have been taken away. As a country, we cannot allow this to happen.
President Obama spoke up for us. Now, others must join him. We know our past presidents care about the people and this country. They need to come forward just as Obama did. He not only spoke out, but he called both Clinton and Bush to action to reenforce our democracy in the face of Donald Trump’s unlawful actions.
ThyBlackMan.com addressed Obama speaking out and implores others to act: “America needs its former presidents to speak out about the abuse of presidential power. … These are extraordinary times. And extraordinary times require extraordinary action.”
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years