Robert Stewart asked K.J. Cartmell:

Do you think it appropriate to throw around words such as "fascist" and "racist" when writing about Donald Trump? Your diatribe reveals an deep-seated dislike bordering on hatred. You lament about his lack of experience and yet you hold up Obama, who's claim to fame was his career as a ward boss and the fact he give a good speech. Perhaps I should be more kind and simply regard it as west coast mania.

K.J. Cartmell I agree that the words "fascist" and "racist" are thrown around carelessly in our society, and they are often applied improperly. Unfortunately, in this case, they are appropriate. Robert Kuttner makes a detailed case for why Trump is a fascist, but let me briefly summarize: He elevates a segment of our population (white Evangelical Christians) and tells them they are the True Americans. Then, he points out other ethnic and political groups and says "Your problems are caused by those people." That's the beginning of fascism. Let's not wait until we have concentration camps. Children in cages was bad enough. As for racist, that word fits as well. Look into Trump's history and you will see housing discrimination lawsuits. More recently, see his comments about "shit-hole countries" and the city of Baltimore. Even the slogan "Make America Great Again" is racist. The implication is "American isn't great anymore, because we have a black president. I will make it great again simply by being a white man." I don't mention Obama in my blog, but since you brought him up: yes Obama had a limited resume when he became president. Unlike Trump, he surrounded himself with experienced politicians (Biden, Clinton) and private sector experts like Lawrence Summers. He listened to them and did not berate them in public. There was nothing during Obama's administration to equal the corruption of Scott Pruitt to give just one example. There were no long list of tell-all books dishing scandals. And believe me, if there had been something along the lines of the Ukraine scandal during Obama's tenure, the GOP would have impeached him. They didn't because there wasn't. I'm not saying Obama is the best president ever, but he was far better than Trump.

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