Trump’s Bronx Rally
Plus, China encircles Taiwan; Harvard’s conscience
When Ronald Reagan visited the Bronx during his 1980 presidential campaign, he was greeted by hecklers, who, in classic Reagan fashion, he approached to try to win over. Another Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, got a warmer reception tonight.
Rep. Byron Donalds, Republican of Florida, introduced Trump. “There are no racial votes in America anymore, there are American votes, and we are going to save the greatest country the world has ever known,” he said to cries of “USA, USA.”
Said Trump: “Joe Biden is not getting the job done for the Bronx. He is not getting the job done for New York.”
“If a New Yorker can’t save this country, no one can,” Trump said, apparently referring to himself and maybe even putting his status as a Florida taxpayer at some slight risk.
Trump started off speaking mostly about himself rather than substantive policy issues. He mocked Jake Tapper of CNN as “Fake Tapper.”
He did try to compare his economic record against Biden’s. He argued that illegal immigration—”the Biden migrant invasion”— was hurting Black and Hispanic Americans. He vowed to begin the largest deportation program in our nation’s history. And he was greeted with cries of “build the wall.”
“Joe Biden puts illegal aliens first. I put America first,” Trump said, comparing illegal immigrants to a deadly poisonous snake. “Remember the snake,” Trump said.
Even on the inflation issue, Trump brought it back, slightly mockingly, to himself, “I don’t eat bacon anymore, it’s too expensive.”
He did give a very clear and succinct explanation of the Laffer Curve and supply-side economics: “With lower taxes, we actually took in more money because it gave incentives for people to work.”
And he took credit for peace. “We had no wars. None of these stupid wars.”
He distanced himself from the Iraq War. “Now Iraq is a subsidiary, essentially, of Iran. Congratulations to the geniuses who got us into that mess.”
Trump spoke of his father. “He was happy when he worked.” He said his father would price a house at $3,999.99, which psychologically made it seem cheaper than $4,000.
He claimed that he won the 2020 election. He goes on at such great length that while displaying energy and endurance, it also indicates a certain lack of discipline.
Whatever issues one may have with Trump or his flirtations with racism and racists, it’s a good sign for America to have both parties wooing Black voters, Hispanic voters, and urban voters rather than having either party write them off or take them for granted. The nice thing about democracy in a country where racists are a small minority is that it pushes politicians to campaign not just in Palm Beach but in the Bronx.
China encircles Taiwan: Chairman John Moolenaar, Republican of Michigan, and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democrat of Illinois, of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party issued a statement on a Chinese military drill encircling Taiwan: “The Chinese Communist Party’s brazen attempt to intimidate Taiwan following its free and fair elections and the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te is completely unacceptable. This action only reinforces the need for the U.S. to take concrete steps to help strengthen Taiwan’s defenses and deter the CCP’s aggression. The United States and the international community must stand firm with our friends in Taiwan as they face the CCP’s unfounded attempts to intimidate democratic societies around the world.”
Harvard’s conscience: I had planned to spend the day at Harvard Commencement but had to cancel at the last minute because I got sick. I wound up watching it on video. It’s just as well.
What a sad display—two student speakers denouncing the Harvard Corporation’s decision to deny diplomas to 13 students being punished for their participation in an anti-Israel encampment that disrupted university business. Then a commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient. Maria Ressa, who said “I was called antisemitic by power and money because they want power and money” and criticized “Mark Zuckerberg, because he, along with tech bros, are controlling the world.”
(Her prepared text, as published in Harvard magazine, had it as Zuckerberg “insidiuously manipulating us for profit,” but apparently someone tried to clean it up. Not enough, especially at a university facing multiple lawsuits and congressional investigations for mishandling campus antisemitism.)
Harvard Chabad Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi was so disgusted he walked off stage after Ressa declined to clarify her remarks. God bless him. Harvard is blessed to have him as a moral voice for truth and the Jewish people against hateful conspiracy theories that too many others lack the courage to speak out against. The video is here, but my advice would be don’t waste your time with it. Life is too short.
Meanwhile, Harvard freshman Charlie Covit writes for Newsweek, “a campus rabbi informed me that his weekly dinner and learning sessions would no longer be taking place. The manager of the building in which he had hosted them received numerous complaints. Other organizations were ‘uncomfortable’ with the presence of ‘Zionists.’”
If these institutions are salvageable it will be by heroes like Zarchi, Covit, and many other committed Jewish students, alumni, and faculty who have the sense to discern what is and isn’t okay. Rather than pretending everything is okay, they are standing up for the Jewish people and for the principles of tolerance and justice and truth.
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