Donald Trump pulled it off.
He managed to violate federal law, flout political custom and turn the White House — along with the Marines on duty at the presidential residence — into political props.
He accepted his party’s nomination to a second term as president. He had that crowd gathered on the lawn. They were generally mask free and they ignored social distancing recommendations. They cheered Trump’s applause lines.
Hey, it’s a given that Trump would lie through his teeth. Not much to say about that at this moment … likely later.
The use of the White House, the Marines, one of his daughters who serves as a government official is a blatant violation of the Hatch Act, the law that bans federal employees from engaging in political activities.
But … will it matter? Will there be an outrage by voters who have seen and heard enough from Trump? Probably not.
This misuse of the White House is galling at every level imaginable. The flags, the Trump-Pence campaign signs in front of our house. All of this while we are fighting a still-losing battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
We aren’t supposed to condone this kind of abuse. I certainly don’t. Donald Trump, though, doesn’t give a damn about any of this. He demonstrates his contempt for the law, for tradition and for time-honored political custom damn near daily.
He did so again with that hideous political spectacle at the White House. As a part-owner of that building, I object in the most strenuous terms possible!
