In a speech made in Michigan, Trump addressed black voters. He said: “What the hell do you have to lose?” He claims that Democrats have done nothing to assist our nation’s black communities. He denies the fact that a Republican dominated Congress has attempted to destroy all social and educational programs which would assist low-income and impoverished Americans. As is always the situation, there was no substance to his rhetoric; no inclusion of what actions he would take to help a part of America he knows nothing about.
Red states, controlled by all-white men, are instituting voter ID laws directly aimed at disenfranchising blacks, and other minority voters. Although they claim that the legislation is designed to reduce voter fraud, statistics prove that voter fraud is approximately .012 percent. The truth is that it is a desperate effort to win elections by reducing the black vote.
These same states are attempting to defund Planned Parenthood, which is the only source of medical care for millions of low-income and impoverished women.
Presently, Hillary Clinton is supported by 91.1 percent of black voters. In Michigan, Trump attempted to claim that Hillary was responsible for communities riddled with crime, lower levels of education, mass unemployment, and poverty. Of course, this was to be expected. We have watched all Republicans blame Hillary of President Obama for everything; they refuse to accept their massive failures during the last eight years; it’s always someone else’s fault.
Michaela Nelson will be a first-time voter in Michigan this year. She didn’t believe Trump. “I just don’t like the vagueness of the policies that he has,” she said. “I’m looking for more of a plan rather than just saying that ‘this is this person’s fault and I can fix it better.’”
Ms. Nelson continued: “I don’t think he did much research ahead of time,” Nelson said. “Sure, there is a lot of poverty but there are a lot of different types of black people not just the impoverished ones. We all have a lot of different concerns rather than just education or jobs in a marginal way.”
Trump either believes that black men and women are stupid, or his speech was a smokescreen. Is it possible that he was actually appealing to white voters? Was this a thinly veiled effort to convince whites that he was not a racist? What has been exposed for over a year cannot be reversed by a single speech. Trump is fully aware that the “fat lady” is warming up.
The bottom line must remain qualification and experience. Trump has neither the former or the latter. On the flip side, Hillary Clinton has devoted her life to the service of our nation and its people. She is unarguably the most qualified presidential candidate in our nation’s history.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Follow me on Twitter: @jamesturnagenov
The Truth With No Restrictions 