In reaction to President Trump’s failure to rebuke white nationalists for the Charlottesville violence, Kenneth C. Frazier, the black CEO of Merck pharmaceuticals, resigned from the president’s American Manufacturing Panel.
“America’s leaders must honor our fundamental views by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal,” Mr. Frazier posted in a tweet.
Never one to take the high road, Mr. Trump tweeted back, “Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President’s Manufacturing Council, he will have more time to lower ripoff drug prices.”
It was only when other business leaders — the only people besides the military who can bend Mr. Trump’s ear — came to Mr. Frazier’s defense that Mr. Trump took stock of the inflammatory nature of his comments and finally condemned white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and members of the alt-right movement for inciting the violent demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.
In tragedies such as Charlottesville it’s the role of the president to set the tone for a national response.
For example, George W. Bush after the Sept. 9, 2001 attacks said: “America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.”
And again in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina: “To all who carry a burden of loss, I extend the deepest sympathy of our country. To every person who has served and sacrificed in this emergency, I offer the gratitude of our country.”
In 2012, President Barack Obama’s heartbreaking words of comfort came haltingly as he visibly struggled to understand why a gunman in Newtown, Conn., would choose an elementary school as target practice. At Sandy Hook elementary 20 first-graders and six teachers were gunned down.
In response, Mr. Obama said, “Each time I learn the news, I react not as a president, but as anybody else would: as a parent. … The majority of those who died today were children. Beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. … Among the fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams. So our hearts are broken today.”
This is what we needed. Compassion in the case of Sandy Hook and Hurricane Katrina. Outrage in regards to 9/11.
And yes, Charlottesville calls for outrage.
Instead, Mr. Trump’s initial response was to say the violence was “very, very sad,” but then again, “There are so many great things happening in our country.”
Monday’s addendum came across more as politically expedient than heart-felt. Yes, very sad.
— Susan Lynn
