I am writing in response to the letter Dan Manka sent from West Virginia that appeared in The Recorder on Feb. 15.
Mr. Manka is offended by the “rudeness” of an unnamed “high leader” (Nancy Pelosi) deliberately tearing up Trump’s speech behind his back, but “in the view of the entire world.” He went on to say that “the rudeness of tearing up the president’s speech… tells much about the character of that politician.”
I ask Mr. Manka, and others who cling to the idea of respecting a man who holds the office of president, despite the fact that Trump himself repeatedly disrespects the office by using it to financially benefit himself, his family members, his cronies, and a number of completely inappropriate people he has brought into his cabinet, why is Nancy Pelosi’s action more offensive than having a president who has repeatedly taken actions and made statements that undermine our Constitution? What does that say about Trump’s character?
I understand the belief that the office of the president should be shown respect, but not when the person holding the office has spent years abusing the power of that office and showing the people he is supposed to serve disdain as he blatantly uses the presidency for his own benefit. We have never had someone like Trump in this office before. We have had liars and thieves, I’m sure, but never one to such a degree. As he does not hold himself anywhere near the role of what a president should be, he has not earned the respect of the office or the American people.
Karen Stinchfield
Northfield