Tag: President Barack Obama

U.S. Congressman tries to lead lambs to the slaughter

For several weeks, the newsletters from my “representative” in the U.S. House of Representatives landed in my spam box. How apropos!

U.S. Capitol Dome
Photo by Simon Ray on Unsplash

But then Saturday, February 7, 2026, rolled around and there it was! Right there in my inbox. The title of his newsletter jumped out at me… just as he and his pitiful staff intended:  “Americans’ Safety Is In Jeopardy– Courtesy Of Democrats.”

I took the bait. I did not want to read his newsletter because he has never said or written a word that was worthy of the time it took for me to listen or read. But, I thought, Okay, what’s he preaching about this time?

In case you wonder why I chose the word, “preaching,” it is because he is a Southern Baptist preacher. He used to be the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Charlotte. It’s unclear now as to why he is no longer on the staff there, but could it be the congregation got sick and tired of his far-right hypocrisy that runs counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ? I’m merely speculating. I know nothing of how grounded his congregants were in the New Testament.

Bear with me as I quote his newsletter from February 7:

“Dear Janet,

“Spot the hypocrisy: Democrats allowed the Obama administration to deport millions and raised no objections.

“An yet, when President Trump does the same, Democrats shut the government down because they want funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end.

“DHS is not just Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); it is: FEMA, ICE, U.S. Secret Service, etc. Democrats are willing to allow multiple vital organizations that provide SAFETY for Americans to be defunded.

“My Republican colleagues and I will not stand for this.”

My response to Representative Harris:

Dear Mark,

I assume I can call you Mark, since you addressed me by my given name. There is apparently no need to stand on ceremony.

Your gaslighting of your constituents continues to reach new lows. You forget that quite a few of us are old enough to remember the Obama Administration. Since you are unaware of the difference in deportations while Barack Obama was U.S. President and the deportations your constituents with eyes wide open have witnessed during the reign of Donald Trump, allow me to point out just a few of the differences:

  1. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not hide behind masks;
  2. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not drag American citizens from their cars and ship them off to detention centers hundreds of miles away;
  3. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not break the car windows of American citizens;
  4. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not murder American citizens who were driving cars; and
  5. Deportation agents under the Obama Administration did not murder a nurse who was kneeling to come to the aid of a woman who had been knocked to the ground by masked, heavily armed, poorly trained deportation agents.

This list is just the tip of the iceberg.

So, Mark, I suggest you read 21st century U.S. History; read the U.S. Constitution that you swore to protect, defend, and uphold; read the oath of office you swore to uphold so help you God; and read the New Testament while you’re at it, if you can read. You are against public education, so that indicates to me that perhaps you never learned how to read.

By the way, most of your constituents were educated in public schools and public colleges and universities, so we know some history, we studied the U.S. Constitution, and we know how to think for ourselves. We know a puppet of Donald Trump when we see one.

A meme that reads, "First they came for the immigrants, but I wasn't an immigrant."

And, Mark, when you are willing and able to speak the truth to me and to Donald Trump’s face, I’ll be happy to listen to you… but not until then.

Sincerely,

Janet, an angry citizen of North Carolina’s Eighth Congressional District

The government should be afraid of its citizens, not the other way around.

Trump hits a new low (again… ad nauseam)

Just when we thought things couldn’t get worse…. last Friday morning came along.

Around midnight last Thursday night, Trump posted photos of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on his Truth Social (an oxymoron if there ever was one!) page with their heads superimposed on the bodies of apes.

I’m white, but even I recognize that dog whistle!

Before you Trump worshippers start attacking me, I know it is possible that Trump himself did not post that abhorrent photo on the Truth Social account that bears his name; however, he is ultimately responsible for everything that is posted on said account. Period. Full stop. No ifs, ands, or buts. He is responsible even though he will never own up to any of his responsibilities.

We’ve been subjected to various explanations from Trump and his highly-paid, snarky staff. We’ve been told he didn’t see it. We’ve been told it was funny. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s spokesperson was so entertained by the incident that she could hardly control her giggles while pointing out that there was nothing wrong with it… it was all from “The Lion King”… and, after all, former Vice President Kamala Harris was portrayed as a turtle. The Vice President Kamala Harris tidbit offered by Ms. Leavitt was supposed to make us feel better?

It’s beside the point that there weren’t any apes in “The Lion King.” I really wish everyone associated with the making of “The Lion King” would sue Trump for copyright infringement. He loves lawsuits.

We were told that it was all just in good fun… that Trump was the King of the Jungle and all Democrats are supposed to bow down to him because we are lesser animals.

We were told that an unnamed member of Trump’s staff “accidentally posted” the picture of the Obamas as apes. How does one “accidentally” post something on the social media account of the President of the United States?

How does one “accidentally” post photographs of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama portrayed as apes… well… anywhere? Did the unnamed Trump staffer accidentally create the image? Did he or she accidentally come across it while looking for disrespectful fake images of our black former President and First Lady?

Trump said he will not apologize because, “I didn’t make a mistake.”

I beg to differ. Did he not make a mistake when he hired the staffer who has permission to post on the president’s social media account? Did he not make mistake when he gave another human being permission to post to his social media account?

We were told that no harm was done, because it only took the White House staff 12 hours to remove the post. We are supposed to believe that no one working in the White House can figure out how to take down a social media post in less than 12 hours?

No, my friends. All of us are not stupid. All of us did not vote for this. All of us are not all right with this blatant display of racism.

Forget about the fact that the posting of this image was extremely childish. Forget the claim that it was all in good fun. Forget the claim that the rest of the post was serious and truthful.

When you get right down to it, this was nothing but blatant racism put on a social media platform for all the world to see, and there was absolutely nothing accidental about it.

If you can excuse any part of this horrific display of hate, then you are part of the problem. Go ahead and circle the Republican wagons. Go ahead and claim that somehow this makes America Great Again. You are only fooling yourself.

I hope I live long enough to see the day when this sham of a presidential administration is over. I hope I will be here to help pick up the pieces and reinstate the Constitution of the United States of America. I hope I live long enough to see evangelical Christians have a Paul on the Road to Damascus conversion experience and accept the fact that there is nothing Christian about this President whom they adore.

I am sick and tired of the excuses Trump’s followers and supporters give us no matter what he says or does. I’m beyond sick and tired of seeing his staff members wearing cross necklaces when the truth is not in them.

I’m sick and tired of everything about Donald Trump and his ilk.

This is what real class and integrity (two things Donald Trump will never have!) look like:

Former U.S. President Barack Obama
Photo credit: Library of Congress
Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama
Photo credit: Library of Congress

Janet

The government should be afraid of its citizens, not the other way around