Editor, The Smithfield Times:

I would like to think that character still counts for something in America. 

I believe most of us raise our children to know right from wrong, and that most of us teach our kids that lying, cheating and stealing are wrong and deserving of punishment. Which is why I cannot understand why so many willingly turn a blind eye to the manifest defects of Donald Trump, both as a president and as a human being. 

Why are people so eager to award our country’s highest office to someone who habitually lies? Who not only cheated on his wife, but then, according to prosecutors, broke the law to try and cover it up? Who has repeatedly defrauded his investors and stiffed his business partners? 

How do people convince themselves that Joe Biden is somehow SO threatening to our way of life that the only solution is to elect someone with no moral compass whatsoever, and who demonstrably has no respect for the people or the institutions of our great country? What mental gymnastics are required to believe that Joseph Biden (zero criminal indictments) is somehow a “criminal,” while Donald Trump (91 criminal indictments and counting) is not?

Our country has been blessed with some outstanding leaders throughout our history. A single example: On D-Day in 1944 future President Dwight Eisenhower had a draft message to release in case the landings were a failure. In that message he put full responsibility on himself for the failure, while praising the soldiers, sailors and airmen of our armed forces for doing all that “bravery and devotion to duty could do.” How does that contrast with the words and actions of former President Trump, who called soldiers “suckers” and “losers”?

I have no illusions that President Biden is perfect. However, I choose to believe that character still matters, and Donald Trump has none. I will choose an imperfect candidate who tries to live up to our lofty national ideals over a serial liar, philanderer and conman any day.

 

Greg Brown

Smithfield