Consoler-in-chief? Trump fails

To the Times: Arguably Donald Trump may go down in his history as one of our worst presidents. The merits and wisdom of his policies and his agenda (“Make America Great Again”) can be debated with widely divergent perceptions among fairminded observers. But most, or at least many, would agree that Trump’s style and personality are incompatible with some of the vital roles and demands of his office.

Nowhere are his shortcomings more glaring and more impactful than in his symbolic, but very real role, as our national ‘“consoler-in-chief.” The person the public looks toward in times of tragedy, whether natural or man-made, for healing.

Consider the president’s performance after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, or the synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh or just this past weekend at the site of the horrific wildfires in California. Trump is simply unable to express compassion and empathy. Why? Probably because his self-absorption is so grand, so total, there is seemingly no room in his heart for the pain and suffering of others. As he doesn’t feel it, it’s almost impossible to be able to authentically express it to a grieving nation or a grieving family.

As a symbol of hope, compassion and healing, Donald Trump is an abject failure. “identity politics,” Christine Flowers fails to mention the near perfect identity politics of the Republican Party.

Well under 1 percent of the delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention nominating Donald Trump were black – the lowest percentage in a century.

Less than 1 percent of Republican members of Congress are black.

None of the 34 Republicans elected to Congress for the first time are black.

Under 2 percent of the

67 judges confirmed since

2016 are black (that would be one black judge).

Republican identity politics could not be clearer – unless you assume the United States is a white country and only other ethnicities have an identity.