Frida Ghitis: With America in unprecedented crisis, Republicans stay in the bubble of deception
(CNN)CNN contributors weigh in with short takes on the third night of the Republican National Convention's biggest moments and speeches. The views expressed in these commentaries are those of the authors.
As America's 2020 dystopia barreled ahead, the Republican National Convention offered its version of alternative facts, a bubble containing a phony reality where President Donald Trump is a champion of women's equality, a protector of health care benefits, a defender of pre-existing conditions coverage, and a man of immeasurable compassion.
The reality-distortion scenery was gradually constructed by a series of women offering testimony that was, to put it mildly, at odds with the man we have seen over the past four years; the man who to this day is still suing to get rid of Obamacare without putting forth a much-promised replacement; at odds with the man who has shown us how he feels about women's equality not only from the days of the Access Hollywood tape, but from his interactions with women reporters, legislators, and others; at odds with the man we have seen, who acts as if he were constitutionally incapable of feeling empathy for the almost 180,000 Americans who have died of coronavirus and their loved ones.
The woman who gave us the term "alternative facts" in the earliest days of this administration, counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway, had her parting shot before leaving the White House, helping to weave that tableau of deception, describing a kind, supportive, competent president.
Speakers painted that Oval Office paragon of virtue as an alternative to the Democrat's candidate, Joe Biden, who they claimed would bring chaos to America.
While Republicans proceeded in their bubble, in the real world, America is facing the worst social unrest in decades.
The RNC may warn of mayhem under a Democratic administration, but it is in the Trump presidency that two men were killed last night in Wisconsin, allegedly by a heavily-armed White 17-year old, during protests that have raged into arson and destruction of property. This is Trump's America now. Not Biden's.
As RNC speakers waxed enthusiastic about Trump's talents, in the real world, about 1,000 Americans die from coronavirus every 24 hours, adding to the endlessly climbing toll, in large part because of Trump's mismanagement of the crisis.
It seemed only fitting that the Republican convention unfolded under the bright lights, with the waving flags and the fancy dresses, while a monster hurricane roared toward the US gulf coast through the night, preparing to batter an already pummeled population.
After all, it is 2020 in America, a year of national calamities of barely-believable proportions; a year of unspeakable human suffering, with Trump's RNC backers, in their bubble, making the case for four more years of this presidency.
Comments
Post a Comment