Completing an improbable sweep of battleground states to win the presidency Nov. 8, 70-year-old Donald Trump faces inauguration with protests swirling around the Capitol. With controversies over Russian interference in the 2016 election, high profile members of the Congressional Black Caucus have boycotted the inauguration, declaring Trump an illegitimate president. Protests in the Black Caucus have gone so far, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) has already called for Trump’s impeachment, citing dubious reports from the intel community that Russia interfered with the 2016 election. When you consider the inauguration is 55-year-old President Barack Obama’s swan song, spending eight years in office promising to improve racial equality and reform the criminal justice system. Whether Obama accomplished either of those things is anyone’s guess, some doubt it.
Whatever Trump said in the campaign, it can’t possibly account for the organized protests due to hit D.C. on Inauguration Day. Minority groups, especially blacks, are mourning Obama’s departure, the nation’s first African American president. For eight years, blacks enjoyed preferential treatment in the media and in government. When Trump puts his left hand on the Lincoln bible tomorrow, the black community sees all of Obama’s progress erased. While there’s noting factual about Trump reversing any civil rights laws, the symbolism is unmistakable: The white billionaire with his largely white Cabinet taking power. Watching black leaders like Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) boycott the inauguration and denounce the Trump presidency as illegitimate does nothing to advance civil rights after Obama. House Black Caucus should show respect for the inauguration and give Trump a chance.
Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with Vice President Mike Pence today, beginning of the formal transfer of power first started March 4, 1987 when George Washington handed the reigns to John Adams. Adams, of course, handed the baton of Thomas Jefferson March 4, 1801 and so one, signaling one of the great traditions in American democracy. Boycotting the inauguration for whatever reason repudiates the longstanding national tradition of an orderly transfer of power. Trump will try to put all the drama aside, when he’s sworn in at noon, Jan. 20 by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Stepping of the Boeing 757 Air Force transit jet with his wife Melania at Andrews Air Force Base, Trump waved and saluted, something with which he’ll become more familiar. All the scheduled and unscheduled protests on Inauguration Day undermine U.S. democracy.
Holding a luncheon at the new Trump International hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, Trump expressed his optimism about getting something done in Congress. “I just want to let the world know we’re doing very well together,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), one Trump’s biggest critics. Calling the Inauguration Eve “a momentous day before an historic day,” Pence said he and the President-elect were ready to roll up their sleeves. “We are ready to go to work,” Pence told a morning press conference. “In fact, we can’t wait to get to work for the America people to make it great again,” repeating Trump’s campaign slogan. While everyone’s euphoric today and tomorrow, the honeymoon won’t last long with Trump’s enemies on Capitol Hill looking to sabotage his major campaign promises, including a major reset with Russia and building a controversial border wall.
Lurking in the background of today’s events, Homeland Security Director Jeh Johnson talked about fortifications to prevent protesters—or terrorists—from disrupting the festivities. “Extra fortified this year with dump trucks, heavily armored vehicles to prevent anybody who’s not authorized for being in an area from driving something in there,” said Jeh, putting on his HS jacket. Security officials don’t want anarchists spreading to inauguration official business. Organized protests erupted across the U.S. Nov. 9, the day after Trump won the Election. D.C. police and Army National Guard troops will be out in force to prevent a repeat of the anarchy seen at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Keeping protesters away from any inauguration activities is the best way to prevent possible disruptions. With the whole world watching tomorrow, there’s no room for error.
Once Trump is sworn in tomorrow, it’s time for the Hillary holdouts to stop whining about the election and back Trump’s efforts to work on the nation’s most pressing problems. With Macys announcing it’s closing 100 stores and Sears near bankruptcy, there’s much work to do to fix an ailing U.S. economy. No matter how rosy President Barack Obama wants to paint the picture, there’s a good chance the economy will lapse into recession in 2017. Starting with post-election gains since Nov. 8, Wall Street already looks poised for a correction. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Janet Yellen talks about today’s inflation but if Walls Street melts down, all best are off on more rate hikes in 2017. With pressing problems facing the country, all the professional anarchists should stop their grandstanding and get behind Trump. Faced with daunting challenges, the new president deserves all the help he can get.
