Posted on 11/20/2017 9:38:39 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The father of one of the basketball players who had been facing shoplifting charges in China downplayed President Trump’s role in having him released — and Trump’s response may be one of the worst I’ve seen yet.
Now, to be fair, I certainly do understand why President Trump would have been upset by this. If you want to argue that LiAngelo Ball’s father, LaVar, should have shown gratitude instead of dismissal of President Trump’s efforts, then I’d say that’s a fine argument. What’s not fine, however, is this:
Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017
I mean, really? These three players thanked you by name, but because one of their fathers said something that you didn’t like, all three of them should have had to rot in a foreign jail? There’s really no appropriate response to a reaction like that except for, just, come on, man.
Of course, I’m not saying that these players don’t deserve any punishment. They do . . . and they deserve some ridicule, too. After all, not only is stealing wrong, but stealing in China also makes you kind of an idiot. These three embarrassed themselves, UCLA, their families, and our entire country — but they still don’t deserve to rot in a Chinese jail, and President Trump did the right thing by working to free them. Here’s the thing, though: President Trump should have worked to free them simply because it was the right thing to do, and his tweet suggests he did it looking for admiration.
This wasn’t “presidential,” and I’m not using that word in the way that most people use it. After all, when most people criticize Trump for not being “presidential,” what they mean is that he doesn’t conduct himself with the kind of decorum that they believe someone in his position should. This, however, goes so far beyond that: It suggests that President Trump does not understand that his role is to be a servant for the people of the United States — of all of the people, whether they (or their fathers) like him or not.
Yes, what President Trump did was noble, but it wasn’t extraordinary — it was his job. This is America, and our presidents don’t just leave U.S. citizens in foreign countries’ jails regardless of whether or not those citizens thought it was a good idea to steal luxury merchandise or not. President Trump should have done what he did because it’s the kind of thing he was elected to do, not in exchange for recognition from the players, their fathers, or anyone.
Well, I never!!!
Trump was just pointing out that this son didn’t have a proper “Dad” to teach him right from wrong -— so Trump either has to step up and call him on this, or let them suffer the consequences of their actions. Trump raised well behaved, hard working, admirable children. Mr. Ball raised a thief -— and seems OK with that. I’m with Trump -— call it like it is and let this be a public example for others.
The National Review can be SO horrified.
Never-Trumpers have a rather skewed view of how a President “ought” to behave. President Trump has a sharp, almost acerbic wit, and can be resoundingly blunt in just about every situation, even some apparently trivial matters.
But one principle is demonstrated over and over - you strike at Donald Trump in an unfounded or patently false manner, he hits back. Hard. And without remorse.
I love the guy.
You would probably not know "presidential" if it walked up and slapped some sense into you.
I am however, for the good of the country, willing to try.
Please line up and have your "identifying as male today" employees shave their sissy attempts at growing a beard.
Slapping will begin immediately.
Hugs and kisses,
HTB
Kat Kat Kat you will NEVER understand President Trump, which is probably why she didn’t vote for him. I didnt vote for him because he was a Conventional cookie cutter President who has a bunch of YES men near him to make sure whatever he says won’t get criticized..he says what he FEELS and that is what I like best about MY President!
“Tut Tut,” say the irrelevant National Review establishmentarians in their smoking jackets....
I agree it was “unpresidential”, but thats Trump, and why is anyone surprised? He makes off the cuff jokes like that all the time. Its not my favorite thing, but its not a big deal.
Is there anyone in the lamestream media who isn’t either a liar or a dolt?
I guess my kids all should have joined the news media. They don’t have to know or do anything, and they get paid huge salaries.
Or . . . maybe that wouldn’t really be good for them?
Lavar started it, Timpf.
You people haven’t figured it out yet, and probably never will.
5.56mm
Yeah National Review, if he could only be more like that perfect George Bush.
LOL
You have to at some point sit back and enjoy laughing at these media clowns.
I’m very happy that Trump vents in public. Most of the time he’s doing exactly what I’d feel like doing. It’s great.
Can’t wait to vote for him again.
As for this ass-hat dad, he’s an idiot. Trump went to bat for his kid, after his kid tried to steal merchandise in a foreign nation.
Humble pie is what this dad should have had for dinner.
How ‘presidential’ was it when Bill Clinton was sticking cigars into interns and spooging in the oval office sink?
I for one am glad that Trump is involving himself in social media.
Not Presidential?
Everybody has their own style. The Donald has his. Eisenhower had his own style, etc.
President Trump is the MOST Presidential of all the Republican President’s we’ve elected in the last several decades!
Ball and his thuggish son exhibit black entitlement privilege and represent what is MOST unAmerican!
National Revulsion
They are irrelevant.
Unfortunately, not. I believe their virtue signalling has caused great damage to the Trump admin. In particular I’d trace much of the lack of support Trump receives from the military brass to the “conservative” chattering classes and their never ending campaign to undermine his Presidency.
I'll tell you what's unpresidential.
The past four presidents who have destroyed our country.
Katherine Timpf is a whiny snowflake.
Daddy should think....maybe...just maybe....the charges were never dropped...
The problem I have with the response is that he gave Ball the spotlight that he was craving. Unfortunately, I think Ball set him up and he took the bait.
The author is an @$$.
Trump should have left them to get the punishment they so deserved.
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