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Do I have this right? A woman being considered as a running mate for former President Donald Trump is now unacceptable because her memoir revealed she shot her pet dog and a goat to death.
Are Trump’s supporters more troubled that she killed two animals than that Trump was responsible for the deaths of at least 180,000 human beings? That’s how many more Americans a Lancet commission report found should have survived the COVID-19 pandemic based on a comparison with other G7 nations.
Are Trump’s advisors more concerned about the negative image of the South Dakota governor’s behavior than the former president telling a crowd on Jan. 6, 2021 to “stop the steal” and “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore”? Because 2,000 rioters subsequently broke into the Capitol leading to one shot to death, 174 police injured, and four officers dying by suicide over the next seven months.
Is the idea of Kristi Noem being second in line for the presidency more troubling than a president who, when asked if he would promise to “never abuse power as retribution against anybody,” replied, “except for day one”? A man who thinks presidents need total immunity from prosecution to lead the country? Who said he would also give police officers immunity from prosecution?
If killing two animals is enough to disqualify a potential vice presidential candidate, the Republican Party should consider finding a different presidential candidate, because Noem pales in comparison. If not Noem, then not Trump.
Gordon Street
Lincoln