America Doesn’t Need Donald Trump in the Oval Office

10

Author: Jill Goatcher

As the 2012 presidential election quickly approaches, Republican voters are frantically searching for a viable candidate to unseat the current president. With no strong front-runner in the Republican field, the man most famous for firing people on national television is gaining support based on name recognition and anti-Obama rhetoric. Donald Trump is in no way qualified to be the president of the United States. The amount of media attention he is garnering because of his potential bid for the nomination is substantial and unwarranted.

Trump’s overconfident, “no-nonsense” attitude panders to a Republican base that believes the United States needs a different approach in light of a failing liberal government. The attention he is getting is unnecessary and indicative of his narcissistic psyche, as well as the press’ symbiotic relationship with sensationalist candidates.

Trump is a successful businessman who has created a franchise as well as a name for himself. The business itself has been booming, and his TV show “The Apprentice” has seen a consistent rise in its ratings. While flirting with the presidential bid may temporarily improve his ratings, NBC has said it will cancel Trump’s show if he does run for president.

The past few weeks of Trump’s public statements are in many ways indicative of what the American people can expect from Trump for the rest of his campaign. Abrasive and lacking facts, Trump goes on news programs and releases sound bytes that both offend and intrigue viewers.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Trump still questions whether President Obama was born in the United States. It seems that everything Trump says or does is not radical or different in any way and only exemplifies his typical flair for self-promotion.

Trump’s arrogance allows him to appear on national television and make outlandish claims that draw attention, but this coverage is only temporary, and his so-called supporters would likely abandon his campaign upon closer examination of his comments.

In his 2009 book “Think Like a Champion,” Trump praises Obama, “Barack Obama proved that determination, combined with opportunity and intelligence can make things happen — and in an exceptional way.” This sentiment, from a mere two years ago, clearly clashes with his current rhetoric targeting  an administration that he thinks lacks the ability to solve even the simplest problems.

He has also been through two divorces and one extramarital affair, which is likely to stir the ire of conservative GOP primary voters that want a candidate with strong family values. There is also the fact that he has never held political office before. While voters in the 2008 election questioned whether Obama was too young and inexperienced in politics to win the presidency, there remains no doubt about Trump’s inexperience.  

The press may be giving him a lot of attention now, but this will not last long once voters realize exactly how little Trump will bring to the table. With his business, franchise and television show hanging in the balance, Trump has a lot to lose if he seeks the presidency.

Jill Goatcher is an undeclared first year. She can be reached at goatcher@oxy.edu.

This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.

Loading

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here