The problem with what #Van Jones said is he is encouraging people, essentially, to support and forgive an abuser because the abuser showed a sliver of his ability to mimic emotions. Sociopaths are very good at garnering sympathy while being totally void of humanity. Do you think #Trump would give that same speech to his base? He knows his audience. He knows the bar is so low for him; therefore, as long as he’s not screaming, foaming at the mouth, ranting and raving, anything he does is a step in the right direction. There has never been a President, in my lifetime, that has had so many alleged resets. It’s pathetic!

Trump has done and said so many things that caused so much damage to millions of people. A shift in tone, without atonement, should not be applauded. Further, people are falling for charisma over substance. Hitler was charismatic. He could sweet #talk people into killing their own flesh and blood. To believe that an emotional moment, that was not due to Trump, of a widow, made him able to handle his Article II powers is laughable. Therefore, to say he’s “presidential” now because everyone in that room sustained well deserving applause for the widow (widow only because of Trump) is irrational. It’s an emotional comment, not a prudent one. Van Jones has the right to believe what he chooses to believe and has the right to express it; however, I maintain the right to disagree. There is nothing in the duties in Article II of the constitution that Trump fulfilled last night. He’s still woefully unfit to lead. To act like a TelePrompTer speech somehow changes or negates the damage he’s done, is really alarming. Trump is a classic sociopath. He can be whatever he needs to be to get what he wants. He has no core convictions. He can smile in your face while someone else is stabbing you in the heart.

Van Jones fell for the ultimate con. He got caught up in the emotion of the moment. However, it’s very dangerous to do what he just did without prefacing his comments with the reality of what Trump has done and is doing. He validated Trump without Trump having to earn it. It’s one thing to say that Trump did a better job delivering his message, it’s an entirely different thing to state he’s now “Presidential”.

Additionally, I feel Van Jones did damage to the resistance. He undermined the work of so many people by basically saying, “He might be a bigot, responsible for inspiring antisemitism, racism, misogyny, demagoguery, but at least he acknowledged a widow he created. Just give him a chance.” Trump has done real and sustainable damage. Are we that gullible as a society that we are prone to support authoritarianism regardless of the abuse we endure! However, considering that someone as educated as Van Jones, can be so easily persuaded by Trump’s small gestures means we have SERIOUS issues as a society and as Liberals.

I respect Van Jone’s right to state his opinion, but I hope he understands that his opinions have consequences. Words have meaning. Van Jones and anyone else praising Trump for being “Presidential”, should immediately retract that statement or clarify why they think so. If they don’t, it’s hard to imagine taking them seriously in the future.

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