Chew Gum and Walk
The President of the United States walked into a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Minority Leader yesterday morning. The purpose of the meeting was to reach some agreement on a plan to improve the infrastructure of the United States of America. This is traditionally one of the most important roles of the Government. From the building of the National Road, to the Cumberland Canal, the Transcontinental Railroad, the National Highway System, the Interstate Highway System, America’s system of airports and air traffic control: all have been government projects.
Some have been done under difficult circumstances. Abraham Lincoln, in the middle of the Civil War, was able to pass legislation to enable the transcontinental railroad. It is a constitutionally mandated power of the Government – and it is a part of the job of being a leader of the United States.
With battered roads, aging bridges, threats to the power grid and worn out dams, it is clear that “infra-structure” shouldn’t be a punch line. And the benefits in increased employment and more efficient transportation would add to quality of American life.
The President walked into his meeting yesterday, and instead of dealing with the very real problems confronting America today, he chose to “make his stand” over Congressional investigations of his Administration. The President “expressed his outrage” over Democratic Congressional meetings about those investigations and the Speaker using the term “cover-up,” (some would say he threw a tantrum) and then, instead of turning to the real issues at hand, he walked out, moving to a pre-prepared press briefing in the Rose Garden. He then said he would not work with Congress until they stop all the investigations.
Many Americans have had to do their jobs under difficult circumstances. Some continue to work while under obtrusive scrutiny of their bosses, some are frequently audited and checked. There is an American colloquialism for that, “knowing how to walk and chew gum at the same time.”
In Trump’s previous world, where he was the sole proprietor of his business enterprise, perhaps throwing tantrums and walking out of meetings was acceptable. There was always another building to brand, another golf course to control, or another casino to run into bankruptcy. It seems that Mr. Trump was enabled in his actions: when he failed to pay a billion dollar loan to Deutsche Bank and they called him on it, he sued the bank. They then lent him even more money.
But the Congress of the United States isn’t Deutsche Bank (hopefully they aren’t as indebted to Russia.) Sometimes in government, and in life, you have to work with those you don’t like. It’s your JOB.
The President doesn’t have to like what Congress is doing. Certainly Mr. Trump is continuing to act like a guilty man, something he has done since that first meeting with the Intelligence leadership in 2016 at Trump Tower. But regardless of his ultimate guilt, he currently holds a JOB, President of the United States. Instead of doing that job, he is holding the well being of the American people hostage.
It is certainly possible that the Democratic leadership of Congress and the President will have difficulty reaching agreement on what needs to be done here in America, and how it will be paid for. Negotiations are often tough, and frustrating. But, for those who voted for Trump, isn’t that what you thought he could do? Wasn’t he the “Great Negotiator” who was the master of the “Art of the Deal?” So, Great Master, your JOB is to go figure out how to make this deal.
Bill Clinton negotiated with Newt Gingrich, passing multiple laws, while Gingrich was in the midst of impeaching him. Richard Nixon signed lots of legislation, making deals with Congress, even as the Watergate noose drew closer around his neck. They could “chew gum and walk at the same time;” and wanted to get things done as President despite the Congressional investigations.
So Mr. President, take your great deal making skills, and go make a deal on infrastructure. Go fix our roads and bridges, go repair the damages from the extreme weather we seem to have created; you might even find a little more money for your vaunted Wall. But please, Mr. President, do your JOB. Get over your personal affront, and get onto America’s business at hand. Do that, or, as President Harry Truman said, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
