Maligned and Persecuted?

Yesterday I made mention of Mr. Trump and his penchant about being maligned and persecuted, particularly by the press and the Democrats, when in fact, he is the one who seems to malign and persecute others.  The claim that he is the most criticized or victimized of any other president in history is a false one, but it might be argued that he, as President of the United States, has maligned, denigrated and persecuted more leaders, nations and persons than any other president in history!

It was Donald Trump who long challenged the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s presidency by questioning whether Obama, the first African American president, was, in fact, born in America.  Trump, along with others, carried on a campaign of spurious rumors and bogus claims throughout the eight years of the Obama presidency. The “birther” movement was just one of these.

One bogus claim was that Obama was an anti-Christian Muslim.  Eighty percent of Americans, in spite of Trump’s persistent innuendos,  correctly believed that the 44th President of the United States was born in the U.S.  Only 39 percent, however, believed he was a Christian; 30 percent believed he was a Muslim.  Even though Obama talked about his Christian faith over and over again—none of that seemed to sway those who believed that with a middle name like “Hussein” he had to be a Muslim.  

Another bogus claim was made that Obama was sworn in as a U.S. senator using a Koran.  Not true! He used his own personal Bible for his swearing in.   For all of the eight years of Obama’s presidency the claim was made that he canceled the National Day of Prayer.  Not true!  It was claimed that he allowed a Muslim prayer event on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.  Not true! It was claimed that Obama issued a policy in 2009 preventing an Army veteran from speaking a t a faith-based event.  Wrong!  It was a fund-raiser and had nothing to do with religion.  A policy already existed which prevented the veteran from participating in the fundraiser in an official capacity.  He was accused of funding Mosques overseas.  Not true.  Some claimed that he exempted Muslims from having to purchase health insurance required by the Affordable Care Act.  Not true!  He was accused of banning the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools and that he refused to recite the pledge.  Not true!  This is just a small sampling of the rumors and the victimization of another U.S. president. And I could go on an on and on with hundreds of other bogus claims and spurious rumors.  But, just one last thing needs to be mentioned.  The Obama White House always referred to the “White House Christmas Tree” as just that.  The claim that it was called the White House “holiday tree” was disproved in 2009, but it continues to circulate annually during the holiday season and Mr. Trump fed the rumor then and continues to feed it now.