When Donald Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention, he made one thing clear: His campaign for president isn’t about his qualifications or what he’d do to lead this country.
It’s about prejudice, fear, hatred and the bashing of women, including his opponent, Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton.
While Trump can get his base roaring when he talks about making America great again, it’s clear his election would send this country spiraling.
We’re faced with two contrasting candidates. And Grant Magazine is urging voters to support Clinton for president and say no to Trump’s discriminatory values.
Clinton is not perfect. As First Lady, she backed her husband Bill Clinton’s agenda, including passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The act left our nation with the highest incarceration rate in the world, and it disproportionately affected African Americans and Hispanics.
She’s been criticized as Secretary of State for the handling of the attack on a compound in Benghazi, Libya that led to the deaths of four Americans. And she’s faced criticism for using her personal email accounts on public servers, a move that sparked an investigation by the FBI.
These have led to questions about Clinton’s credibility and leadership. And supporters of her former rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, still feel like Clinton isn’t liberal enough.
But let’s face it: Clinton’s downsides pale in comparison to Donald Trump’s.
Trump has no political experience. His corporations have filed for bankruptcy four times, making him one of the least qualified presidential candidates in U.S. history.
Once Trump decided to run, it didn’t take long for him to create another reputation for himself, one built upon racism, misogyny and xenophobia.
He’s denounced Mexican immigrants, claiming they bring crime to the U.S. and labeling them as “rapists.” His plan to “build a wall” across the Mexican-American border is a key aspect of his campaign.
He’s also referred to women as pigs, claimed that a female Fox News reporter was “bleeding out of her wherever” because he felt unfairly treated during an interview and referred to Clinton as “disgusting,” “pathetic” and “the devil.”
Equally disturbing is the notion that Trump said he would bar all those seeking asylum from Syria and all Muslims from entering the United States.
It’s critical to realistically envision a future with him as our leading man.
A Trump presidency would mean the appointment of at least two, maybe three Supreme Court justices. The court makes historic rulings that change the landscape of this nation, like the decisions to end segregation, legalize gay marriage and allow women the right to choose whether to have an abortion.
Trump also plans to repeal Obamacare, which gives healthcare to millions of previously uninsured Americans.
But the most fearsome prospect of a Trump presidency would be the hatred and violence he would incite. By declaring war on being “politically correct,” he’s using it as an excuse to say deliberately offensive and racist things. If elected, many people in this country might feel liberated to speak and act in a manner that replicates the head of state.
And how will this impact foreign affairs? Trump has praised oppressive leaders such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un of North Korea. He has continuously antagonized China and the situation in the Middle East. Who would want to be our allies?
Clinton’s resumé makes her arguably the most qualified presidential candidate in history. Trained as a lawyer, she worked for Senator Walter Mondale in the 1970s. She was First Lady, served several terms as a U.S. senator and was Secretary of State.
She wants to make college affordable for young people, calling for community colleges to be free and moving toward debt-free tuition for in-state residents at public colleges. Her campaign, which has adopted much of Sanders’ platform, focuses on human rights issues.
While Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Gary Johnson are officially in the race, they can’t win. Some voters may feel tempted to support them, or to not vote at all out of protest, but that would be unwise. It comes at the risk of a Donald Trump presidency.
If you are mad about this election, you have the right to be. Both Trump and Clinton’s approval ratings have reached historical lows for major party presidential nominees. But choosing between the two is not difficult.
It is vital that come November, you vote for Hillary Clinton. You don’t have to like her. But you must know what a Trump presidency means for the future of this nation. ◊