This 2016 Presidential election has been one that we’ll remember for an awfully long time. The first female candidate against a billionaire businessman who is completely new to politics. There has been one twist after another, and most of the country probably can’t wait for this campaign to be over. Before the latest revelations about Mr Trump’s comments last week, I felt strongly enough to post my own thoughts on Facebook. I’m sharing my post from last week…
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With one month to go, my own personal thoughts on this upcoming election:
I’m quite middle of the road when it comes to politics, and vote much more for the candidate than the political party. In the United Kingdom, I voted for Tony Blair (Labour/Democrat) in two elections, and then switched to David Cameron (Conservative/Republican) for the next two—purely because I liked the candidate and believed them to be much more competent and a better leader than their opponent. Having become a US citizen only last year, this will be my first vote here in the United States.
I’m going to admit that I was something of a fan of Donald Trump as an entertainer. I watch the Apprentice and have read several of his books over the years (including Think Big and Kick Ass—which I’d highly recommend as quite an interesting and funny read!). However, that was when he was a civilian, and before he entered the political fray. When he first started running as a candidate last year, I thought it was entertaining how he was shaking up the establishment, and like many people never expected him to get this far. Whatever his politics, the man obviously does possess some skills and talents to get to where he has in life.
As for Hillary Clinton, I admire her life story, determination and persistence. I also think it’s pretty awesome that the most powerful person in the world could soon be a woman. However, if I’m completely honest, I’m not exactly jumping up and down in excitement either at the prospect of a Clinton presidency—and certain parts of the Democrats’ agenda (including some aspects of healthcare reform, which I don’t think will be particularly good for the country).
Not being entirely happy with the choice available in this election, I even toyed with the idea of voting for a Libertarian or other 3rd party candidate. But not any more.
A few weeks ago I watched the movie Sully, and it reminded me of what a great role model Captain Chesley Sullenberger is. Speaking too from the perspective of a foreigner, I would say that Captain Sully embodies to me what a true American hero looks like. He is modest, humble, kind, compassionate and generous, while being supremely confident and competent as well. About as far away as possible from the loud-mouthed, brash, mean-spirited and erratic ugly-American opposite as one can get.
There are many people who have expressed reservations about Hillary Clinton based on certain personal feelings and stated beliefs:
- Hillary Clinton’s email and Benghazi issues. What happened was not good. She has apologized and expressed regret repeatedly. Despite the consequences, there was unlikely true malice behind what happened. The questions about the charitable Clinton Foundation are also, well, questionable. As far as I can see, there isn’t anyone who gets to the stage of running for President who won’t have some type of scandal or dubious interaction that can be dragged up from their career. Are these issues alone enough to warrant a vote for Trump?
- Bill Clinton’s infidelity. Okay, what he did was bad, but why would one take this scandal, and use it as a reason to vote for someone who has been married 3 times and is rumored to have had multiple affairs? Makes no sense to be frustrated with the victim, and support a perpetrator.
- Hillary’s health. As a doctor, I don’t know many women touching 70 years of age, who can recover from pneumonia so quickly and be running around with such vigor within a few days. Quite frankly, most people half her age would struggle to keep the schedule that she must have. She is unquestionably very healthy for her age.
- Being a Republican. Fair enough. But was Donald Trump even a fully-fledged Republican before last year? He has hijacked the party for his own gain. If you can’t vote for a Democrat, and don’t like Trump, maybe just sit out the election on principle or vote for a 3rd party candidate instead? Or perhaps vote for a Republican congressional candidate and anyone-but Trump for president (a good option). But whatever tactic is employed, it’s either Clinton or Trump who will be President in a two-horse race.
- Simply don’t like Hillary. Just imagine: if millions of previous Democratic voters don’t vote for her based on personal dislike, President Trump is what everyone wakes up to.
The argument that Trump is a good option because he is “something different outside of politics” is ludicrous. You wouldn’t deliberately seek inexperience in this area any more than you would if you were looking for an auto mechanic, airline pilot, accountant or even a doctor (“Hey, I’m sick but want someone this time who doesn’t have a medical degree and is new to medicine”!). Same goes for his ability to “tell it like it is”. Would you want a doctor who tells you or your family member that you are “horribly fat” or “going to die!”. Since when did tact and sensitivity become a vice?
To all the disenchanted and disenfranchised people who see a vote for Trump as a vote for “change”. Ask yourself why a man who has spent his whole adult life traveling in private jets, attending celebrity parties and living a life of extreme luxury—would suddenly start caring for the “common man”. There is only one answer: to exploit peoples’ frustrations to get himself into power.
This isn’t an election between two people who are equally qualified to lead. Hillary Clinton has a lifetime of service and experience, and will be ready from day one. Under Trump, the Presidency would be turned into a circus and a global laughing stock. He is unqualified to be Commander-in-Chief and to lead a country as great as this.
Democracy is immensely enhanced when voters have more than one viable option. But in this election, there is only one realistic choice (plus, we get a former President, Bill, too! A man who knows how to lead, presided over a booming economy, and left a record surplus).
I’ve been watching Donald Trump’s unconventional and bizarre campaign this whole time. But it was his attack last weekend on Hillary Clinton’s recent illness and fainting episode, where he childishly and mercilessly impersonated her almost passing out, which was the absolute last straw for me. As a doctor, who dedicates my life to helping sick people, this despicable behavior of publicly mocking someone who was obviously feeling unwell, inspired me to write this post.
Mr. Trump, you are a foul-mouthed, vulgar, thin-skinned, undisciplined, erratic shock-jock, who should have stuck with reality TV. You use the language of division to appeal to peoples’ basic fears and lowest instincts. You have demonstrated time and again over the last year that there’s nobody you are not willing to insult and no low you won’t go to. Whether it’s women, disabled people, Mexicans or veterans—nothing is off limits to get a headline or two. You have lowered the political discourse and taken us a huge step back as a nation.
You shouldn’t be allowed within a mile of the Oval Office let alone the nuclear codes. Your temperament is terrible and you are completely unfit to hold an office that has been occupied by greats like Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
I can’t wait for November 9th when you go back to your skyscraper in New York and we stop having to keep seeing and hearing from you all the time. For someone who has made his signature platform one of being an “amazing winner”, you will hopefully soon be forever associated with another word that will go down with you in American history: Loser.
#Hillary2016 🇺🇸
#NeverTrump
Suneel Dhand is a physician, author, speaker and healthcare consultant. He has experience in a number of different healthcare environments, having worked up and down the East coast and also internationally. His specialty areas include hospital QI, optimizing healthcare IT, and improving the patient experience. He is the author of 3 books, including most recently “The Ultimate Patient Advocate in Your Pocket”, designed to help hospitalized patients. He is also the founder of HealthITImprove, an organization dedicated to improving and optimizing information technology at the frontlines of healthcare.