What didn't sit so well with me in the just-released audio from Bob Woodward's new book "Rage", is how Woodward sounds more like a public relations man for the President, trying to coax the best PR storyline for public consumption.
Not to detract from the author's past exemplary investigative work, primarily during the Watergate scandal that exposed President Richard Nixon's foul play.
But, from the tape alone, Woodward sounds as if he's feeding into President Donald Trump mania, assuming Trump had a wake up call "pivot" in his realization of the Coronavirus' deadly potential.
We knew Trump knew. And the President never demonstrated any kind of "pivot" to take heroic action on behalf of the people. He was forced to finally warn the public after the stock market numbers dived.
Trump blew off the virus and he's still blowing it off because he's never taken his duties as President to the American people, seriously.
The President's admission to knowing the virus' lethality, but doing nothing to alert the citizenry, and even intentionally play it down, is damning and his actions are criminal. In a matter of months, Trump facilitated the deaths of nearly 200,000 human beings in America. He should be charged with manslaughter.
However, in a queer way, the interview gives Trump an opportunity to insert his alibi into the public record -- that he was simply thinking of the people all along.
It leaves wiggle room for the likes of White House mouthpiece Kayleigh McEnany to contrivedly portray Trump as some kind of compassionate leader who "didn't want to panic" his constituents -- with the truth they urgently needed to hear.
When was the last time Trump ever tread gently on the hearts and minds of the American people?
Instilling "panic" is Trump's lifeblood. Stirring uncertainty and civil unrest is the only thing the President does exceedingly well.
Fear-mongering about "the other" while encouraging white supremisct violence and snuggling up to dictators while subbing our allies is the President's forte.
Like all Trump Loyalist defenses, the propagandist proffering of compassion on Trump's part is absurd and isn't a defense at all.
Still, it's virtually guaranteed that pro-Trumpers of all walks will seize on this pathetic narrative that the President was simply looking out for the people's best interests.
Words matter. Those who haven't buried their heads in the sand, or hid behind a false God to excuse Trump's criminal behavior, know that the President's words can be as caustic as they are empty. And yes, Trump's words often are unsettlingly revealing.
But, they are distracting, too.
The President is sabotaging the vote. He's ignoring the desperate cries for racial and economic equality. He's squashing intelligence warnings of Russia's persistent efforts to manipulate the presidential elections -- again.
And nearly 200,000 Americans are dead from the Covid-19 pandemic, the President simply blew off and lied to the American people about.
The President is exacerbating death, stoking extremism and threatening to destroy this nation. Regardless of what Trump uncredibly utters, he must answer to these and the rest of his crimes.
