by CJ Waldron
As President Trump has formally launched his re-election campaign (has he ever really stopped campaigning?) with his rally in Orlando, FL last night, he continues to use the slogan “Promises Made. Promises Kept”. It’s a mantra his base is all too willing to accept, even while ignoring the fact that he has reneged on most of his promises.
Let’s take a look at some of those promises, the results and the justifications for their failures.
Repeal and Replace Obamacare
This was the cornerstone of his campaign. His hatred of anything related to President Obama is legendary. During a 60 Minutes interview he promised to repeal and replace Obama’s signature healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “almost simultaneously”. Despite having a majority in both houses of
Congress, the most he could muster was a passage in the House.
He gathered House Republicans on the White House lawn to take a victory lap. Despite this, the Senate refused to pass the law that would abandon millions with nothing except a promisedreplacement. Despite having the majority, Trump blamed Democrats for that failure.
Trump continues to chip away at Obamacare, first by repealing the individual mandate, then by refusing to allow funding to advertise the continued availability of Obamacare. Nevertheless, the ACA remains as a viable healthcare option that is relied upon by millions of Americans, even those who say they hate “Obamacare” but support the ACA. (Excuse me, it’s the same thing.)
His most recent “promise” is that he will unveil his replacement after he is re-elected.
Build a Wall to Halt Illegal Immigration and Mexico Will Pay
This signature campaign promise was an aim to tap into the fear of his base that “Mexicans are taking your jobs”. The “Build the Wall” chant was a staple of his rallies, and it was ALWAYS followed by the echo that “Mexico!” would pay for it.
What followed were government shutdowns and executive orders to attempt to use American taxpayer dollars to finance this campaign promise.
He again blamed Democrats for failing to provide funding and erroneously continues to claim the Wall is being built. He also is using a convoluted logic that Mexico is indirectly paying for the Wall through increased tariffs .
In reality, there are sections of the Wall being “built”, but they are only replacements and repairof existing border walls.
But Wait! There's More
There is so much more, and I will continue to address these in Part 2.
CJ Waldron is a retired English teacher from upstate New York. An adjunct instructor at Horry Georgetown Technical College, he lives in Conway, SC with his wife, Donna.