“. . . Still, I wanted to believe; indeed, I longed to; and, in the end, how much of belief comes from longing?” — Agnes, The Testaments, Margaret Atwood
Does character matter? That’s the question we heard often during the impeachment and trial of President Bill Clinton. Clinton had had a dalliance with a young staffer, Monica Lewinsky. He lied about it. Ken Starr spent more than $40 million of taxpayers’ money working on this ever-so-important development. Some folks, mostly Democrats, and perhaps some RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) thought forty million was a lot to spend on blowjobs, but back then we expected a certain level of truth telling from the executive.On Nov. 7, 2019, a judge from the State of New York imposed a $2 million fine on Trump following an admission to a series of abuses which came to court by way of the New York Attorney General.
A settlement was reached. The Trump Foundation will be dissolved and $1.7 million will be distributed to other non-profits, in an agreement reached between Trump’s lawyers and the Attorney General’s office. Ironically, Trump said, in June of 2018, “I will not settle this case!”
Trump admitted to a number of abuses, including using the charity to buy a six-foot portrait of himself, for $10,000, which he will buy back from the charity as part of the agreement. He’ll also pay back $11,525 of charity money used to purchase sports memorabilia and champagne.
Don, Jr., Eric and Ivanka Trump must undergo mandatory training on the duties of board members of charitable organizations. And Trump himself accepted restrictions on his involvement with other charities.
The Trump Foundation stated that the judge “recognized that every penny raised has gone to help those most in need.” The facts say otherwise.
The original question, does character matter? brings to mind another area of concern, that being the scam called Trump University. That one cost Trump $25 million. Some of this character-related stuff gets expensive.
Basura, character does, indeed, matter, but only, it seems, to those who cannot do anything about it. Certainly Congress, who does wield some power, shows little to no concern about character. Perhaps it’s because they have none themselves.