Ted Crockett, a spokesman for the failed Roy Moore campaign for the Senate in Alabama, seriously thought that Muslims and others who are not Christians could not serve as elected officials in the United States government because they do not always use bibles for their swearing in ceremonies! Where did he get that idea? From Roy Moore, of course! It is a misconception, and Jake Tapper dispelled it in an interview, shortly before the election. Since Doug Jones (D) won, it is moot. Roy Moore can now go home, and build a wall of bibles around his house. He probably will not bother to read one though.
Wow. A fancy inaugural ball for a flamboyant, rich narcissist, and people already do not want to go. Not even for the forty-fifth president of the United States! John Lewis, (D) Georgia, recently declined and told his constituents that he wasn't going because he felt that the election was not won honestly. That was all; he just didn't want to go. This is the same John Lewis who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma on March 7, 1965, and was beaten black and blue by law enforcement. Instead of thanking Lewis for his devotion to his country and for responding to the invitation, Trump got on Twitter and insulted Lewis and his district, referring to Lewis's district, Atlanta, Georgia, as a "shambles" and "crime infested". Not only has Trump forgotten that New York is a rather "crime infested", as well; he has completely breached etiquette for a president in such a situation. Rather than responding to the declined invitation on Twitter, it would have been much more gracious for incoming President Trump to simply send Congressman Lewis a hand written note expressing regret at the declined invitation and hope to work with Lewis soon. That is all that needs to be said by a president when an invitation is declined.
At this writing, there are twenty-three United States senators and congressmen declining invitations to the inaugural ball, and the list is growing. There is also a list of dignitaries planning to give the swearing in ceremony a miss. This is a big deal, and should serve as a wake-up call to the president elect concerning etiquette and manners when an invitation is either accepted or declined. Donald Trump should, by this time, understand that there are many, many
people who shy away from circus atmospheres and do not care to attend
unruly events hosted by the nouveau riche. Haven't Trump's rallies already been violent enough?
