Write On

Hundreds of professional writers--including Stephen King, Amy Tan, Jane Smiley, Dave Eggers and Michael Chabon--are speaking out against Donald Trump by signing "An Open Letter To The American People."

Because, as writers, we are particularly aware of the many ways that language can be abused in the name of power;

Because we believe that any democracy worthy of the name rest on pluralism, welcomes principled disagreement, and achieves consensus through reasoned debate;

Because American history, despite periods of nativism and bigotry, has from the first been a grand experiment in bringing people of different backgrounds together, not pitting them against one another;

Because the history of dictatorship is the history of manipulation and division, demagoguery and lies;

Because the search for justice is predicated on a respect for the truth;

Because we believe that knowledge, experience, flexibility, and historical awareness are indispensable in a leader;

Because neither wealth nor celebrity qualifies anyone to speak for the United States, to lead its military, to maintain its alliances, or to represent its people;

Because the rise of a political candidate who deliberately appeals to the basest and most violent elements in society, who encourages aggression among his followers, shouts down opponents, intimidates dissenters, and denigrates women and minorities, demands, from each of us, an immediate and forceful response;

For all these reasons, we, the undersigned, as a matter of conscience, oppose, unequivocally, the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Presidency of the United States.

I was going to go over this word by word, but really, what's the point?  There's not an honest sentence* in it, or even a well-written one.

There's plenty not to like about Trump, and I'd applaud a thoughtful and earnest document listing reasons not to vote for him.  But it's hard to imagine any impartial person reading this self-satisfied piece of hypocritical claptrap, this jumble of childish hysteria, and not be driven closer to Trump.

*Actually, it's all one sentence, which someone probably thought made it sound more official.