When Hillary Clinton assured her insider sponsors (as we learned through WikiLeaks) that there would be a crucial difference between what she tells the people and what her actual policies would be, she was not merely admitting to a private and a public face.
The President is legally, and by honor, bound to serve the American people, not Goldman-Sachs. What she was confessing to was more than the mere appearance of a conflict of interests.
She boasted a plan of betrayal.
In that light, President-elect Donald Trump’s international business deals seem … what? His first diplomatic meeting — with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — included his daughter and partner-in-business Ivanka.
It seems to at least wander into conflict-of-interest territory, if not stake claim and hoist up a flag proclaiming Trumpistan America!
So I was very pleased, yesterday, when the President-elect vowed to step out from the running of his global business and branding empire.
Earlier, he had brushed off conflict-of-interest concerns, saying he could run his empire and … ours.
Apparently, his new White House appointees have convinced him that this business dealing while President was a huge problem. “I feel it is visually important,” he explained Wednesday morning, “as president, to in no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses.”
Thanks, Steve Bannon?
Or, maybe, Mitt Romney, with whom he dined* the night before?
I hope Mr. Trump follows through with this, as well as distance himself from business partner Ivanka as unofficial policy advisor.
Americans did not reject Corrupt Hillary only to wind up with a Corrupt Trump set.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
