"We the people, in order to form a more perfect union", elected Donald Trump?

 It's Martin Luther King Day in America, a day when Americans pretend that they are really working to make this a more perfect union, and that all is at least becoming right with issues of race. It's a time when we hope that the nasty scab left by deep cut of racism--- a cut that was made from the very start by our original sin of slavery--- will continue to heal, and when we hope that in time we won't even notice that it's there.

But then we look around and realize that we elected Donald trump, and much to the dismay of good people of conscience, he tore away at that scab, to the delight of many of his supporters and others in this country. Others who never believed that the cut was that bad, or that it was ever there in the first place. And so, it has become startlingly clear, that our union is a much longer way from becoming perfect than we first thought.   

With each passing day Mr. trump reveals more of his true colors, much to the delight of his followers. For the rest of us, though, at least those who didn't see it coming, it's frightening. Some Republican elected leaders, to their everlasting shame, have made a mockery of everything that this country is supposed to stand for by hitching their wagons to this man. History, as we have seen in the past, will not be kind to them.

The latest episode in this profile of cowardice comes from two republican senators who were present in the room when Mr. trump made his "shithole" comment  about African countries and Haiti.  Just hours after saying that they don't recall him saying it,  they are now saying that he did not say it at all, and shame on Dick Durbin for saying that he did. They are forgetting, of course, that Mr. trump himself bragged to his friends about saying it, and that the fallout from him saying those words would actually help him with his base.  They are also forgetting that various people in the room, including republican senators, confirmed that he did in fact make those reprehensible comments.

Last night the president said that he was the "least racist person" that journalists ever interviewed,  and in essence this was not a big deal. (So he is a racist, just a lessor of a racist than others. Wouldn't a normal person just say that I am not a racist at all? Why say you are the east of all racists? ) Memo to Mr. trump: If you have to tell us that you are not a racist, it's a pretty good bet that you are one.

The scary part for Americans on this day that they celebrate the birth of Dr. King is this: Donald trump won because he is a racist; not despite of it. Give Tom Cotton and David Perdue credit, they know their base. History might not be kind to them, but for now they will be just fine.

 America, on the other hand, will not. 

Happy MLK Day.