I opposed Rob Reiner in some of his California political efforts, but the murdered liberal Hollywood icon did not deserve the appalling send-off that Donald Trump offered on his Truth Social website. (See Trump’s Truth Social text below).
Among other political activity, Reiner promoted education reforms with California ballot initiatives to be achieved with tax increases. When I was invited to talk to Reiner about his state initiatives I agreed. I supported education reforms (still do) and I sat down with Reiner over an extended lunch joined by Reiner’s right hand man Ben Austin who arranged the meeting. It was not the only time I talked with Reiner about his plans. Even though we didn’t see eye to eye on many political matters, I admired his passion. We even found common ground in our attitude towards teachers’ unions. However, in the end I campaigned and helped defeat his initiative because of the tax increase.
Recognizing that politics is not bean bag and Trump gives as good as he gets with rhetorical arrows, there still must be limits to outrageous actions which continue to tear at the country’s core.
Trump has grievances about the lawfare used against him from many quarters, and the narrative of his opponents is too often unmercifully over the top, for instance, describing him as Hitler. Yet, disparaging Reiner in a time of tragedy following the murders of Reiner and his wife Michele is beyond the pale.
As the Free Press editors wrote in rebuking Trump’s action, “Now, after this awful weekend, (referring to Brown University and Bondi Beach shootings along with the Reiners murders) Trump has once again lowered the bar for what we can expect from the president. His accomplishments are real, particularly in the realm of foreign policy and in securing the southern border. But there’s a casual, unthinking cruelty that sometimes runs through him. Today, that dark side of his personality was on full display.”
At a time when partisan politics has risen to a state of incivility and violence, the president has a responsibility to conduct himself in a way to try and bring the country closer together, or at a minimum, not tear it further apart. Yet, he responds to the Reiner tragedy in a shocking rant condemned by both Republicans and Democrats.
President Trump should listen to the words of a predecessor in his office. As the country’s terrible, bloody Civil War was ending, President Abraham Lincoln, in his second inaugural address, spoke of holding malice toward none, charity for all and binding up the nation’s wounds.
Such an attitude would serve modern-day America well.
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TRUTH SOCIAL
@realDonaldTrump
A very sad thing happened
last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very
talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away, together with his
wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive,
unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as
TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS. He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America
upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace!
Thanks for the memory, Andy.
In 2008 when then Senator Obama and then Senator Hillary Clinton were running in the Indiana presidential primary, the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis invited the religious school students (and families) to listen to representatives of Sen. Obama, Sen. Clinton and Sen. McCain. Rob Reiner was representing Sen. Clinton.
My ten year old daughter and I went up to Rob Reiner and I told him that I thought he might know my brother in law. He looked at me with a puzzled look and when I told him Joel Fox, his was genuinely taken aback. He told me that he and Joel rarely, although changed that to never, agreed on anything but he truly respected Joel.
I texted Joel about our conversation and sent a picture of his niece with Mr. Reiner. I have no doubt that he truly did respect and like Joel. As has been said in the press, I too found Rob Reiner to be a very warm, friendly and sincere person.