Trump’s rhetoric: What do you think?

President Trump is taking a lot of flack about his rhetoric not reflecting a good image of our country. In keeping with diplomatic protocol and detractors, perhaps he should have said “third-world” countries, but the meaning is the same. I can’t recall former President Harry Truman’s wife being successful in getting him to use the word “fertilizer.”

I admire President Trump for taking a firm stand and fighting for reform on many controversial issues that have been kicked down the road by politicians for years. It’s certainly refreshing to have a president who tells it like it is and implements reforms in lieu of trying to please everyone with proper diplomatic rhetoric.

Your editorial board article in Sunday’s opinion page requested comments from Republican voters who voted for President Trump on his statement about bringing immigrants from certain nations as being “Sh***hole” countries. I admire the president for having the guts to set the record straight and take a firm stand on this and many other controversial issues that politicians have failed to address over the years.

His language may not be diplomatic, but his description of most Third World countries is accurate, and he is to be commended for highlighting this immigration problem to the American people. His comments were about the deplorable conditions in these countries and had nothing to do with racial prejudice, as his detractors would like people to believe.

The president and the country would probably be better served if he used more diplomatic language to describe various problems; however, his descriptions do have a positive effect of emphasizing the importance of problems to the American people.

Contrary to what the mainstream news media and liberal Democratic detractors would like us to believe, President Trump has a track record of accomplishments during his first year in office that far surpasses all of his predecessors. Take a look at the vast improvement in all economic indicators during the past year. I stand by Trump!

Today, for the first time in my 78 years, the U.S. has a president who earnestly tries to do as POTUS what he promised as candidate. I wish he were verbally gentler, but if I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

The power to forgive belongs to a higher being, and I trust there is enough to go around for all of us. In the meantime, I am thankful that Donald Trump is our president (considering the alternative).

While I agree that there are better and more artful ways of describing Haiti and African countries, these countries have in many ways “gone down the toilet” due to their 18th-century economic conditions and socialist politics.

Immigration is the big driver for me. This country needs immigration law and order, and the process will be painful. Many will call Trump voters like myself who are white, Southern, and Christian GOP voters racist when all we want is the sovereignty of our country.

It is embarrassing when Trump makes hurtful statements, but his policy on immigration far outweighs the embarrassing moments.

Why no issue with former President Obama’s comment about people clinging to their Bibles? LBJ’s racist, sexist behavior? JFK’s drug use and meeting with a woman associated with a KGB agent? FDR’s Japanese concentration camps?

This childish-man is who he is. He was born this way — with a dirty foot in his mouth. Though less than a majority voted for him, we all got him. If you care about our country and its future for our children, it is time, fellow Americans, to step up and speak out.

Surely enough is enough.

I’m one of those folks (an old white guy) who believes Martin Luther King was one of the most important, positive historical figures ever.

I understand the technical reason for canceling the Arlington parade. But a minority of the minority once again deprived a larger audience from paying their respects. We may have crossed the line between minority rights and minority rule.

I am saddened by the vision of streets empty of families and children who wanted only to pay their respects to one of the most important and constructive political figures of our time. Vindictiveness and hatred have won again.

Do you not think for one minute that Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and other presidents spoke this way? We just never heard about it. Trump has not figured out that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

The U.S. is better off 12 months later than we would have been with Hillary Clinton, with the undoing of the executive orders, the appointments of constitutionalist judges, tax reform and support for our military. Do I still support him? Compared to Clinton and Democrats, yes.

This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Trump’s rhetoric: What do you think?."