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Trump’s Response to LaVar Ball — Most Unpresidential
National Review ^ | 11/19/2017 | Katherine Timpf

Posted on 11/20/2017 9:38:39 AM PST by SeekAndFind

The father of one of the basketball players who had been facing shoplifting charges in China downplayed President Trump’s role in having him released — and Trump’s response may be one of the worst I’ve seen yet.

Now, to be fair, I certainly do understand why President Trump would have been upset by this. If you want to argue that LiAngelo Ball’s father, LaVar, should have shown gratitude instead of dismissal of President Trump’s efforts, then I’d say that’s a fine argument. What’s not fine, however, is this:

Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017

I mean, really? These three players thanked you by name, but because one of their fathers said something that you didn’t like, all three of them should have had to rot in a foreign jail? There’s really no appropriate response to a reaction like that except for, just, come on, man.

Of course, I’m not saying that these players don’t deserve any punishment. They do . . . and they deserve some ridicule, too. After all, not only is stealing wrong, but stealing in China also makes you kind of an idiot. These three embarrassed themselves, UCLA, their families, and our entire country — but they still don’t deserve to rot in a Chinese jail, and President Trump did the right thing by working to free them. Here’s the thing, though: President Trump should have worked to free them simply because it was the right thing to do, and his tweet suggests he did it looking for admiration.

What makes me think that? Well, as soon as someone — not even one of the players, but one of the player’s fathers — changed his tone from gratitude and praise to dismissal and minimization, President Trump immediately rushed to the keyboard to say he regretted doing it.

This wasn’t “presidential,” and I’m not using that word in the way that most people use it. After all, when most people criticize Trump for not being “presidential,” what they mean is that he doesn’t conduct himself with the kind of decorum that they believe someone in his position should. This, however, goes so far beyond that: It suggests that President Trump does not understand that his role is to be a servant for the people of the United States — of all of the people, whether they (or their fathers) like him or not.

Yes, what President Trump did was noble, but it wasn’t extraordinary — it was his job. This is America, and our presidents don’t just leave U.S. citizens in foreign countries’ jails regardless of whether or not those citizens thought it was a good idea to steal luxury merchandise or not. President Trump should have done what he did because it’s the kind of thing he was elected to do, not in exchange for recognition from the players, their fathers, or anyone.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; kat; katherinetimpf; lavarball; shoplifting; timpf; trump
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1 posted on 11/20/2017 9:38:40 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

The Tweet he should have sent:

“And who the h#ll names their son LiAngelo anyway?”


2 posted on 11/20/2017 9:40:32 AM PST by Gman
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To: SeekAndFind

ES NR and go bankrupt.


3 posted on 11/20/2017 9:40:48 AM PST by Bonemaker
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To: SeekAndFind
Someone pass Miss Timpf a couple slices of pizza and a pork chop. I'm afraid the next strong gust might blow her away.
 
4 posted on 11/20/2017 9:40:59 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?)
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To: SeekAndFind

And if Obama had done the same she’d be praising Obama for enforcing proper decorum against the stupid father.


5 posted on 11/20/2017 9:41:06 AM PST by Skywise
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s Kat Timph, what do you expect.


6 posted on 11/20/2017 9:41:09 AM PST by kempster
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To: SeekAndFind

Yes, Katherine, he’s not ‘Presidential’ and that’s why we voted for him.

Go pound sand.


7 posted on 11/20/2017 9:41:33 AM PST by x1stcav (We have the guns. Do we have the will?)
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To: Gman

The Tweet he should have sent:

“And who the h#ll names their son LiAngelo anyway?”


LaVar...

And who names their company “Big Baller Brand”?

LaVar BALL...


8 posted on 11/20/2017 9:42:20 AM PST by Hotlanta Mike ("You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.")
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To: Gman

““And who the h#ll names their son LiAngelo anyway?”

A moron named LaVar.


9 posted on 11/20/2017 9:42:50 AM PST by Bonemaker
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To: SeekAndFind

Someone remind me why NR should even be considered any more.


10 posted on 11/20/2017 9:43:02 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: SeekAndFind
I hate Cucks more than I do Libs. Stand in front of a Cuck to defend and they stab you in the back. Follow their lead into a "fight" and they shoot back over their shoulder at you, or flat out turn around and do it. Done with the "muh principles" crowd of the Right.
11 posted on 11/20/2017 9:43:22 AM PST by Chipper (You can't kill an Obamazombie by destroying the brain...they didn't have one to begin with.)
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To: SeekAndFind

National Revulsion

They are irrelevant.


12 posted on 11/20/2017 9:43:47 AM PST by faucetman (Ju"st the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: SeekAndFind

The horrible response from from LaVar’s dad. I had heard of this kid via his fathers antics for a bit now. Then found out he was one of the kids who stole.

That is really teaching your child character. Pffft. I also think Trump shouldn’t have said this and kept out of it. Yet here it is.

TMZ has a response from Snoop-dog saying he stands with lavar and marshan lynch. F-Trump was the answer to Trump.

Even for TMZ snoop is getting hammered.


13 posted on 11/20/2017 9:44:39 AM PST by ColdOne ((I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11~ Best Election Ever! It is offical, we are at war!)
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To: x1stcav
Way back when, Harry Truman wasn't "presidential" either.

But, since he was a Democrat, it was "Give 'em Hell Harry!"

14 posted on 11/20/2017 9:45:00 AM PST by daler
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To: SeekAndFind
Well, when I want an expert opinion, I always turn to some dumbass Moroniall to get it. NOT! Somebody find a litter box for this "kat". Meeee yeow! 🍿🍻
15 posted on 11/20/2017 9:45:27 AM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?!)
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To: faucetman

Yes...since WFB died.


16 posted on 11/20/2017 9:45:45 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Yes, what President Trump did was noble, but it wasn’t extraordinary — it was his job.

Sorry Kat, it was not his job. When someone commits a criminal act in another country, they are SOL. The President did them a great favor and the parents should be showing immense gratitude.

17 posted on 11/20/2017 9:46:02 AM PST by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s Presidential now. Does the President, himself, or NR get to decide what is Presidential?


18 posted on 11/20/2017 9:46:21 AM PST by djpg (O)
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To: SeekAndFind

I predict before it’s over LeVar Ball will self-destruct and his attempt to commercialize his sons will collapse financially.


19 posted on 11/20/2017 9:46:47 AM PST by VideoDoctor
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To: SeekAndFind

Timpf is a RINO NeverTrump bitch. Who cares what she says about anything?


20 posted on 11/20/2017 9:46:56 AM PST by montag813 ('We're a Nation of CITIZENS...Not a Nation of Immigrants')
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