It has been alleged that the participation of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the 2017 presidential inaugural ceremonies constitutes an endorsement, by the Choir and its sponsoring church, of Mr. Donald J. Trump.
The inauguration, some claim, isn’t a celebration of the peaceful transfer of executive political power in our constitutional republic, but, rather, a partisan celebration of the person, ideas, and character of Mr. Trump.
I claim that it isn’t a celebration of Mr. Trump. as such. I regard it, instead, as one of the rites of passage in our legal/political order. And, as someone who never endorsed Mr. Trump but, on the contrary, vocally opposed him and resigned from the Republican Party on the night that he accepted that party’s nomination, I think that my opinion should carry at least a little bit of credibility on this matter.
But here’s another argument:
Barack and Michelle Obama will prominently attend the inauguration. That’s not surprising. Departing presidents are expected to attend the swearing-in of their successors.
However, I’m informed that former President George W. Bush (who didn’t attend the 2016 Republican national convention and pointedly didn’t endorse Mr. Trump) will be there for the ceremony, as will former President Jimmy Carter (a Democrat). Former President George H. W. Bush won’t be in attendance, but that’s for health reasons. (He’s approaching ninety-three.)
Most significantly, perhaps, former President Bill Clinton will be there at the inauguration, as will his wife, former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Now, it might be argued that they already had hotel reservations in Washington DC for this date and simply didn’t want to waste them. But it certainly can’t be argued that they’ll be there to express their vigorous endorsement of Mr. Donald J. Trump.
Posted from San Diego, California
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