It was ironic that yesterday, Republican President Donald Trump was playing “the gentleman’s game,” golf, at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, when media outlets, such as the Associated Press and even the president’s favored Fox News, announced the Democratic challenger and former vice president, Joe Biden, as the winner of the presidential election held four days earlier but in limbo due to the counting of mail-in voting ballots. Why is it ironic? Today, Sunday, Trump was back at his golf club and still refusing to be a gentleman by conceding defeat.
That’s not how you play the gentleman’s game of golf. When the game or match ends, and you lose, you acknowledge defeat by shaking the victor’s hand and perhaps even congratulating him or her. But not Trump.
Yet, on Election Day, Tuesday, President Trump phoned his favorite TV news outlet, Fox and Friends, for a live interview. He had been saying repeatedly during the 2020 presidential campaign that Joe Biden was “a loser” with no chance of winning. Trump had often belittled Mr. Biden by calling him “Sleepy Joe.” President Trump often acted like a schoolyard bully, mocking his opponents by name-calling like a mafia mobster.
Yet Trump also seemed more circumspect in this phone call to Fox. He said, “it’s been a great, uh, it’s been a great run,” as if he was going to lose the election. Then he added, “you know, winning is easy. Losing is never easy. Not for me it’s not.” Yeah, but you make it harder in refusing to play the gentleman’s game right by conceding defeat.
You know the saying, “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game”? That often doesn’t play well in this world, but it will in the world-to-come. By this world’s standards, Jesus of Nazareth was a loser because he got crucified. But in the world-to-come, he will be the judge of all humankind as all are called to account at The Judgment. His Golden Rule will be the primary measure, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7.12 NRSV).
Former Republican President George W. Bush, who is also a avid golfer, had not publicly endorsed either candidate. But today, he came out with this honorable and conciliatory statement, “Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country. The president-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat, he will govern for all Americans. I offered him the same thing I offered presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can.”
Bush also acknowledged that President Trump had accomplished “an extraordinary political achievement” in garnering 70 million votes, the most ever in a U.S. presidential election, except for Biden’s 74 million, though states are still counting even now. Bush added that President Trump “has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges.” And that President Trump has done since the election, lodging over a dozen lawsuits against various states.
Nevertheless, Bush concluded, “The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear.” This opposes Trump’s constant allegation that this election has been “a fraud,” thereby undermining our most cherished democratic principle of free and secure elections since Trump has not been able to provide any evidence of voting fraud.
The 43rd president continued, “The challenges that face our country will demand the best of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris — and the best of us all. We must come together for the sake of our families and neighbors, and for our nation and its future. There is no problem that will not yield to the gathered will of a free people. Laura and I pray for our leaders and their families. We ask for God’s continued blessings on our country. And we urge all Americans to join us in wishing our next president and vice president well as they prepare to take up their important duties.”
That Bush statement should help Republicans accept defeat and move on. They still have control of the Senate and gained more seats in the House as well. So, the Democrats will not rule with a Blue Wall.
Bush contributed to President-elect Biden’s speech yesterday in which Biden promised to govern for all Americans in an effort to help our nation heal itself of this deep level of divisive, political partisanship to which we had sunk. May God help us.
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