by BAR editor and columnist, Dr. Marsha Adebayo
It would be nice if the old adage, “What goes around, comes around” applied to the larger world of gross inequality and race and class oppression. However, the ruling classes do have the resources to exact pay-back within their ranks. Donald Trump may now “rue the day” that he insulted the Bush family.
Ruling Class Food Fights: Trump vs. Bushes
by BAR editor and columnist, Dr. Marsha Adebayo
“Our task is to stay focused.”
Rarely are we invited into the inner sanctum of the ruling class, particularly during political food fights. Clashing business and political interests must occur on a frequent basis but seldom do they surface with the vulgarity and viciousness that the recent Bush/Trump drama has played out in the mass media. The in-fighting among the predatory duopoly that feeds at the public trough is usually confined to closed door board meetings. However, Trump has viciously, at times, poked his fellow 1-Percenters in the eyes and four weeks before the presidential election, they decided to poke him back. All of this is intended to distract the public from focusing on issues affecting police terror, poverty, Middle East wars, ethnic cleansing in front line communities, etc. Nevertheless, one cannot deny the humor in watching factions of the ruling class flail and fight to consolidate presidential power.
An anonymous tip from an individual, not particularly difficult to connect the dots, led to the Washington Post breaking this story.
Trump was heard making unguarded misogynic braggadocio while he was wearing a “hot” microphone for an upcoming interview with “Access Hollywood.” He felt comfortable bragging about his sexual conquests with a member of the Bush family dynasty – a fellow 1-Percenter named Billy Bush. However, these comments, made in 2005 preceded his decision to mock, humiliate and politically castrate Jeb Bush and by extension the Bush family during the 2016 presidential campaign. While Christians may defer vengeance to a later time and place, it seems the Bush family would rather enjoy the experience in real time, precisely 4 weeks before the presidential election.
“If he had made the same despicable comments towards an African woman it’s questionable whether his campaign would have been thrown into spasm.”
Billy Bush, who recently joined the cast of the “Today” show and appears on “Access Hollywood,” has been suspended from “Today” as a result of his comments during the Trump locker-room rump. With his suspension from daytime television, Billy has essentially taken one for the team. He is the first cousin to former Florida governor and Republican presidential nominee Jeb Bush who Trump labeled as “low energy Jeb.” Jeb was the presumptive Republican presidential candidate until Trump challenged his assumed family privilege to assume the presidency.
Following the family tree and, by association, connecting the aforementioned dots leading to the October surprise, Billy Bush is also first cousin with former president George W. Bush who Trump blamed for 9/11 and who started the Iraq War that Trump called “a disaster.” And, Billy Bush is the nephew of former president George H.W. Bush.
During the fall election, former first lady Barbara Bush commenting on whether she had Trump “on her mind” while campaigning for her son in New Hampshire, said: "No. I do not. I don't even think about him." "I'm sick of him… " Trump’s twitter response to the Barbara Bush comment was: "Wow, Jeb Bush, whose campaign is a total disaster, had to bring in mommy to take a slap at me. Not nice!" Not surprisingly, the Bush family has closed ranks against Trump with former President George H.W. Bush announcing that he will support Hilary Clinton.
What can not be denied is, despite Trump’s rants against African-Americans, Hispanics and Muslims, the only issue that seems to have captivated the media and possibly the public is The Donald’s attack against white women. Undoubtedly, if he had made the same despicable comments towards an African woman it’s questionable whether his campaign would have been thrown into spasm. Such is the sexual privilege provided to white men regarding African women.
The food fight within the ruling class will continue throughout this political season. Our task is to stay focused realizing that neither the Democratic or Republican parties can meet the needs of Africans in the US and that our demand for self-determination is not negotiable.
Dr. Marsha Adebayo is the author of the Pulitzer Prize nominated: No FEAR: A Whistleblowers Triumph over Corruption and Retaliation at the EPA. She worked at the EPA for 18 years and blew the whistle on a US multinational corporation that endangered South African vanadium mine workers. Marsha's successful lawsuit led to the introduction and passage of the first civil rights and whistleblower law of the 21st century: the Notification of Federal Employees Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act). She is Director of Transparency and Accountability for the Green Shadow Cabinet, serves on the Advisory Board of ExposeFacts.com and coordinates the Hands Up Coalition, DC.
The recent drone strike on World Central Kitchen workers exposed that organization's collusion with the Israeli and U.S. governments.
The United States uses its power within the United Nations and the concept of human rights to cover its plans for regime change.
The deaths of the six Latino immigrant workers in the Baltimore bridge collapse encapsulates the injustice inherent in the U.S. capitalist system.
This week, BAR's poet-in-residence discusses his work, we learn why Bill Clinton, the CIA director and Tony Blair recently visited Guyana. First, the Black vote and election year politics in Michigan.
Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan-African News Wire joins to discuss Michigan's Black voters, the Abandon Biden campaign, and the prospects for the swing state in the 2024 presidential election.
