✍️ Character Assassination: A Public Service (When Done Right)
Since they’ve shown us who they are, it’s only fair we remind everyone
Some people say we should “stay above the fray.” Or “go high when they go low.”
But when the White House is occupied by a convicted felon who tried to overturn an election, appoints loyalists who bend the law, and surrounds himself with grifters and bullies, it’s fair to ask:
When does character assassination become a civic duty?
Let’s be real. We don’t need to make things up. We don’t need to exaggerate. There’s so much real material to work with:
A president who hoarded classified government documents, bragged about pardoning the Jan. 6 rioters, and still insists he won in 2020.
A man found liable for sexual abuse in court, who also once bragged about grabbing women “by the pussy”—on tape.
A known friend of child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—once joking about Epstein’s taste in younger women—and reportedly visiting beauty pageant dressing rooms where contestants were changing.
A serial cheater—at golf, at business, at taxes—who uses the presidency to funnel government and donor money into his hotels, golf courses, and properties. And at marriage.
A mocker of disabled people, caught on video flailing his arms to mimic a reporter with a physical disability.
A promoter of scams like Trump University, stiffing contractors and employees, while claiming to be the champion of the working class.
A team of cabinet picks and cronies with histories of voter suppression, climate denial, and corporate corruption.
A chorus of elected enablers who parrot lies, undermine legal norms, and try to outlaw the truth in classrooms and libraries.
And yes, a thin-skinned narcissist whose main loyalty is to himself—no matter the cost to democracy, decency, or truth.
Honestly, if we didn’t call out this behavior, that would be the scandal.
We don’t need innuendo. We’ve got evidence.
A few character-assassination tips (that won’t get us sued for libel or slander):
Stick to facts: Trump’s hush-money conviction? Public court record. His bragging about sexual assault? On tape, in his own words. His business fraud? Settled lawsuits. His self-dealing and abuse of power? Documented by journalists, watchdog groups, and government reports.
Lean on quotes: “Find me 11,780 votes” is all we need to say.
Be funny, not cruel: Ridicule works—if we aim it at actions, not appearances.
Avoid wishful thinking: He’s not going to jail tomorrow. But we can still remind folks why he belongs nowhere near power.
What about fairness?
They’ve had their turn. They’ve weaponized conspiracy theories, social media, Fox News chyrons, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
They’ve assassinated the character of immigrants, journalists, LGBTQ+ folks, teachers, librarians—and other people who challenge their narrative: scientists, public health experts, military leaders, veterans, election workers, judges, civil servants, civil rights activists, and even members of their own party who refuse to fall in line.
We’re not stooping. We’re responding.
And if calling out corruption, cruelty, and cowardice sounds like an “attack,” it’s time to question why those traits are so easy to document—and how our reluctance to speak up can enable them.
🎯 Call to action:
Assassinate the myth, not the man. Use your voice. Share the truth. Make the character flaws unmissable—before they’re “normalized.”
Share
If my commentary resonates with you, please share it with friends.
Subscribe
Get new posts from Plainly, Garbl delivered to your inbox.