IVANKA TRUMP: THE FIRST DAUGHTER IS NOT HELPING THE NATION

…Ivanka Trump

Ivanka and her husband are not a moderating force in the White House

Remember when it was expected that the more progressive daughter of the president, and her husband, were going to have a positive effect on moderating the president?

Not only has she not lived up to that expectation, but many are now seeing that she is not only, not part of the solution, but she has become part of the problem.

It was Ivanka that promised to champion issues of concern to women, including paid family leave. And it was hoped that she could hold President Trump to his former live-and-let-live views when it came to issues such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

Wrong.

The president’s sudden decision last year to bar transgender individuals from military service, (which did fail), was just an example of Ivanka’s lack of influence.

In fact, Ivanka was reportedly taken by surprise when the president announced the ban on transgender soldiers from the military in an early-morning tweet. So was almost everyone, including the military officials who were supposed to enforce the new policy of discrimination, which they didn’t like, and didn't agree.

But the mean-spirited decree must have been particularly galling for Ivanka, who had previously tweeted that she was “proud to support my LGBTQ friends and the LGBTQ Americans who have made immense contributions to our society and economy.”

Ivanka and Jared had even lobbied Trump not to abandon the Paris Climate Accord.  This is the agreement seen by most scientists and world leaders as “the most significant step to date in limiting the heat-trapping carbon emissions that are rapidly warming the planet”.  But the president followed the advice of his extreme advisors and pulled out of the pact anyway.

She has had no amount influence in the health-care battle. Trump’s campaign pledge was for health insurance “for everybody”.  However, he became so desperate early on for a legislative win that he would have even settled for health care “for nobody”.  That was roughly what was in the failed bill that had been sent to the Senate.

Can anyone explain to me why, other than nepotism, why does Ivanka have an office in the White House?  And for what reason does Ivanka and her husband have a back-bench seat at meetings of the Cabinet?

Washington is full of people who are smart, successful, well-educated and that actually have experience in developing and implementing real government policy.  Ivanka is totally lacking in all areas of government.

You would not know it from her position in the White House, but guess who she lists as one of her best friends?  As an authority on daughterhood and the White House, Chelsea Clinton, is described as a “very good friend,” and Ivanka has said “we have so much more in common than we have disagreement about.”

Ivanka has continued to approve of a national program of guaranteed paid family leave, similar to those in many other industrialized countries, which she had described in a letter last year to the Wall Street Journal.  This was not as an entitlement but, “an investment in America’s working families.” She was able to convince the budget director, Mick Mulvaney to allocate some money for such a program.  But it was for $25 billion over 10+years.  However, the chances of that surviving the Republican appropriations process is highly questionable.

On that program, she would have a better chance if the Dems take the House in the November mid-terms.

In fact, she might want to work with the Democrats to take control of both the House and the Senate in 2018. I’m sure the Dems would be happy to vote for a much better family leave program, covering not just childbirth, but also other family needs such as elder care.

Boy, would that tick-off her father.  So, that’s probably out-of-the-question.

The only area where she and her husband Jared have any influence seems to be in the area of White House personnel.

They were very instrumental in ousting the foul-mouthed Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director. Seriously, how the hell was he ever selected as the guy you would want to shape the administration’s message?  Scaramucci was dismissed after just 10 days on the job. His only remember-able offering in those 10 days was his undeniable talent for imaginative swearing.

Ivanka also supported John Kelly over Reince Priebus as Chief of Staff.  Actually, Reince didn’t do a very good job, mainly because he wasn’t allowed to do it properly.  That was back when Trump would allowing anybody that wanted to enter the oval office.  The individual could just walk right in at any time, there were no rules until Kelly came on board.

But when Kelly lied about a Congresswoman on national TV, and then when he would not apologize after understanding that he had lied, Kelly just became another White House liar.

But then, Ivanka still has unfettered access to the president at any time, just like it was before Kelly came on board.

The reality is that Ivanka has had a whole early life of total privilege.  She was smart enough, and with her father’s financing, she became a successful businesswoman.  Now she is the First Daughter, and with her husband, they are both unpaid and unqualified Senior Advisors to the President of the United States.

Meanwhile, Ivanka’s line of shoes, clothing and accessories, (which are not Made in America), they have come under new scrutiny.

One disillusioned friend of hers has said she and Jared have “drunk the Kool-Aid.”

In her White House role, she’s not helping the nation, and she’s sure not helping herself.

Copyright G.Ater  2018