Partisan Hackery – Dem Introduces the ‘No Trump Act’ to Stop POTUS from Getting Rich Off the Government

Earl Blumenauer is a bicycle riding, bowtie wearing Democrat who represents Oregon’s third district, which explains why at first glance he resembles a character out of Portlandia. He’s the latest left winger to try to make a name for himself by conspiracy-mongering about Donald Trump’s business interests.

Donald Trump should not be allowed to make money off the presidency. https://t.co/rjHt5gxuT8

— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) March 9, 2017

Blumenauer is introducing a bill titled the No Taxpayer Revenue Used to Monetise the Presidency Act the shorthand for which is the No Trump Act.

Get it? No Taxpayer Revenue Used to Monetise the Presidency Act. So clever.

The bill, introduced Thursday by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., would prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for events, overnight stays, food or other expenses at hotels owned or operated by a president or his relatives.

Blumenauer said he’s long been concerned about Trump’s refusal to divest his ownership stake in the Trump Organization. The issues have become more evident with reports of taxpayers footing bills for Secret Service and embassy officials to travel with Trump’s children on a business trip and as government officials spend time at Trump facilities.

“It’s a very real problem that he’s further enriching his enterprises,” Blumenauer said.

I would have no problem with this legislation if it wasn’t an obvious example of partisan hackery. No President should be able to enrich his own business interests through his elected position. That should apply to all elected officials. I’ve been critical of Trump’s very flimsy approach to separating himself from his companies, but the idea that someone with Trump’s wealth would seek election just to make himself money is ludicrous.

This was the same conspiracy theory the left tried to sell at the start of the Bush-Cheney administration—they were only there to make money for themselves and their oil buddies. Ignorant people lapped it up, not realizing that becoming President in order to enrich your private sector businesses would be the dumbest plan ever. I don’t think it’s Trump’s plan either, but I do think he’s been a little too dismissive of the bad optics that come with his letter of the law approach.

A simple thought experiment reveals the partisan nature of this legislation. Ask yourself, would Blumenauer or any other Democrat have introduced similar legislation had John Kerry been elected? Would they have introduced anything similar with regard to the Clinton foundation had Hillary won? Of course not. They didn’t even care that she literally was using her position at the State Department to enrich herself and her husband.

This isn’t about principle or propriety. It’s one more slice in the Democrats’ death by a thousand cuts strategy against Trump.

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