Hamilton Lecture and other Liberal Hypocrisy

Hamilton Lecture and other Liberal Hypocrisy

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

November 20, 2016

Hamilton actor Brandon Victor Dixon broke from character to demonstrate a complete lack of character immediately following the Broadway performance Friday in an attempt to embarrass Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

In a preaching lecture from the stage read from notes, Dixon, who portrays the third Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr, delivered a diatribe with low expectations of the incoming administration. “We, sir, are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights.” While Pence was mostly booed by the audience, Dixon’s invective was largely applauded.

The treatment of Pence was malevolent and unconscionable, but to no surprise, the Vice President-elect took the entire episode in stride politely listening to Dixon. Having spoken with Pence on several occasions, he is nothing short of a mensch. President-elect Donald Trump was not as generous, tweeting that Pence was “harassed,” and “the cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!”

Dixon responded to Trump that “conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @Mike_Pence for stopping to listen.” Pence didn’t stop to listen, he was basically a captive audience at the Richard Rodgers Theatre where people went to see and hear a Broadway performance of singing and dancing, not lecturing.

As for Dixon’s calling his lecturing a conversation and not harassment, he needs to consult his dictionary to learn that a conversation involves two or more parties freely engaging in ideas, not the monologue to which Pence was subjected sans rebuttal.

Naturally, the American Civil Liberties Union weighed in supporting Dixon. “The First Amendment is a cornerstone of America even if it makes our leaders uncomfortable.” Apparently that concept endorsed by the ACLU does not apply to liberals on the receiving end as they have been running for cover in safe spaces and cry rooms on college campuses all across the nation even calling Trump campaign signs offensive and signs of “micro-aggression.”

On campus after campus prior to Trump’s victory, liberals were in celebratory moods openly supporting their candidate, Hillary Clinton, where G-d forbid anyone should utter an opposing word. On my daughter’s campus at Denison University, during debate-watch events, she told me how uncomfortable it was to sit quietly while all the Clinton supporters either cheered their candidate of booed Trump. She felt so threatened she left the event to watch alone, and she is no wallflower. Yet, following what liberals considered inconceivable, a Trump victory, their behavior transformed from ebullient to apoplectic, as they took to berating those supporting the winning candidate.

Campus liberals, calling for no judgments, do exactly that – judge. Once again, on my daughter’s campus the day after Election Day, a student wearing a Make America Great Again hat was cornered by a group of liberals demanding an explanation as to why he voted for Trump and why he supports racism and bigotry giving him virtually no chance to speak. They were passing judgment and putting him on the defensive when he had every right to vote for the candidate of his choice sans reprisals. Hypocrisy.

Campus liberals called Trump campaign signs offensive and threatening, yet following the writing of Hillary Clinton’s political obituary, these same campus leftists paraded around with signs and banners degrading President-elect Trump, comparing him to Hitler and that he’s “not my president.” More hypocrisy.

Liberal hypocrisy running rampant is nothing new – in fact, it has become the norm and rather dependable, and not just on college campuses. Take Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers NFL team who continues to refuse to stand for the National Anthem as some moral stance, as it were, against the government. He didn’t even bother to vote on Election Day. Sheer hypocrisy.

Liberals, quite frankly, anarchists is closer to reality, protesting in places like Portland, OR denigrated what should have been a peaceful march into a chaotic riot resulting in numerous arrests. Turns out the majority of those arrested never even bothered to vote, yet they found time to protest an election result with which they did not participate. Even more hypocrisy.

Thanks to soon to be retired Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), filibusters are limited when pertaining to nominees. This “nuclear option” was established in 2013. Now that the Democrats are in the minority, they not only want to reverse their own ruling, but are making demands regarding Trump’s cabinet appointments. Soon to be Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), even before the first nominee has sat before the Senate, has threatened to fight Trump on appointments his party finds objectionable. Schumer and the rest of his Democrats need to be reminded of Barack Obama’s post-2008 election words. “Elections have consequences, and at the end of the day, I won.” Still, more hypocrisy.

At the end of the day, Senator Schumer, Donald Trump won the election, and to the victor go the spoils. But, as I noted in a previous column, “Congratulations, President-elect Trump – We’re Watching,” with great power comes great responsibility. (http://sanfordspeaksout.blogspot.com/2016/11/congratulations-president-elect-trump.html)

Believe it or not, the way to end the hypocrisy is for the liberals to emulate their party leaders – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Both Obama and Clinton, especially Clinton the day after Election Day, called for unity around the nation and giving Trump the opportunity to lead – to lead the whole country. Clinton gave a fine concession/transition speech and her fawning sycophantic acolytes should heed its message.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer living in Westfield, IN.