A couple weeks ago the New York Times took the unprecedented action to withhold the name of an author of a guest opinion. Sources are occasionally withheld from news stories. Almost never from an opinion piece.
I don’t like anonymous sources, whether it’s tips, interviews, opinions, or responses. I think people who have something to say should stand up and say this is me and this is what I believe.
A person shouldn’t say something if he/she isn’t willing to accept the consequences. My opinion pertains to this paper, print and online versions. To put it bluntly, you know who I am, I should have the right to know who you are. I don’t like what the New York Times did, but I understand why it was done.
The rare action was taken because the author is a, “senior White House official in the Trump administration.”
The person would surely lose his/her job if the name was divulged. So, the New York Times chose to omit the name because the opinion was so important to this country.
The article begins: “It’s not just that the special counsel looms large. Or that the country is bitterly divided over Mr. Trump’s leadership. Or even that his party might well lose the House to an opposition hellbent on his downfall.
“The dilemma — which he does not fully grasp — is that many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.
“I would know. I am one of them.”
To be clear, this is not a liberal attempting to shame the president. This is someone in his own contingent — someone he appointed — who feels so strongly that “the president continues to act in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.”
He goes on to say, “The root of the problem is the president’s amorality. Anyone who works with him knows he is not moored to any discernible first principles that guide his decision making.”
The writer wouldn’t say it, but I will: Trump is self serving, a liar, and a crook, plain and simple. He is working to overthrow everything we have come to treasure. He is working to turn this democracy into an oligarchy.
To be fair to the article I’m quoting, the writer says Trump has done good things, “But these successes have come despite — not because of — the president’s leadership style, which is impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective.”
He/she goes on to write: “It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room. We fully recognize what is happening. And we are trying to do what’s right even when Donald Trump won’t.”
The writer: “The bigger concern is not what Mr. Trump has done to the presidency but rather what we as a nation have allowed him to do to us. We have sunk low with him and allowed our discourse to be stripped of civility.”
I think that last statement tells us everything we need to know.
I agree with Mr./Mrs. Anonymous
STEVE CHRISTENSEN