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Ruth: Trump is no Boy Scout in speech to scouts

 
President Donald Trump addressed the Boy Scouts’ national jamboree in Glen Jean, W. Va.
President Donald Trump addressed the Boy Scouts’ national jamboree in Glen Jean, W. Va.
Published July 27, 2017

It could have been worse. At least the Boy Scouts of America didn't invite Dennis Rodman to address its 19th jamboree to discuss American foreign policy with North Korea and the art of nose piercings.

Instead, the Scouts got President Donald Trump, who began his remarks with a profanity. Things went pretty steadily déclassé from there.

To be fair, the president didn't delve into his Access Hollywood appearance in which he discussed his sexual debasement of women. In Trump world, this counts as moderation. Or perhaps he was saving that saucy yarn for the Campfire Girls.

Traditionally, presidential addresses to the Boy Scouts extol the many fine virtues of the Scouting experience and the important role the organization plays in helping young boys develop leadership skills. For example, in his 2010 video address to the jamboree President Barack Obama noted that of the 12 men who have walked on the moon, 11 of them were active in Scouting. And yes, in case you are curious, Neil Armstrong was an Eagle Scout. Trump was not. It was probably a bone spur thing in one of those legs that kept him out of uniform.

To be sure, the optics of the thrice-married, gleefully philandering Trump appearing before an organization that promotes wholesome American ideals is like Hugh Hefner seeking an audience with Pope Francis to discuss the virtues of celibacy.

But there was the president, kicking off his speech before a gathering of young boys by noting, "Who the hell wants to talk about politics when I'm in front of the Boy Scouts?" And then Trump went on to spend the bulk of his remarks talking about politics. Do they give out merit badges for eye rolling?

For the umpteenth time (and that's a conservative estimate), Trump bragged about his towering election night victory over Hillary Clinton, as if everyone has forgotten about it. We know. We know.

Trump also used the opportunity to pressure West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito to vote in favor of a mystical health care bill that doesn't exist. No politics there! Perhaps they give out merit badges for three-card monte scams.

You wonder if the president of the United States bothered to brush up on the Boy Scouts' guiding principles. If he had, maybe Trump might have thought of addressing some group closer to his own heart, like the International Association of Tweeters.

Let's break down the Boy Scout law, which reads: "A Scout is trustworthy (Trump University?), loyal (Is that Jeff Sessions under the bus?), helpful (No tax returns for you!), kind (I know my press secretary is a devout Catholic, but I'm not going to let him meet the pope.), obedient (Conflicts of interest? What conflicts of interests?), cheerful (War hero? John McCain? Please!), thrifty (Trips to Mar-a-Lago? $20 million and counting.), brave (Proudly claimed to have avoided contracting a sexually transmitted disease during the Vietnam War era. Courage!), clean (Okay, he is famously germophobic.), and reverent (Belittled the parents of a Muslim-American soldier who died in combat defending his country in Iraq.)"

Scouting also puts a great premium on the obligation "to help other people at all times." Uh-oh. If Trump and congressional Republicans have their way, more than 20 million Americans will be denied health care, including millions of children, the elderly and the disabled, whose lives depend on Medicaid.

Instead, Trump regaled the Scouts with a meandering tale of a chi-chi Manhattan cocktail soiree he once attended where "some of the hottest people in New York were at this party."

At the event, Trump told the Scouts he saw William Levitt, the developer of Levittown, who apparently had gone through some difficult financial times.

Levitt apparently told Trump his decline was attributable to losing his business momentum. The president advised the boys not to do that if they don't want to be losers. Words of wisdom, indeed.

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Trump also praised the work of Boy Scouts who donate approximately 15 million hours of public service to their communities every year, noting that when a natural disaster strikes the people know the Scouts will be there to help.

That's true. And it's good thing, too, since Trump neglected to tell the Scouts he also wants to slash the budget of the Federal Emergency Management Agency by as much as $600 million.

So much for "be prepared."