Trump releases video message for ‘Republican Hindu Coalition’ rally in New Jersey.
NEW YORK: Perhaps Donald Trump watched old reruns of The Apprentice in his free time instead of preparing for the first presidential debate against Hillary Clinton, held at Hofstra University, on September 26th. He was routed in the 90-minute exchange, looked haggard, morally and mentally fatigued with all the labels that stuck to him as the night progressed: tax evader, sleazy businessman whose net worth is questionable, exploiter of the middle class, racist, misogynist, untrustworthy with nuke codes, international bully, and, with pretty much no plans for anything at all to improve the lot of America, except for exhibiting plenty of braggadocio about his purported wealth.
Now, it seems Trump has already made plans to cut down on valuable time to prepare for the crucial third and final presidential debate, to be held in Las Vegas on October 19th (his plans for the 2nd debate, to be held in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 9th, has not yet been revealed).
Trump intends to address and hob nob with ‘Hindus’ of Indian-origin, in the name of reaching out to “thousands of Indian Americans” to make them see his method to “Make America Great Again”. And of course, certainly spend some quality time with some handsome Bollywood actors and pretty actresses, perhaps do a little jig on stage with them, to a popular Bollywood dance track.
Sure, in Trump’s stylebook for presidential debates, that’s as good as a way to prepare for a debate with Hillary Clinton, to become president of the United States, as anything else, including calling Rosie O’Donnell all kinds of nasty slurs because of her body shape and weight.
Trump and his campaign have released a 24-second video for a meet he will attend at the PNC Arts Center in New Jersey, on October 15th, organized by the Republican Hindu Coalition, headed by the Illinois-based businessman and conservative political activist Shalabh ‘Shalli’ Kumar. The meet is titled ‘Humanity United Against Terror’, intends to fundraise for ‘global victims of Islamic terror’.
In the video message, which can be seen below, Trump plans to reach out to the ‘Indian Diaspora’, saying: “Hello everyone, it is my pleasure to invite you to a Republican Hindu Coalition rally at the PNC Arts Center in New Jersey. I am very much looking forward to speaking to thousands of Indian Americans and others about making America great again. I look forward to seeing everybody there. It would be an incredible evening.”
According to the Trump Campaign, the event will bring together top actors, dancers, and singers from Bollywood, and Hindu spiritual and civic leaders for a celebration of Hindu culture and heritage, reported the Press Trust of India.
“I am looking forward to joining my good friend Shalli Kumar, founder and chairman of the Republican Hindu Coalition, for this terrific event,” Trump said in an accompanying statement issued by his campaign.
Kumar, who had donated $898,800 to the Trump campaign at the Republican National Convention, in July, was days ago appointed by Trump to his advisory committee for people from the Asia Pacific region. The upcoming event in New Jersey is likely Trump’s way to say ‘Thank You’ to Kumar. Interestingly, an initial announcement made by the Republican Hindu Coalition said the same event would be held on September 24th in New Jersey, two days before the first debate. Now comes this new announcement with the change in date, with the video message from Trump to allay any fears among sponsors and participants that the meet would once again be a damp squib, fail to take place.
An earlier report by The Hill said Trump reportedly told Kumar during a meeting that Pakistan cannot be trusted as an ally as they gave shelter to Osama Bin Laden.
“The way the Muslim religion is being practiced today — it’s not the religion but the way it is being practiced today — there’s something wrong,” Kumar told The Hill, in July after he made his donation to the Trump campaign.
“The policy setting is that we need to have a lot of scrutiny. I totally agree with Newt Gingrich. Mosques should be monitored completely, vetting should be taking place. … I am totally for profiling. If you need to profile, what is the fuss?” he added.
Hatred for Pakistan and Islamic terror is nothing new for Kumar. He has worked as a political activist to see that Pakistan is cut off from all aid by the US. Countering radical Islam has likely shaped Kumar’s political activism over the years.
Kumar has also tried hard to place staunch conservative Hindu candidates in the US Congress for some years now. In a congressional campaign in Illinois two years ago, Republican Manju Goel’s campaign had photos and messages from Narendra Modi and Baba Ramdev, along with the photo of Kumar too.
Read that story here: https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2014/03/10/ads-manju-goels-illinois-campaign-congress-photos-messages-narenda-modi-baba-ramdev/
However, Trump is making a ‘huuuge’ mistake in endorsing and appearing in Kumar’s meet in New Jersey. Just like he failed to recognize a turban-wearing Sikh protester at a rally earlier this year, and thought he was instead wearing a cap, Trump and his campaign is now making the stupid mistake of trying to club all Indian Americans under the Hindu religion umbrella. It’s just offensive and ineffective strategy.
Perhaps somebody sensible, who can look beyond all that brown skin, should advise Trump (since he clearly has no clue about it despite opening franchises of his hotels in Mumbai and Haryana) that Indian American voters comprise of many religions, not just Hindus. There are also Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Jews, Jains, Buddhists, among others. India takes pride in being seen as a nation of religions co-existing peacefully. It’s ridiculous and dangerous to try alienate all other Indian Americans other than Hindus as the only Indian Americans who matter in America.
Read a related story: https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2016/09/02/sri-sri-ravi-shankar-refuses-to-attend-meet-for-donald-trump-in-new-jersey416950/
Somebody should also advise Trump that most Indian Americans have been strong Democrats for years, he really has no chance to get their votes; most people who do show up there would be coming for the chance to watch some Bollywood celebrities, not him.
But of course, it’s a good opportunity for Trump to lose some weight dancing to a latest Bollywood track on stage in New Jersey, four days before his third presidential debate with Clinton.
See Trump’s video message:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xthn7vMXeog
(Sujeet Rajan is Editor-in-Chief, The American Bazaar. Follow him @SujeetRajan1)
1 Comment
He was at Hindu Republicans function. Why can’t he just for once say that he supports Hindus. Why must he genuflect to everyone else at a Hindu Republican function? Do politicians always include Hindus when they go to a Jewish or Muslim function? I don’t think so. The brain dead mentality of sickular brigade is excruciating.