Did Donald Trump Disqualify Himself?

Over the weekend, Donald Trump disqualified himself as a candidate for President of the United States. It's interesting that he did it himself rather then some proposed opponent, or the mainstream media. No, it wasn't a rival in the Republican field or Hillary or Bernie from the Democratic side. It was Trump himself.

I'm speaking of course of his failure to disavow himself from the support of David Duke or the Ku Klux Klan when asked directly a number of times by Jake Tapper of CNN on Sunday. Now Trump's latest excuse is that he had already disavowed David Duke on Friday of last week. Of course it also doesn't help that he was preparing for a rally in the deep south later on Sunday. Frankly all of this makes his refusal to be clear even worse. How can you deny knowing anything about David Duke on Sunday when you disavowed him on Friday? Do you somehow believe that not making a clear comment about the Ku Klux Klan will help you in voting in the south? Thankfully the vast majority of people in the south have moved beyond that kind of pitiful thinking.

If Trump needs any reminders, the Klan stood for not just racial hatred but for murder, torture, burning homes and instilling fear while hiding their identity under hoods. David Duke was a former leader or Grand Dragon of the Klan.

It isn't hard to be clear about Duke or the Klan and for whatever reason, Trump refused. His excuses and response on Monday morning gives people more insight and is pretty typical of Trump. This whole thing is CNN's fault says Trump. According to Trump, he had already been clear and in addition, they had given him a faulty earpiece so he was unable to understand the question and any nuances. These are reactions and responses we should be familiar with from Trump. He is never accountable for his words or actions and it is always someone else's fault.

How difficult is it to say that the principles and beliefs of the Ku Klux Klan are despicable? Not at all - I just said it. The fact that Donald Trump can't or won't say anything that clearly on the issue really should disqualify him from the Presidential race. It's as simple as that.