The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a silent 1920 German horror film about an insane hypnotist, Dr. Caligari, who induces a sleep walker to commit murders. Critics believe it reflected a subconscious need in German society at that time for a tyrant, and was an example of the country’s obedience and unwillingness to rebel against deranged authority. Sound familiar?
Today, every one of Trump’s cabinet picks is either ethically challenged, plainly corrupt or stupid.
Health and Human Services nominee, Rep. Tom Price (R–GA), invested in health-care firms that benefited from legislation that he was pushing.
Office of Management and Budget nominee, Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R–SC), admitted that he failed to pay more than $15,000 in state and federal employment taxes for a household employee.
Commerce Department nominee, Wilbur Ross, revealed that one of the “dozen or so” housekeepers he has hired since 2009 was undocumented, which he said he only just discovered.
Rick Perry, who was nominated to run the Energy Department, the same department whose name he could not remember when he said he wanted to eliminate it, was, until recently, under the impression that he would be hawking gas and oil development. He had no idea that the Energy Department is concerned with policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material, the nation’s nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the U.S. Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal and domestic energy production.
Betsy DeVos, Trump’s billionaire pick for the Education Department, is brain dead about federal education laws, including those regarding disabled students. Neither she nor her children have attended public schools; she is vague about accountability and has devoted her life to gutting public schools in favor of private education.
Ben Carson, the sleep-deprived surgeon who admitted he has no government experience and has never dealt with housing issues, was nominated to head Housing and Urban Development. He failed to promise that he would not reward Trump businesses with contracts to build affordable housing.
Rex Tillerson, Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, who has long financial ties to Russia, was awarded the Order of Friendship by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013.
Take action now! Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are on our side, but we have to stiffen their resolve. You must call immediately and tell them how devastating these cabinet picks would be. Remind them of the disrespect and vendetta that the Republicans promulgated against President Barack Obama, and that President Donald Trump deserves exactly the same treatment. No compromise. You don’t bring a spoon to a knife fight. Call Schumer’s Washington office at 202-224-6542 or Melville office at 631-753-0978. Contact Gillibrand’s office in Washington at 202-224-4451 or Melville at 631-249-2825.
—Ruth Cohen
