What Mr. Trump Should Have Said

Last Thursday night I joined 24 million other Americans and watched the Republican Presidential Debate on Fox News. While I did have two or three candidates that I was particularly interested in seeing, I admit I was curious what kind of fireworks Donald Trump would ignite! And it didn’t take long!

In the beginning Trump admitted that he would not commit to unconditional support the GOP nominee. Unless it was him! Then came Megyn Kelly’s question and Trump’s answer that people and pundits are still buzzing about.

Kelly asked, “You’ve called women you don’t like ‘fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.’ Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks….Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge…. that you are part of the war on women?”

Trump didn’t apologize, but dismissed it as “political correctness” that he didn’t have time for. And neither should the country. However, the aftermath following the debate has caused even a greater firestorm.  As if to prove her point, spewing sexist vitriol, Trump criticized Megyn Kelly as being unprofessional, calling her a “bimbo.” “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever,” said Trump on a CNN interview.

Here’s what Mr. Trump should have said.

“Megyn, thank you for asking that question. Yes, I am blunt and plain spoken. And at times I have stepped out of bound with some of my comments. Many of those were said in jest on my TV show, which was geared for entertainment. But I realize that kind of talk is inappropriate for President of the United States. I regret those comments and apologize for them. I have the greatest respect for women. Many women serve in executive positions in my company and are very successful. If I am elected as President, I will seek out qualified women to serve in my Cabinet. In fact, Megyn, I would honored to have you serve as my national press spokesperson. I think you would do a terrific job.”

Of course that kind of answer wasn’t going to come from Donald Trump. But it would be the kind of response from a person of honor, decency and civility. That’s not political correctness. That’s common courtesy.

It is easy, however, to see character flaws of people in politics, business and entertainment. But we must remember most of them don’t operate on the same value system as Christians. So, closer to home, what about our words? Our treatment of our friends, family, and brethren? Our attitudes and actions toward women? Or men? Or different races? Or different religions?

Would we be embarrassed to have the words we say to family members, or the opposite sex, quoted on national TV to 24 million people?

Consider these Biblical admonitions regarding our speech.

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (Eph 4;23).

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place” (Eph 5:4).

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Prov 16:24).

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver” (Prov 25:11).

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person“(Col. 4:6).

As Believers let us model the message of the Bible in our speech, and not be influenced by crude and rude words of the world.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman