“Donald trump is an illegitimate President.” “Assassinate him.” “The election was rigged.” “The Russians are coming.” “Trump is a racist, misogynistic, potty mouth, liar who groped a woman on Delta 30 years ago.”
When all else fails get together a bunch of losers and psychiatrists to send President Trump to the asylum: “Unfit to serve.” “Impeach Trump.”
The last time this song was played was 1964: 1,189 psychiatrists declared then presidential candidate Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) psychologically unfit to be President. The negative campaign worked. Voters were frightened. Goldwater lost untold millions of votes.
As a result the American Psychiatric Association (APA) established the “Goldwater rule.” Section 7 of the APA principles of medical ethics states, “It is unethical for psychiatrists to give a professional opinion about a public figure they have not examined in person and they have not obtained consent to discuss their mental health in public.” The rule was reinforced in 2016 by the American Psychological Association Ethics Code.
The APA opened the door for Sen. Barry Goldwater to sue. He won $75,000 (in today’s devalued currency, $579,000). However, Goldwater is deemed to be the founder of modern conservatism. On the other hand, Johnson is credited with the “war on poverty” which has since cost the American taxpayer more than $3 trillion ( with a “T”). The “war” has yet to be won.
For those still on Common Core American History, Johnson Democrats claimed Goldwater was crazy enough to blow up the planet. Reference the TV commercials showing a young girl picking daisies, being vaporized by an atomic blast and subsequent mushroom cloud, attributed to a mentally unstable “hawkish” Goldwater.
Democrats need to be careful what they ask for, by opening this can of worms, again.
Dr. Michael Velsmid
Peachtree City, Ga.
