Dear Mr. President,
Enough, already!
I have been a workplace ethicist for over 40 years. Never have I encountered any employer or employee at any level who repeatedly insulted his/her co-workers, bosses, clients, competitors, whomever – the way you do. They would ultimately be disciplined at least, fired and even taken to court.
These recent, horrid politically-motivated murders and attempted murders have rattled the entire nation. Consequently, we are ALL searching for ways to lower the temperature of political discourse wherever possible, in hope that nothing like this can ever occur again. We are launching the conversation to tone down the political rhetoric, so we can agree to disagree on a civil basis.
We are doing our part, and YOU can do your part as well. You have been elected president of our great nation, and so you have the responsibility to do your part!
Your office deserves our respect. You deserve our respect. However, you continually publicly insult members of congress, governors and mayors, foreign leaders — ANYONE who does not agree with you and your policies. You brand them as your enemies and give them insulting nicknames. You use your bully pulpit with this demeaning rhetoric. Do you want such behavior to become acceptable to everyone, including our school kids? It is NOT acceptable. It’s just plain wrong.
Traditionally, there has always been an unofficial code of conduct for presidents. You do not insult your predecessors. You can disagree with their policies, but you never insult, degrade or denigrate them. You violate this code at every opportunity you get. You broke that modicum of respect many years ago.
The buck DOES stop here, Mr. President, with you! You should be our role model of behavior. You CAN be! But please, start today and knock off your personal, negative rhetoric. Our country deserves better.