Trump: "I don't want poor people in my cabinet"

[NewYorkExpress]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Personally, I would want the best qualified person, regardless of wealth to hold a position, even an economic one (just because your wealthy doesn't mean you can understand the economy). What do you think?

[Virginiá]

Such a shallow measure of quality.

[mencken]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Personally, I would want the best qualified person, regardless of wealth to hold a position, even an economic one (just because your wealthy doesn't mean you can understand the economy). What do you think?

I find more objectionable the implication that someone is "in charge" of the economy. That description sounds more appropriate for a Soviet commissar than for an official for an ostensibly capitalist nation.

[JA]

In Trump's mind, and that of a considerable portion of Americans, wealth is equivalent to talent and ability. So, if you're poor, it's solely because you're untalented and/or unmotivated. Of course, viewing people that way, you wouldn't want poor people in your cabinet.

Anyone with sense knows that's total garbage, but that would require conceding America isn't the land of 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' like the right-wing love to proclaim.

[Yank2133]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Yup.

I can't tell you how many people I know who voted for Trump because he was a successful, wealthy businessman.

It never occurs to people there are alot of stupid people with money. Trump being the perfect example of this.

[Hindsight was 2020]

Thanks for the 2018 ad Donald-DCCC

[Yank2133]

Thanks for the 2018 ad Donald-DCCC

Meh, making an ad of this would be a waste of money.

[JA]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Yup.

I can't tell you how many people I know who voted for Trump because he was a successful, wealthy businessman.

It never occurs to people there are alot of stupid people with money. Trump being the perfect example of this.

If the existence of the Kardashians hasn't blown that myth to pieces then nothing will.

[Kingpoleon]

Neither did Obama or Bush or Clinton or Bush or Reagan or Carter.... et cetera, et cetera. Quite frankly, Ross is more qualified than 99.99999% of Americans. This is just Trump saying what every other President has thought.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Such a shallow measure of quality.

The sad thing is, I don't think it's out of any kind of malice.  It really makes perfect sense to him.

[Zioneer]

The former president of Uruguay would very much take offense to Trump's views on this, I think.

No, but seriously, this is like the most predictable thing from Trump ever.

[Hindsight was 2020]

Neither did Obama or Bush or Clinton or Bush or Reagan or Carter.... et cetera, et cetera. Quite frankly, Ross is more qualified than 99.99999% of Americans. This is just Trump saying what every other President has thought.

Again the problem is Trump is suppose to be this "shake up DC" populist an while it was obvious bullsh*t to anyone who isn't his supporters the fact is his supporters still say he is even though he day by day is acting more an more like an establishment shill

[The Arizonan]

Why doesn't Donald Trump appoint a non-rich yet non-poor person for Commerce Secretary instead?

It's hard to believe that this orange piece of s**t is president.

[Torie]

Not that the comment becomes inoffensive, but the headline is misleading. Trump said he doesn't want poor people in cabinet positions that relate to managing the economy (to wit, "but in those particular positions I just don’t want a poor person"). He did not say his means test related to all cabinet positions. So in his mind, having an impecunious person as secretary of state, would be just fine. Trump is handicapped by the truncated scope of his moral vision (among other numerous handicaps, sad to say). Who knew?

[Hnv1]

tbf, behavioral researches show that poor people do make worse judgments because of scarcity (Anandi Mani 2013)

[Person Man]

By "poor" he means non-.01%.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Has any President hired a poor for a cabinet level job, especially and economic one?

[Person Man]

Has any President hired a poor for a cabinet level job, especially and economic one?

It really depends. What about a high paid econimics professor that would be considered "poor" by Trump's definition.

That is what is really interesting about this. Above a certain point, wealth is more an issue of risk than skill.

There are tons of Intellectuals and Civil Servants making 10 or 15 a month who are just as skilled as the businessman making that much an hour or minute simply because they are passionate theory and policy.

[Sir Mohamed]

For sure, because it's their own fault that they are poor. Total losers. Trump doesn't like losers.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

In Trump's mind, and that of a considerable portion of Americans, wealth is equivalent to talent and ability. So, if you're poor, it's solely because you're untalented and/or unmotivated. Of course, viewing people that way, you wouldn't want poor people in your cabinet.

Anyone with sense knows that's total garbage, but that would require conceding America isn't the land of 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' like the right-wing love to proclaim.

America's semi-secular version of the prosperity gospel is one of our worst traits.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Putting people in charge because they're rich is the equivalent of betting on a die to roll high because it rolled high last time, and besides, you like how it looks.

[RINO Tom]

Neither did Obama or Bush or Clinton or Bush or Reagan or Carter.... et cetera, et cetera. Quite frankly, Ross is more qualified than 99.99999% of Americans. This is just Trump saying what every other President has thought.

Again the problem is Trump is suppose to be this "shake up DC" populist an while it was obvious bullsh*t to anyone who isn't his supporters the fact is his supporters still say he is even though he day by day is acting more an more like an establishment shill

"His supporters" say that in the sense that you're talking about his most loyal and rabid and unflinching worshipers like Sanchez.  Most of "his supporters," as in people who cast their ballot for him, just wanted a Republican in the White House and could not care less about his "populism."

[pbrower2a]

President J R Ewing Trump may play a populist game to gull the proles, but he then shafts them. It is not that he is rich that troubles me; it is that he is filthy rich, vile in his expression of wealth, and incredibly greedy. This man is a comic-book villain.

[SoLongAtlas]

President J R Ewing Trump may play a populist game to gull the proles, but he then shafts them. It is not that he is rich that troubles me; it is that he is filthy rich, vile in his expression of wealth, and incredibly greedy. This man is a comic-book villain.

Speaking of which... Trump as the Penguin https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CbzFpOvUYAAPG16.jpg

[RI]

Be honest people: how many poor people do you know who'd even be qualified to run a federal department? Using a sensible definition of poor, anyway...

[Wells]

Donald Trump is very much a coastal elitist. How is that swamp draining going?