Back in 2008 when Mr Obama was the President-elect and would get current-event policy questions he would say “we only have one President at a time”. In other words, he graciously allowed George W. Bush to serve out his term. Now we apparently have two Presidents at one and the same time. Mr Obama’s term ends on January 20th but President-elect Donald J Trump is traipsing about now acting as though he is already President.
With so much outrageous conduct from Mr Trump to choose from, being outraged about his playing president without the responsibilities of office might seem trivial. It is not.
In 2008 Mr Obama deferred to President George W. Bush. Mr Bush was very unpopular at that point in his presidency and even Mr Obama might have gotten away with a bit of “playing president” but he didn’t do it because such an act disrespects both the office and its current occupant.
So to the media, I say, we have one president at a time and at this time his name is not Donald Trump. It is important that you cover the transition and provide us with the information about the people the president-elect is interviewing and picking for his cabinet. But covering the Indiana Carrier Inc. jobs half-success (at an unknown cost) as though Mr Trump were president is reprehensible.
Respect for our institutions and traditions (written and informal) is at the heart of good governance. Mr Trump does not do respect well, if at all, and though the republic will survive him; we will all have to cultivate and provide a deeper respect for our institutions and traditions. It looks like we will be presented with behavior that sorely tempts us to embrace outrage, bitterness and cynicism but we must refuse to succumb.
So with all due respect Mr President-elect Trump please wait until you are sworn as President to act as President.