President Trump has made no bones about wanting to keep his family around him as he runs the country. There has already been some controversy about his making several children White House advisors. Now the criticism has kicked into high gear as Ivanka has been given an office in the West Wing of the White House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwQor6PouaI
Our dear friend, and constant peacemaker, Al Sharpton, has a few things to say about that:
Via Western Journalism:
“If President Barack Obama had given his daughters or his mother-in-law an office and some access to classified documents and cleared security status, they would have run him and everybody else out (of) the White House,” said Sharpton, referring to Obama’s young children, Sasha and Malia, and Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama’s mother, who moved into the White House to help care for her grandchildren.
“They say now she ain’t got no title. She ain’t got no role. We ain’t payin’ her no money. But she can see everything classified,” Sharpton said.
As compelling as Sharpton’s argument is, I think it’s worth pointing out a few differences between Obama’s situation and President Trump’s. Former President Obama’s daughters were 11 and 8 respectively and obviously not really old enough to advise on anything other than lip gloss when he took office. Ivanka was 35, married with children and running a successful company of her own when President Trump was elected. She has since resigned from her company, specifically to avoid conflicts of interest while advising on issues important to herself and families everywhere.
Sharpton also says “she can see everything classified.” I sincerely hope he knows he’s exaggerating and he’s not stupid enough to think that’s how security clearances and classifications of documents work. Ivanka and her attorney have made it very clear that she is going through a security clearance process and that no special exceptions will be made for her in the way of security.
Some say that her position belittles many that have worked their entire lives for an office in the White House. However, Jamie Gorelick, an attorney and ethics adviser for Ivanka Trump, said the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has said the president can consult with family members as private citizens, and that Ivanka Trump will be doing just that.
“Our view is that the conservative approach is for Ivanka to voluntarily comply with the rules that would apply if she were a government employee, even though she is not,” said Gorelick. “The White House Counsel’s Office agrees with that approach.”
We elected President Trump to lead this country to the best of his ability. If he thinks that his daughter will help him do that, then I say Godspeed to them both.
(Source: Western Journalism)