By this late date, you have already made your choice for president and might even have taken advantage of early voting. If that's the case, feel free to jump to the Sports section. If you have yet to vote and are committed to Trump, there's little I can say to change your mind. Therefore, I offer these final encouraging words:
If you are a woman and can admire Trump despite his well-documented history of sexually predatory behavior, misogyny, and callous comments about your sisters, then "you go, girl!"
If you are a veteran and will pull the lever for Trump even though he had five Vietnam War-era deferments, ridiculed both a POW and a Gold Star family, made light of a Purple Heart, and said our generals are "embarrassing to our country," then that's "affirmative."
If you are an Evangelical Christian and Trump's crude language, three marriages, boasts about serial adultery, stiffing of small businesses by his casinos, bilking of students by his sham university, and misuse of charity money don't make you ask, "What would Jesus say?" then "Amen."
If you take your own work or studies seriously and aren't bothered by Trump's refusal to study and prepare for his debates despite all of the people placing their hope and trust in him, then that's the way you roll.
If you follow international politics and are at ease with the Russian oligarch money propping up Trump's empire, his admiration for Vladimir Putin, as well as the meddling of Russia in our electoral process though state-sponsored hacking that Trump won't acknowledge, then Na Zdorovie to you.
If you are a parent and plan to cast your ballot for a man who's mocked the handicapped; fostered racism through birtherism; bullies immigrants, women, journalists and all who criticize him; lies pathologically; plans to kill the children of terrorists; and believes that when things don't go his way the system is rigged, then let's hope your kids and grandkids haven't been paying attention.
If you believe in the First Amendment and the orderly succession of winning presidential candidates to the White House as established 227 years ago and see no existential threat in Trump's banning certain reporters from his rallies, intimidating broadcasters and refusing to say that he will accept the results of the election, then let's say our revered "truths" might not be so "self-evident" to you.
In all seriousness, what will you tell yourself, your children and grandchildren in five or 10 years when Trumpism has been consigned to the ash heap of history? Will your vote make you proud? Was it really the best thing for the country, or were you swallowed up by blind partisanship and the "anybody but Hillary" movement?
I am not suggesting that the only alternative on Nov. 8 is to vote for Clinton. I understand your dislike and distrust of her character flaws, but her life in no way matches the embroidered quilt of sins that comprise Trump's reality-show career.
I agree with you that this country faces some real problems and needs to change direction. Rising income inequality, our devastated manufacturing base, race relations, immigration and our changing demographics have fomented waves of resentment. There's also a Middle East that's always on the boil and a rising China to be confronted. All of this has created a fertile environment for the ascent of a self-proclaimed strong man who touts, "I alone can fix it." That alone should give you great pause.
Trump's moral and ethical flaws, his "arrested development" temperament, and apparent disinterest in mastering domestic and foreign affairs make him the wrong man for these times. Yes, we need a tough-minded leader, but he or she has to have a deep understanding of public policy. Ideally, this person would come from outside the Washington establishment, but Trump's not the one. He's a charlatan, an egomaniac and a damaged demagogue, not the disciplined, well-versed public servant the job requires.
If you can't vote for Clinton, don't. But also don't use this decision as an excuse to vote for a man who is the most deeply flawed candidate in recent history. His campaign has never been about you. It's always been about him, for as John Bright, a 19th-century British statesman once said of an opponent, "He is a self-made man and worships his creator."
Frank Batavick writes from Westminster. His column appears Fridays. Email him at fjbatavick@gmail.com.
