A simple standard to select candidates

Condemn — To express disapproval of; censure, criticize.

Condone — To forgive, overlook or disregard (an offense) without protest or censure.

Regarding Donald Trump’s recent post on Truth Social depicting the Obamas as apes, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the Senate’s only Black Republican, declared it was “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of the White House.”

Donald Trump does not hide the fact that he is a racist. He will not acknowledge that it was a mistake to post the images of the Obamas as apes. And he stated he will not apologize for posting those images. Donald Trump is proud to be a racist.

The White House, in their attempt to defend Trump, could not even keep the alibis straight, blaming a staffer for the post. Later Trump acknowledged he was responsible for the post. Regardless of who posted it — it was posted to Donald Trump’s account.

In my opinion if you do not condemn racism, you condone it. And while many Republicans and Trump supporters have called the Trump post disgusting and suggested that Trump remove the post, which he eventually did. I have not heard any of them condemn racism or Donald Trump for his post. The silence is deafening.

As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, I believe racism should be one of the issues we all take into consideration when evaluating the candidates running for local, state and federal offices.

It is only fair that we ask every candidate running for an elected office whether they condemn racism or condone racism. If they do not condemn racism that makes them a racist.

Clarence W. Beardsley

Arlington Heights