On Day 31 of the shutdown, Trump hosted an ostentatious "Great Gatsby"-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago. This was hours before millions of Americans lost their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. Roughly one in eight people in the U.S relies on the foot stamp program. That's 42 million Americans, more than 12% of the U.S. population, and includes 16 million children.
The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, pointed out the excesses and callousness of the ultra wealthy. It's always been one of my favorite books. I love the original movie as well. This remark by Nick is my favorite quote from the book:
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
This NYT article is from 2020 and yet now, it's even more true - A ‘Great Gatsby’ Quote Takes On New Resonance. People critical of the president’s and other Republicans’ behavior have been sharing a line from the Fitzgerald novel about the wealthy characters whose “carelessness” harms everyone around them. Apparently, even then, the famous quote was resonating.
Guests were seen wearing 1920s attire and there were hosts in flapper attire greeting the invitees, which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ivanka and Tiffany Trump, and their husbands, Jared Kushner and Michael Boulos, Jeanine Pirro and a select circle of supporters.
The Responses -
“The way he rubs his inhumanity in Americans’ face never ceases to stun me. He’s illegally refusing to pay food stamp benefits…while he throws a ridiculously over the top Gatsby party for his right wing millionaire and corporate friends.” ~ Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut
“Trump hosts a Gatsby party for billionaires while SNAP benefits expire for 41 million Americans today. Tax the rich. Feed hungry Americans.” ~ California Rep. Ro Khanna
“It’s lavish Great Gatsby parties and polished marble bathrooms for Donald Trump. It’s empty fridges, tight household budgets, and layoffs for the rest of us. First, Trump sold out working families in exchange for tax cuts for his billionaire friends, and now he refuses to lift a finger to keep health care affordable for 22 million Americans and ensure 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, have food on their table. Last night, Trump made it even clearer that he doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself and his wealthy friends.” ~ DNC Chair Ken Martin
Responding to the criticism, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent that Democrats “are full of it.”
Read More
Trump slammed for lavish Gatsby-themed Halloween party as vital food funding lapses for millions of Americans ~ The Independent
Mar-a-Lago Guests Spill Tacky Details of Trump’s Gatsby Bash - The Daily Beast. Details are beginning to emerge about Donald Trump’s opulent, out-of-touch Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night.
Trump Hosts “Great Gatsby”-Themed Lavish Halloween Party as Tens of Millions of Americans Face Tough Choices and Empty Fridges ~ DNC War Room
Fury as Trump holds 'tone deaf' Gilded Age Halloween party as millions lose food aid ~ Raw Story. Critics couldn’t help but point out the irony of the theming of the party, based on the 1925 novel that offers a sharp critique of social and economic inequality seen during the Gilded Age in the late 19th century, which was fraught with corporate and government corruption.
Who to Contact
Some key Republicans could be contacted on this one. They are making it clear that this administration doesn't care about the working class and they are rubbing it in our faces. They are blatantly tone-deaf, out-of-touch, and corrupt.
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| I used the Nick quote on the fronts of all 4 of my postcards. |
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1111
John Thune
Senate Majority Leader
United States Senate SD-511
Washington, DC 20510
Mike Johnson
House Speaker
521 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
I'm throwing in this one because she has been quite vocal lately and is not shying away from criticizing her colleagues -
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Dalton District Office
P.O. Box 829
Dalton, GA 30722
Phone: (706) 226-5320
MORE CONTACTS
If you want to write or call someone else about this issue, check the CONTACTS PAGE. Besides frequent contacts, this page also has links to help you easily find others - senators, and representatives, of course. There's also a link to a list of committees and their members, so you can target lawmakers who would have the most influence on an issue.
ALSO, check out the TIPS AND RESOURCES page for links to resources that I truly believe you will find helpful.