Orlando massacre comments show racist Trump's insanity

Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, with his big sister, U.S. District Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who is on a federal appeals court in Philadelphia. We haven't heard her take on Trump claiming another federal judge can't be impartial in a class-action suit against Trump University, because he is "Mexican" and the racist candidate wants to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

"I was right," wacko racist Donald J. Trump declared after the massacre inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

According to his bizarre reasoning, if the Afghan-born parents of Omar Mateen were barred from entering the United States -- Trump's plan for all Muslims -- the killings wouldn't have happened.

Never mind that the presumptive GOP presidential candidate also described Mateen as "Afghan-born" and condemned "radical Islam," even though the news media have reported the shooter is from Queens, the same borough where Trump was born.

Now, The Record and other media are reporting Mateen may have been a regular at Pulse nightclub who was "living a secret life as a gay man" (A-1).

"Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, denied his son was gay, but said if he had been in the nightclub, he may have been 'scouting the place'" (A-8).

So, the focus on the killer committing a hate crime against gays is shifting away from terrorism in the name of ISIS as a motive -- in another instance of how the news media are more interested in getting it first then in getting it right.

One example is the front-page Mike Kelly column on Tuesday, comparing the slaughter inside the dance club on Sunday to the far more horrific 9/11 attacks on America, claiming both were acts of terrorism.

Obama on Trump

Meanwhile, President Obama and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton "conducted an extraordinary joint attack" on Trump, with the president accusing the billionaire of "doing the terrorists' work for them" (A-4).

Clinton noted that one day after the attack, Trump went on TV and "suggested President Obama is on the side of the terrorists."

Clinton also tore into "Trump's history as a leader of the birther movement, which alleged Obama was not born in America, even though he was" (A-4).

Republican Mitt Romney, who lost the 2o12 election to Obama, noted a Trump presidency would mean "trickle-down racism, trickle-down bigotry and trickle-down misogyny."

Last Friday, one panelist on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" labeled Trump a "sociopath" -- a personality disorder manifesting itself in extreme antisocial attitudes and behavior, and a lack of conscience.

'Face of Pulse'

Editor Deirdre Sykes deserves credit for publishing the photos of 41 of the 49 victims on Page 1 today, but loses points for not finding room in the paper for "stories about the lives of those killed" in the gay dance club.

Readers are referred to northjersey.com/orlando

Sadly, a very large number of older readers don't use computers or smart phones, so what are they supposed to do? Go to the library, call up a friend who does?

Christie's vetoes

An op-ed column today reveals Governor Christie, Trump's transition chief, has vetoed legislation that would have released funds for Green Acres, and farmland and historic preservation (A-11).

That means the GOP bully found a way to thwart the will of New Jersey voters, who "overwhelmingly approved" a 2014 measure dedicating a portion of the Corporate Business Tax for open-space preservation.

The Record's Trenton Bureau has done a poor job of tracking Christie's vetoes, which are believed to top 500, certainly a record for any New Jersey governor.

When drivers stack up behind a turning vehicle on a street without a turn lane, it aggravates air pollution, traffic congestion and the frustration level of negotiating Bergen County's antiquated road network.

Our terrible roads

North Jersey drivers have been bitching and moaning about the condition of streets, roads and highways for years.

Many have focused on Bergen County's antiquated road network, and the widespread shortage of turn lanes.

Now, Road Warrior John Cichowski devotes his column to our "shoddy roads," but only because a report was released on Tuesday that rated "New Jersey the 10th least favorable state for driving" (L-1).

Unhealthy salmon

Leave it Esther Davidowitz, the clueless food editor, to promote a recipe for fresh wild sockeye salmon that is actually bad for you (BL-2).

Chefs like Terrell Wilson use heavy cream, full-fat cheese and butter with abandon, because they know those artery clogging ingredients will make a dish taste incredible.

That doesn't mean you should order it or try to make it at home, if you're watching your cholesterol and weight, and especially if you want to avoid a dish that could be described as a heart-attack on a plate.

In his recipe for 1.5 pounds of heart-healthy sockeye salmon, Terrell uses a whopping 1.5 cups of heavy cream and a full cup of full-fat cheddar cheese.

Look out.