John Gray, one of the pastors

rmrd0000 — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:43:18 +0000

In reply to Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Inner City Pastors

John Gray, one of the pastors wants to make it clear that he was torn about attending the meeting. He knew that it would create hurt. He was there to discuss prison reform. He does not support Trump.

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/08/02/ohio-pastor-darrell-scott-co-signs-trump-in-clergy-meeting-john-gray-responds-and-jamal-bryant-weighs-in/

Edit to add:

The Root does a hilarious take on the 8 types of black Trump supporters

https://www.theroot.com/the-8-kinds-of-black-donald-trump-supporters-1828064968

The released tape of Cohen

rmrd0000 — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 12:11:01 +0000

In reply to Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Inner City Pastors

The released tape of Cohen and Trump included a discussion of whether Darell Scoot and Mark Burns were still “ useful”

Trump: Pastor Scott, what’s happening? Can we use him any more?

Cohen: “Oh yeah…100 [percent?]. No, your friend Mark Burns. We told him to stop.

Trump: I don’t mean [him]. Mark Burns, can we use him any more?

Cohen: No.

https://thewayofimprovement.com/2018/07/24/mark-burns-can-we-use-him-anymore/

Apparently, Mark Burns was not at the meeting.

Posted in amazement, actually

artappraiser — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 09:26:22 +0000

In reply to Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Inner City Pastors

Posted in amazement, actually. I cannot believe this is the same Trump who wrote those angry tweets the same day. He can switch on a dime. Or maybe getting his anger out allows him to be charming? In any case, I think we should be aware that he can be like this in the midst of all the chaos we are seeing reported.

Here is a video @ YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HQh0AD7Ros

I watched the first few minutes, and, though he was mostly unashamedly reading from a script, he was very calm and gracious and he took the time to break from the script to make gentle acknowledgments and seemed like he was very pleased to be with this group.

Also good to be aware of: some positive local news coverage of same:

Greenville pastor John Gray prays with President Donald Trump

Anderson Independent Mail Published 7:10 p.m. ET Aug. 1, 2018 | Updated 7:19 p.m. ET Aug. 1, 2018

Two Detroit pastors meet with Trump at White House on prison reform

The Detroit News Published 5:27 p.m. ET Aug. 1, 2018

And CBN:

You Always Have a Friend at the White House': Trump Sits Down With Faith Leaders

08-01-2018

And the A.P. on the remarks by Scott

Pastor praises Trump as 'pro-black' at prison reform event

August 1 at 4:18 PM

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump was lauded by inner-city pastors, including one who said he may go down as the “most pro-black president” in recent history, during a White House roundtable on Wednesday that was focused on efforts to reform the prison system.

Trump told the group, which included pastors and bishops from across the country, that his administration has been making progress on efforts to make it easier for prisoners to re-enter society and find work.

“When we say hire American, we mean all Americans,” Trump said.

Among those gathered was Darrell Scott, a black Ohio pastor who was an early supporter of Trump’s campaign and has been working with the administration on urban and prison issues.

“This is probably the most pro-active administration regarding urban America and the faith-based community in my lifetime,” Scott told the group, adding, “This is probably going be ... the most pro-black president that we’ve had in our lifetime.” [.....]

Note (also from the A.P. story) that this is a Jared Kushner initiative, no doubt influenced by his father having had to serve time:

The White House has been focusing its criminal justice reform efforts on improving re-entry, rehabilitation and workforce training programs, instead of sentencing reform, which many advocates argue would make a bigger difference.

Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, has been leading the effort, which has included lobbying Congress to pass a bill called the First Step Act.

The House passed the bill in May.

So maybe the good attitude is because it's something Ivanka cares about? Just cynically throwing that out there....

Criticism from columnist Damon Young @ TheRoot.com on it, Aug. 1:

Somehow, Donald Trump Keeps Finding Groups of Thirsty, Shameless and Silly Church Negroes to Meet With Him

Young includes this photo tweeted by Kelly O'Donell while it was going on, clearly, it was not a small group:

.@realDonaldTrump with faith leaders in meeting happening now. pic.twitter.com/BqEA2sSed5
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) August 1, 2018

dagblog - Comments for "Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Inner City Pastors"

John Gray, one of the pastors

The released tape of Cohen

Posted in amazement, actually