Welcome again, your goals had been your ticket out/
Welcome again, to that very same outdated place that you just laughed about/
Well, the names have all modified because you hung round/
But these goals have remained, they usually’ve circled.
The bubble-gum lyrics come from the John Sebastian theme music of the 1970s hit TV present, “Welcome Back, Kotter.”
They serenade a instructor who returns to his outdated highschool.
Replace “Kotter” with “President Trump” and it’s a distinct, not-so-sweet music of Donald J. Trump’s long-overdue return to Chicago.
Welcome again, Mr. President!
Air Force One lands Monday morning at O’Hare Airport for Trump’s first go to to Chicago as president. He’s scheduled to headline a luncheon fundraiser at Trump Tower downtown, then communicate on the annual convention of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Chicago has not been a go-to cease for Trump.
In March 2016, then-candidate Trump was nearly run out of Chi-Town within the wake of a extremely touted marketing campaign occasion.
Trump was set to seem earlier than 10,000-strong at a “Make America Great Again” rally on the UIC Pavilion on the close to West Side.
Inside, the stadium was full of rowdy lots of supporters inside. Uber-angry lots of protestors marched exterior to decry what they considered as a racist, xenophobic and misogynist marketing campaign.
Shortly earlier than Trump’s scheduled look, his marketing campaign cancelled, citing security issues.
Fraidy cat.
Welcome again, Mr. President, your goals had been your ticket out.
You as soon as got here to Chicago to construct Trump Tower, the glitzy monument to your colossal ego on the Chicago River. Back then, you had been promoting condos and cashing in. Chicago was all good.
Back then, the presidency was only a sugar plum dream dancing in your head.
“I love Chicago. I have big investments in Chicago, and I think it’s a great city,” you as soon as instructed Fox News.
After pulling political strings and milking us for the bucks, you left us behind to run for the White House.
Welcome again, to that very same outdated place that you just laughed about. You gained workplace by demonizing our minority-majority metropolis, a welcoming metropolis. You bought there by bamboozling a disaffected, indignant base who thought we had been the enemy. You assured them you’d salve their misplaced grievances.
In speeches and Twitter rants, you attacked our struggles with violent crime. You ridiculed our Sanctuary City standing. Chicago was “a total disaster” you stated. You advised that “Afghanistan is safer than Chicago.”
Yes, we now have challenges. And sure, you have got the facility to assist. But you have got supplied little out of your administration, as an alternative dismissing Chicago as an undeserving metropolis stuffed with murderous criminals and hapless victims.
Well, the names have all modified because you hung round.
Now, Chicago has elected a queer black lady mayor, and he or she’s not taking your stuff. We have our personal billionaire, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, in our nook. Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson is the crime fighter in cost. He’s making progress. Johnson is internet hosting the police chief’s convention, however is skipping your speech.
“I can’t in good conscience stand by while racial insults and hatred are cast from the Oval Office, or Chicago is held hostage because of our views on New Americans,” Johnson stated in a press release.
And our goals have remained … .
Tens of 1000’s of protesters are anticipated to converge on Trump Tower Monday morning to welcome you.
Their message: Your hateful rhetoric and cynical race baiting gained’t kill their goals for a greater Chicago.
They know America — and Chicago — are already nice.
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