The Left’s reaction to President Trump’s announcement Wednesday regarding transgendered individuals serving in the military was over-the-top in its vitriol and emotional appeals. Left-wing groups immediately played the bigotry card.

What was missing were fact-based explanations for how Obama’s policy mainstreaming transgenderism and the associated costs, which are significant, help the military keep us safe and win wars.

At the risk of being politically incorrect, the military is not an equal opportunity employer. There are many reasons why people are not able to serve.

I am sure most of us feel tremendous compassion for those wrestling with gender dysphoria. Research shows these individuals are bedeviled with many psychological issues before and after “gender reassignment” surgery. This is precisely the very reason why the military should not be forced to spend billions accommodating so few people in combat deployments or other high-stress situations with cramped quarters.

Something jumped out at me as I watched the breathless coverage and read the hyperbolic tweets from Hollywood celebrities who rarely show much interest in national defense policy.

For most of the Obama administration, there was an ongoing scandal at the Veterans Administration over the disgraceful treatment of our heroes. I am sure I don’t have to remind you of what it was like to learn that our veterans who survived bullets and bombs in Baghdad were dying because of bureaucratic neglect.

Most of the people who were in tears or who were screaming into microphones or furiously tweeting at the president rarely showed such emotion as the VA scandal unfolded week after week after week. In fact, many progressives made excuses for the bureaucrats and fought efforts to hold VA officials accountable for the negligence.

So the health care of millions of American veterans didn’t appear to be a high priority for the Left. But the Left is full of righteous indignation over a minuscule segment of active duty personnel.

That is a very revealing commentary on the growing chasm between progressive elites and average Americans.

I often get messages from frustrated readers asking, “Why can’t Republicans and Democrats just get along and do what is best for the country?”

Well, this issue is a prime example of why it is so difficult for the Trump/Pence administration to advance an agenda for the common good when the opposition’s worldview is so distorted.

Democrat senators like Tammy Baldwin (WI), Sherrod Brown (OH), Bob Casey (PA), Joe Donnelly (IN), Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Claire McCaskill (MO), Joe Manchin (WV), Bill Nelson (FL), Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Jon Tester (MT) now face a very high-risk moment. They all represent states Donald Trump won.

Will they support common sense and preserve the military as an effective fighting force?

Or will they side with the extreme Left of their party, which is attacking every institution that sustains our republic?

This CNN headline — “Democrats Say They’re Ready For A Culture War” — suggests they will side with the extreme Left.

We must be able to defend our values and defeat left-wing Democrats.

Thank You, Mr. President

I am thankful that President Trump had the courage to reject Obama’s radical left-wing agenda. And I have heard from many of you who also appreciated his strong and unequivocal statement yesterday. But someone else needs to hear from you too — President Trump!

Please take a moment to call the White House comment line 202-456-1111 and offer a message of encouragement. If you would prefer, you can send an email from this link.

Bringing Jobs Back

At the White House Wednesday, President Trump announced that Foxconn — a Taiwanese manufacturing company with clients that include Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft and Sony — was opening a new plant in Wisconsin. “The company’s initial investment of more than $10 billion will create 3,000 jobs, at a minimum, with the potential for up to 13,000 jobs in the very near future,” the president said.

Terry Gou, Foxconn’s chairman, had high praise for Trump administration. “Foxconn is committed to build in America,” Gou said. Gou added that he had spoken to President Trump three times and every time Trump “emphasized the importance of manufacturing in America and providing high-skill jobs for American workers.”

ABC News reported that Gou “complimented Trump’s leadership at the event by saying, ‘Mr. President, the eagle flies.’”

Indeed, Donald Trump promised to make America great again. And a great nation makes things. His relentless focus on creating jobs in the U.S. and rebuilding our manufacturing base is key to making America great again. This is not rhetorical fluff. President Trump is making it happen.

The day before the president was in Youngstown, Ohio. According to one media account, he received “a hero’s welcome,” with more than 20,000 people requesting tickets to the event. He was introduced by a life-long Democrat, Geno DiFabio.

Many in the GOP establishment still don’t get it. This president understands that the campaign isn’t over. Don’t believe me? Just this week, the progressives launched a new campaign to appeal to the American middle class. They have nothing to offer.

But this president is bringing real jobs to people in states like Wisconsin, which Democrats thought they had wrapped up. Just ask Hillary Clinton who took the state for granted and never campaigned there.

Speaking of Hillary…

Mrs. Clinton has a new book coming out called “What Happened.” All the reports indicate that she is doubling down on the idea that Russia and James Comey cost her the election.

So I guess that means James Comey and Vladimir Putin convinced her to ignore blue collar states like Wisconsin. I guess they convinced Hillary to put our national security secrets on unsecured servers. And I suppose they convinced her to adopt radical policy positions that made her one of the most unpopular political figures in modern American history.