The late, great Rush Limbaugh oftentimes said on his immensely popular radio program that, "Words mean something."
Love him or hate him he's absolutely correct.
I don't want to swim in the pool of Captain Obvious but in the era of social media, instantaneous news coverage, smart phones, Chat GPT and more, we are treated to more access and exchanges than ever before. Along with this incredible inventory of expressions anything you say, write, reel or sing will potentially reach, literally, the entire globe.
Let's talk about reach.
The most viewed (most liked) on Instagram is the photo of soccer star Lionel Messi holding the 2022 World Cup in victory. The number is 75.6 million.
The most subscribers on YouTube belongs to Mr. Beast who boasts 452 million.
The most viewed on YouTube is "Baby Shark Dance" with over 16 billion.
Admit it ... you're singing it in your head right now.
So, yes, I would say that words and more mean something in just the way it's unprecedently omnipresent.
Inevitably, the conversation about conversation leads us back to the one element that touches all our lives everyday whether we like it or not and that's politics and the co-mingling with entertainment and beyond.
The recent tragic death of actor, producer, director and writer, Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, may serve as an exemplary story of how words truly mean something. Especially from the President of the United States.
Yes, Donald J. Trump.
Los Angeles authorities confirmed that the Reiner's were found dead in their Brentwood home on Sunday, December 14th and their son, Nick, has been arrested and charged with their murders. The graphic descriptions of the assault are deeply disturbing and not appropriate for this space. As of this writing there is no motive and the son is being held without bail.
Rob Reiner is known to be the son of television legend Carl Reiner and found initial fame portraying the character "Meathead" on the provocative and groundbreaking sitcom, "All in the Family." His career brought himself legendary status with productions such as "This Is Spinal Tap," "Stand By Me," "When Harry Met Sally," "A Few Good Men," "Sleepless in Seattle," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and many more.
It's inarguable that Reiner has had a great impact on not only the entertainment industry but with equally great cultural influences, too. I mean, "I'll have what she's having." Drop mic.
However, with fame and success comes a powerful platform with access to so, so many. And your words precede you with an instant validation leading to substantial influence.
Reiner was a sharp critic of the right over the years. However, his rhetoric regarding President Trump could be considered the most incendiary.
“Donald Trump is the single-most unqualified human-being to ever assume the Presidency of the United States. He is mentally unfit. Not only does he not understand how government works, he has no interest in trying to find out how it works,” Reiner said. (2017 - Variety)
"You have one candidate, Trump, who actually tells you he's going to govern like an authoritarian," Reiner told MS Now (formerly MSNBC) in 2023.
"Do we want fascism or do we want to continue the 248 years of self-rule?" he asked during the interview. "Do we want to continue democracy or do we want to slip into fascism?"
"He wants to destroy the Constitution, go after his political enemies and turn America into an autocracy? We see autocracy making its move around the world. And so if we crumble, there's a danger that democracy crumbles around the world." (The Guardian, 2024)
During Trump's second term, Reiner called on Americans to speak out against the Trump administration.
"It's really gotten to a very, very scary place in this country, and we're going to have to figure out how to dig ourselves out of this before it's too long. But we have got to keep speaking out. Everybody has to keep speaking out," Reiner told WBEZ Chicago in September, per Deadline.
Yes, pointed, aggressive, and harsh. And with Reiner's notoriety, considered truthful by some and plausible by many.
Regardless, this is America and we have the freedom of speech. We live in a globally communicative time and unless you're calling for the physical harm, economic ruin or any other violation of statutory laws against your target then you have the absolute right to express your opinion.
However, said target has the same latitude when and if they reply.
President Trump issued the following statement upon learning of Rob and Michele Reiner's death:
"A very sad thing happened last night in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star has passed away, together with his wife, Michele, reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding and uncurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS. He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace."
I am a supporter of President Trump. I voted for him three times.
I am not a supporter of the increasing number of times he says inappropriate things such as this public and viral insensitive statement on this universally agreed upon tragic event.
The Reiners were murdered by their own son in their own home. The violence that caused their deaths is literally horrific. I pray that no family ever, ever has to experience this and we, as a nation, grieve.
Does the president have a right to speak his mind, to express his thoughts and reactions?
Absolutely.
But the Commander-in-Chief is also the Comforter-in-Chief.
Any president or leader should know there is a time and a place. Read the room.
Rob Reiner may not have supported or liked the president, but many supported and liked Rob Reiner.
Making political and critical statements of a murder victim while the bodies may have still been at the crime scene reveals a disconnection with the emotional side of America. The criticism being levied by those of the MAGA community is justified and shared by both sides of the proverbial aisle.
President Trump's accomplishments in critical areas are laudatory. But the office demands the total package. I am hopeful that in the future the president will set aside personal agendas, forego political opportunism and simply deliver an ecumenically respectful and compassionate message representing all of America.
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