SERENADING THE ELEPHANT PART 3

video & photo c/o CNN.com

SUFFER THE CHILDREN...

    

         

            It is the first day of the Republican National Convention  kicked off by the singing of the National Anthem by 12 members of the Singing Angels. Romper.com lamented the "lackluster lineup with a few gems" among those musical groups scheduled to perform at the convention. Clearly, Romper thought the Angels were one of the gems:

"On Monday, the RNC opened with the Singing Angels performing the National Anthem — a 52-year-old select youth music group comprised of students from the greater Cleveland area. They totally killed it, too."

By all accounts the delegates were impressed. You can judge for yourself from the video above.

The full children had been ubiquitous at other functions serenading Republican delegates, drawing praise and getting national exposure in the process. 7 or 8 performances are scheduled, including one on NBC's Today Show.

Then the controversy started. People began posting on social media that the Singing Angels were shilling for Donald Trump and conservative America. Singing Angels artistic director Charles Eversole, clearly furious, unfriended many from his facebook page for making snide comments such as "white bread Trumpites" and "the Republicans' performing monkeys." He pointed out that they had sung at Democrat functions in the past, were not aligned with any political parties, that the children and their families were from "all across the political spectrum," and most of all- "they're just kids. They're just trying to spread good wishes through music." "They're children. They have sung for Popes and they have sung for the homeless and the elderly and they would sing for you if you wanted them to. They're kids." Indeed there had been a concert scheduled in this week for a gathering of a Democrat group, according to Eversole, but it had fallen through. (All of these quotes have lately been deleted by Mr. Eversole from his Facebook page, so perhaps he has cooled down a bit and regretted his comments.) Many Facebookers have come to his aid, however, with nearly 100 comments in support of the Angels. 

So what is the sheen Donald Trump brings with him that turns to tarnish for those around him? According to Thehill.com, even major companies who have funded Republican functions in the past are too shy to fund this RNC Convention: 

"Wells Fargo, UPS, Motorola, JPMorgan Chase, Ford and Walgreens all told Bloomberg they won’t sponsor this year’s convention, despite helping to fund the last GOP summit in 2012."

Politico.com adds that Apple is also on the anti-Trump bandwagon and sees other tech companies following its example:

"Apple’s political stand against Trump...  is a sign of the widening schism between Silicon Valley and the GOP’s bombastic presumptive nominee." 

Coca Cola has reduced support of the Republicans, according to Jonathan Martin and Maggie Haberman of the New York Times and note that many "image conscious" companies are stepping away this time. 

“I have talked to several people at companies who have said, ‘I’ve always gone to the convention, I’ve always participated at some level, but this year we’re not putting it in our budget, we’re not going, we’re not going to sponsor any of the events going on,’ ” said Carla Eudy, a Republican fund-raising consultant. (NY TIMES)

So where does that leave The Singing Angels? Can they shake off the political vitriol being hurled at them for capitalizing on the fact that when the whole world is watching Cleveland it is in their best interest to go where the cameras are, even if it is in Trumpland? 

I would like to think so. These are wonderful kids. And I say that as a largely left wing Democrat.