Blistering feedback for Lenny Curry on Donald Trump event

Lenny Curry is one of the top names for the newly formed RNC host committee.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry served as master of ceremonies at Wednesday’s Donald Trump event.

And though he didn’t have much to say after Trump discussed Jacksonville’s “devastated” economy and businesses looking to leave the First Coast to do business overseas, Curry still got to hear from citizens, who sent messages to his mayoral email account using some of the most pointed language he’s encountered since the Human Rights Ordinance debate.

A citizen lamented about Trump’s “despicable comments to the family of a fallen soldier. It is completely disrespectful to our city and our veterans serving, served and fallen to host this man in a place our city has designated as a memorial …. I am very curious as to your thoughts and how you plan to NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN!”

Others urged Curry not to endorse Trump.

“With all due respect … are you crazy? Jax is a military town. After Trump’s statements about Mr. Khan, I hope you reconsider attending Trump’s rally. Even the VFW slammed him,” one correspondent observed.

Another correspondent was especially adjective-heavy, saying “any hint that you support the election of this pompous demagogue is disappointing and repulsive. “

Still another correspondent hit similar themes, urging the mayor not to “implicitly approve of the hateful, counterproductive, and uninformed rhetoric of Donald Trump.”

He continued: “Do you let your children listen to what he says? Do you think he is actually prepared to lead this country? Do you think his presidency would somehow benefit Jacksonville?”

“[P]lease don’t tarnish how the city feels of you. Trump is not a good man and I know you can see it. In the future, you won’t want your good name next to his,” another correspondent predicted.

A married couple commented on Trump’s “disrespect for veterans, his shameful personal attacks on fellow Republicans, his total lack of experience, as well as his boorish behavior, [which] clearly mark him unfit for the highest office in the land.”

A second correspondent likewise seemed to imply that Trump was not Republican as he understood the concept.

“You just lost any support from me. You have shown a disregard for this country by supporting The Donald. I could go into all the reasons why, but why bother? I know this is a Republican town and an educated one.  Trump is neither,” he wrote.

And another correspondent offered psychiatric diagnosis of the GOP nominee: “Donald Trump insults women, minorities, Muslims, veterans, disabled people and is an unstable, narcissistic personality. I knew he had serious problems when he denied that John McCain was a war hero after spending years in prison. Really? Perhaps you should reconsider your support of him. Checked the polls today?”

And a businesswoman linked the Trump gambit with the pension-tax push.

“When I was just beginning to think you might be a reasonably good Republican mayor that was trying to fix the budgetary problems with the new tax … They showed you speaking for him at his rally?????? You bring shame to Jacksonville by standing beside and behind this divisive and definitely not someone that looks anything like the true Republican. This is an insult to the Republican party and a sure way to alienate any Democrats that may have voted for your tax plan or for your next term.”

A gentleman made a similar linkage: “Your Honor … I was totally behind your initiative to extend the sales tax to “fix” the pension problem …. But, your appearance at Trump’s rally changed my vote …. And my opinion of your policies.”

Another citizen said that she was “soooo afraid he was going to open his mouth again and say something the media would seize upon, or he would offend someone and did not want Jax caught up in the middle of any of the fallout” and that “we might have a possible free-for-all, and again, did not want the COJ involved. He really has no self-control and that scares the bejeepers out of me.”

Except for hinting that America should abandon Eastern Europe to Russia if NATO dues weren’t paid, and saying that the local economy is devastated, Trump’s oratory was perfect, so no worries there.

To these correspondents, Curry wrote that he “look[s] forward to receiving feedback from the community” and welcomes its “comments in the future.”