25 August 2015
A candidate kicks out a reporter; what will the media do?
No wonder Donald Trump is polling well. He seems to be the primary topic on CNN every evening, and while reporters may say they're paying attention because of the poll numbers I would add that his numbers probably remain high because of all the attention he gets from the media. I wonder if this will change following Trump's latest escapade. He kicked a news anchor for the Univision network, the most popular Spanish-language channel in the country, out of a news conference tonight. To be fair, the Univision reporter apparently tried to ask questions out of turn, and Trump did later allow him back in to ask his questions, but this couldn't look good to the rest of the media. There are ways to rebuke a reporter who speaks out of turn, and reasons to do so, above all his or her disrespect to fellow professionals, but throwing one out, especially one reputed to be the most influential Spanish-language reporter on TV, made it look, at least temporarily, as if Trump wasn't so much concerned with other reporters but simply didn't want to hear his questions. While this may be interpreted as part of Trump's grudge with Hispanics, could other reporters see this as a preview of how Nominee or President Trump might treat them if he decides he doesn't like them? Will they begin to treat him as something besides the ratings bonanza they apparently perceive him to be? After all, this is a man who intends to interpret the Fourteenth Amendment to suit himself, regardless of precedents. Why wouldn't he also interpret the First Amendment the same way, for the same reasons? Maybe he'd think differently if the media carried out a one-day-or-more boycott of his campaign to protest his treatment of a fellow journalist. But who am I kidding? His stunt today is just the sort of wild act reporters hope to see by following him so closely and thoroughly. Reporters are a competitive lot, and when they see one of their own treated a little roughly, you have to wonder whether they see a threat or they simply see news.
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7 comments:
Dumb Donald is milking all the attention now, but it ain't going to help him at the convention next year. I shudder to think what his cabinet would look like, with similarly me-first, media-obsessives like the Kardashian bimbos on board for a piece of the action.
Trump won't even make it to the White House, much less the Geezers' Convention.
Before you dismiss Trump as a geezer please note that he's only one year older than Hillary Clinton and several years younger than Bernie Sanders. If we dismiss geezers, it seems, we'll have to concede next year to the Republicans.
I don't like Trump. I don't like the fact then, whenever asked how he will accomplish all the things he claims he will do in office, he replies "you'll have to trust me." He has never given anyone a reason to trust him. That said, I agree with his stance on hispanics. Quite frankly, I don't think they are less than human, as he seems to believe, but I do not like their culture. I don't like their food. I don't like their music. I don't like what I've seen of their television shows and I certainly don't want that garbage to become part of our American cultural heritage.
The majority of Americans are descended from Western Europe and that is what our culture should reflect. I will also add that, before anyone is allowed a visa - other than a "tourist visa" (whatever it is technically called) they should have to pass a test proving they are capable of conversing in English and THAT should be the ONLY language that government agencies and their employees should have to speak. Finally, anyone here illegally should NOT be given "welfare" or any other perquisites available to tax-paying, American citizens. No public school access, no emergency services access. If these people are unwilling to do what Americans did - rise up, arm themselves and take their country by force, they should not expect others to support their cowardly asses.
I refer to the GOP as standing for Geezers on Parade, not because of age, but because, well, they're not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed if they're supporting a camera-obsessed demagogue like Trump.
Can you imagine if Morton Downey, Jr. had made a similar run before he passed on? I wouldn't worry about Dumb Donald or Swillary come this time next year. They'll be yesterday's news----again.
But the GOP isn't supporting Trump. Just some large chunk of the rank-and-file. They're just as likely to support trailer trash. If Hulk Hogan ran, he'd be leading among them in the polls. In another 30 years or so, they'll support Honey Boo Boo.
In 30 years, no one will remember Honey Boo Boo.
I really hope you are right.
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