WASHINGTON — Having Donald Trump in the presidential race gave it the feel of a carnival.
ABC News described his “roller-coaster flirtation” with a run for the White House. The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza wrote of the “circus-like speculation” about his presidential aspirations. The New York Daily News put Trump in clown makeup and called him “Sideshow Don,” while the Post’s Jennifer Rubin dubbed him “Trump the Clown.” President Obama himself used the term “carnival barker” in an apparent reference to Trump.
But I think a different theme-park metaphor might be more relevant to the last 90 days of the Trump pseudo campaign: the House of Horrors. He showed us how truly scary our political system has become.
Trump is no clown. At the end of Trump’s fanciful presidential quest, NBC was begging him to renew his contract with the network, reportedly offering him $60 million and telling him it had three years worth of sponsors for “The Apprentice.”
It’s not Trump’s fault for creating a circus: He is a showman, and he was merely reaffirming the age-old theorem about suckers per unit of time. “I will not be running for president. See you for a great season,” Trump announced Monday, ending his candidacy at — where else? -- an NBC presentation to advertisers in Manhattan.
The fault, rather, is in our political system, which rewards hucksters. Most of us knew that, as I wrote when Trump made his first campaign appearance, at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, “Trump’s gambit is almost certainly a publicity stunt.” Yet few could have predicted how successful he would be at exploiting the horrors of our process.
He made suckers, first, of Republican primary voters. The man who campaigned for abortion rights and universal health care in his last whimsical campaign suddenly proclaimed himself to be anti-abortion and anti-Obamacare — and conservatives bought it. An April CNN poll found Trump tied for first place in the Republican presidential field.
He made suckers, as well, of the overall American electorate. After two months of Trump’s furthering of the “birther” issue, a CBS News/New York Times poll in April found that a quarter of all Americans, and 45 percent of Republicans, accepted the demonstrably false proposition that President Obama was not born in the United States.
Trump suckered Obama into using the office of the president to counter allegations about his birth. After the president not only released his long-form birth certificate but appeared before the press corps to defend the facts of his birth, Trump pronounced himself “very proud.”
Most of all, Trump suckered the news media into treating his hoax candidacy as the real thing. In the first week of February, before beginning his phony run, Trump’s name was in 45 media headlines, according to Nexis. In late April, Trump’s name was in 768 headlines. Even many of us who thought him a fraud couldn’t resist the spectacle.
Trump pulled this off because he understood how to exploit our failing political system. Our celebrity culture equates name recognition with good leadership, and our Supreme Court, by forbidding any reasonable restraint on campaign finance, has turned money into political power. Trump had plenty of both.
Yes, he looked silly when Obama released his full birth certificate, and he looked small when Osama bin Laden was killed and when the speakers mocked him at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. But, as his suitors at NBC can attest, he did only good things for the Trump brand. “Ultimately,” he wrote in his bombastic announcement Monday, “business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.”
He never was, of course. For making so many people believe otherwise, Trump should be very proud of himself, to coin a phrase. The rest of us should feel like taking a shower.
Comments (31)
Add comment'Twas written that: "45
'Twas written that: "45 percent of Republicans accepted the demonstrably false proposition that President Obama was not born in the United States.
Proving once again that almost half of the Republican party consists of idiots, congenital liars. and those who wouldn't know the truth if it bit them in the behind.
The 'lack of awareness'
The 'lack of awareness' quotient in this country has reached an all-time high thanks to the far right wing. "Not all conservatives are stupid people, but most all stupid people are conservative."
Miss Milbank
is an obvious Democrat and a lousy journalist. This is the first I have heard of a poll. And while I think Trump is an idiot, I don't think he looked small when 'bama "produced" his birth certificate, as much as shaming 'bama into having to prove himself an American. Not much of an American but one none the less.
white flag yet?
doesn't it just hurt to admit the man is an American? Are those teeth still grinding because the birther lie has been debunked (as it always was by any respectable media).
I know its hard to admit defeat, but the fact that several people are still salivating to discrdit this guy simply reveals their ignorance or insecurity. This birther/undercover racist/religous intolerance game is almost like a drug: the more one craves it, the less rationale he/she acts.
Have a great day!
DNTNG
Whoever this is masquerading himself as the stereotypical redneck conservative, I do hope you take it to the next level and bring your talents to radio or TV. This is comedy gold, and the fact that you don’t seem to fall out of character in your satire is truly the mark of a great comedian. Maybe a stop on the Colbert Show would be a great stepping stone.
How surprising it is to find
How surprising it is to find out that Smartguy enjoys stereotyping.
W in Vietnam?
Good luck proving W served in Vietnam - he rarely even showed up when he was supposed to be in Alabama. Once to get some dental work done.
What will become of the US since no one believes science and data any more? The dummies win?! Civilizations do rise and fall, and since we're getting dumber, we are falling.
Paul
of course the dummies are winning. How do you think the gay alliance got so far? Liberal ignorance!!
Bush 2 in Viet Nam?
People like "DNTMG" don't need "proof". It's much easier to just make up their own facts and then claim that "it is well documented".
When did it become the job of the radical right to make up these fairy tales?
Mission, Ignore DNTMG.
Mission,
Ignore DNTMG. He/she is just a troll seeking attention. Actually one of yours, who thinks he/she is funny.
The right
I know several Senior Citizens who are depressed and scared and angry after watching Fox News for hours each day. They believe everything that is said, because television reporters in the past did investigate and tell the truth about current events. Some of their children don't understand how these generally competent folks can believe the gloom and doom booming out at them 24 hours a day. How could our own MS MN be one of them? And they are scared to death to think of life without Medicare and Social Security. If you are young, these are your grandparents. Do not mock them. Help them find other reliable and trusted resources to read and to listen to.
Evergreen, Turn on Rachel
Evergreen,
Turn on Rachel MadCow and big fat Ed. That oughta cheer them up.
said by Wolf: "How surprising
said by Wolf: "How surprising it is to find out that Smartguy enjoys stereotyping."
Seems par for the course on this website. That goes both ways. Only difference is I am laughing at someone else who is intentionally using satire of those stereotypes, not necessarily trying to sell them.
"I am laughing at someone
"I am laughing at someone else who is intentionally using satire of those stereotypes"
I see. In your mind, I guess that makes is OK then.
yup!
Yup! Whereas many libs have a base that is jokingly referred to as "uppidy, overeducated, overcultured snobs", the righties have their own labeled base which DNTMG admirably displays.
And I always thought you were one to like satire? Guess I was wrong. Back to my latte and anthology of short poems . . .. . .
It IS the intention of the
It IS the intention of the Republicans to get rid of Medicare and Social Security.
Whether they succeed or when it happens depends on us.
Will we continue to allow them to redistribute the wealth of the nation upward to the wealthy and out of the country? If we do then there will come a day when we cannot afford those safety nets that civilized countries have.
We aren't there yet and hopefully we will never be so morally bankrupted by the GOP that we resemble Mexico with a ruling elite that are far above any law and a countryside populated by disposable peasants.
I don't get it...
You fellers is all talking over my head and i dont know what you mean when you talk about satire, etc
I am for real and I am just voicing my opinion and trying to inject a little sanity back into this country
Every since Franklin E Roosevelt decided to start his so-called "great society", the democrat party and it's agenda has been to redistribute money from the rich to the poor. the story is as old as sherwood forest and robbing hood! and just because it makes them what's not willing to accept there place in society happier to get some of our money, that dont make it right.
It is high time to end social security, medicare (which is socialized medicine no different than Obummercare) and let's people take care of they're own. I don't want to pay for no immigrants (which is a hoot when you consider that Obummer is himself from Kenya, which is Africa and well known).
Let's end the path to socialism which is one step away from naziism. I am for real and you eggheads can make fun of me all you want but we are in control now and we are gonna try to write this sinking ship!
I love America and REAL Americans!
DNTMG
ahh, another
ahh, more humor wit from DNTMG. The confusion of FDR to LBJ, the idea that socialism is anything near Nazism, the words spelled incorrectly, the addressing of more disproven theories . . .you are on a roll, man! Talk about going to the extreme in portraying yourself as that southern reactonary. Well, you got me whistling Dixie now!
wolf
Better to hear two points of view and do some research on your own than just one. Why is it necessary to call Dr. Maddow some crazy name?
Take
Take his gun and give him spell check.
re: gun boy
I think "he" is a very clever "she". He is being ironic.
gender
Gender confusion? Isn't that another topic all together?
PS TO Evergreen
I dont even know what you mean by "ironic". IF that means inspired by the Holy Book and lead by Jesus and Bradley Dean and the Republican party, then I will carry that load! Anything to stop the democrat party and it's gay, socialist agenda!
DNTMG
Yes
Yes DNTMG, I am a smart aleck, and you, are so full of yourself and so full of manure, that I'm surprised you'd even come in here and spread it so thick, expecting people to believe what you are spewing.
I'm proud to admit I'm a smart aleck, I've worked hard to keep up my skill.
It's the only bad habit I have left.
How about you?
Take his gun and give him spell check.
NanLee
Funniest post today ! LOL
DNTMG
Every time I check out comments made in the Vox pop or Forum your name always comes up. Wow! You are either really stuck on yourself or are just plain out of touch. Check out your rants before you write them. You sound really far out.
Thank you
Thank you Marsbar :)