This is why I don’t think Trump is qualified to be president. Instead of going after his opponent’s policies, Trump always makes it personal, trying to find some way to belittle and demean them. If Trump wants to attack Carson about his tax proposal, his immigration plan, his plans for the military - fine, those are all fair game. (Though I think he should focus on what his opponents current proposals are, not what they said years ago - unless he wants everyone constantly reminding the voters of HIS past positions.) But for Trump to refer to something that happened in Carson’s youth, and to try to compare that to being a child molester is despicable.
Now Trump supporters will try to say that Trump didn’t call Carson a child molester. But what Trump is doing is getting that idea associated with Carson. Many LIV won’t pay attention to the whole story, but will hear Carson and “child molester” together and make an unconscious association between the two. And don’t think that Trump isn’t counting on that...
Now Trump supporters will try to say that Trump didn’t call Carson a child molester. But what Trump is doing is getting that idea associated with Carson.
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Frankly, I see this tactic as Trump’s MO. Say things in such a way that you have plausible deniability when folks call you out on your statements.
Megyn Kelly’s blood comment - he knew exactly the reaction it would garner, and he used it to bash the media. Intentional.
Carson’s 7th day adventism - comparing to his own mainstream presbyterianism and saying ‘I don’t know about that’. Intentional.
This pathological comparison. Intentional.
Perhaps that’s why he appeared so angry last night ... all these great (he thought) attacks on Carson, and yet Carson is still there nipping at his heels.
I make no predictions about Trumps trajectory from here (I’m amazed we’re still talking about him in November).
I happen to think that Carson is a joke of a candidate, not least because he articulates his policy positions so vaguely that there's nothing concrete to criticize or attack other than the lack of substance itself. Of course, policy details aren't exactly Trump's strength either.
Regardless, Trump definitely jumped the shark with this rant, not so much with his personal attacks on Carson, as by calling the people of Iowa "stupid" for supporting Carson. He's not going to win over a lot of Carson supporters (or Iowans in general) by calling them idiots.
No thanks.