Trump’s no bully, he’s a crybaby

The Fox News debate moderators treated Donald Trump like any other presidential candidate. They pressed him to explain past statements including his comments on Mexican immigrants and his misogynistic rhetoric. They queried him on policy flip-flops (e.g., on single-payer healthcare, on abortion) and on his financial support for Democrats.

Trump and his supporters then spent a good deal of Friday bellyaching that Fox had been too tough on him. He crudely insulted Megyn Kelly. He whined, “I think the questions to me — and that’s why I’m so honored — the questions to me were much tougher than the questions to anybody else.” Actually, they weren’t. Trump’s defenders deep in the heart of the right-wing echo chamber were incensed Trump would be asked to defend his record and egregious language. For a group that dishes it out unmercifully to every insufficiently conservative Republican and to all liberals, they sure seem squeamish when their pet candidate is on the receiving end.

It is wrong to say he was treated more harshly than other candidates. Jeb Bush got grilled on Common Core and immigration; Ohio Gov. John Kasich had to explain his stance on Medicaid expansion; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was asked about his 180 on comprehensive immigration reform; and, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) was pressed to explain how he could be president when he can’t even get along with the GOP Senate colleagues. But unlike these other candidates Trump whined during the debate. (“What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me.”)

Later on Friday Trump went a tick too far even for the right wing. The Post reported:

Business bankruptcies are a strategy, its not the same thing as personal bankruptcy.

So if an individual declares bankruptcy, there is something wrong with it, but if a company does it, it's just business? That makes no sense to me. In either case, the companies and people that are owed money are not getting paid. I'm not saying whether it is right or wrong in either case - just saying it is illogical to try to distinguish between the two.

He turned to Trump and asked him about some Trump SPV’s that filed for Bankruptcy. What’s that have to do with national economic policy?

Since Trump is running for president largely on his experience as a businessman, I think it is perfectly legitimate to ask him about things relating to that business experience, bankruptcies included. This is a man who wants to be in charge of our economy - is how he ran his businesses, for good OR ill, legitimate information we should have?

Even more importantly, isn't seeing how he handles being challenged just as important? I am less concerned about the fact that a few business ventures failed than I am that Trump and his acolytes seem to consider it a form of lese majeste to question or challenge Trump on anything. It reminds me too much of how Obama and the Dems react when anyone dares to question The One.

Trump better get used to the fact that he is going to be questioned and challenged about a lot of things in his past as long as he is in the race, and stop acting insulted and deal with it. He could take lessons from Carly - she gets asked about her time at HP, including getting fired, in just about every interview. She doesn't get huffy, deals with the question in a straight-forward manner, and moves on to address the points that she considers important. She doesn't dodge and weave or insult the interviewer. Like her or not, she is much better at handling questions than the Donald...

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