Posted on 11/21/2015 8:19:58 AM PST by Kaslin
Donald Trump is like a contagion who infects everyone around him. Once you've kissed, you can never wipe his saliva off your face. Consider the venerable (in its own view) NBC. This year, the network fired Trump, only to find it is Trump Lite.
On June 16, when Trump was announcing his candidacy for the White House, the billionaire reality-TV star faulted Mexico for sending problem people to the United States. Quoth Trump: "They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists." Those comments were stupid and racist -- and they should have caused Trump to tank in the polls and ended his vanity campaign.
Instead, they cost Trump some must-miss NBC TV -- the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. Also, he wouldn't appear on future episodes of "Celebrity Apprentice." "At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values," a statement explained. "Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump."
Trump responded that NBC was "weak" and trying to be "politically correct."
That was before Trump's participation prompted record numbers of viewers to tune in to the GOP presidential debates. Then a funny thing happened to "respect and dignity" at 30 Rock; they did not apply to "Saturday Night Live," on which Trump was invited to serve as a guest host.
Of course, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus protested. The Democratic group (there are no Republican members) called on "SNL" executive producer Lorne Michaels "to disinvite Mr. Trump from hosting Saturday Night Live because racism is not funny." Values, its statement added, "are more important than ratings and ad revenues."
After the Trump episode aired on Nov. 7, NBC met with six members of the caucus and their aides. A Politico story on the meeting is the impetus for this column. It seems that NBC News President Deborah Turness intended to use the meeting to tout NBC's advances in newsroom diversity. Instead, she angered the group when she praised NBC's coverage of Pope Francis talking to a young girl who was afraid her parents would be deported because they are "illegals."
"I'm going to stop you right there," Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif., reportedly responded. "We use the term undocumented immigrants." Turness apologized, Politico reported. She pushed her foot further into her mouth when she said: "We love the Hispanic community. ... Yo hablo espanol." There's a term for that misstep. It is called Hispandering.
On the one hand, I think a caucus member had a solid point in arguing that NBC probably would not have allowed Trump on "SNL" if he had uttered similar slurs about African-Americans or Jews.
On the other hand, the caucus is being too precious taking umbrage at the word "illegals." Newspaper conventions limit the term's usage, but "illegal" is a short step from "undocumented." It's not "rapist." When GOP strategist Hector Barajas read the Politico story, he said that the first thing that popped into his mind was Ivy League students pushing their weight around with speech codes and superficial demands. It's as if those kids have "graduated and become legislators."
Because NBC brass did not pander gracefully, legislators bullied NBC, which had leaned on Trump, who trashed NBC but still came back for the curtain call. They are all infected. They preen about their principles, but it's all preening.
Kate Steinle was unavailable for comment.
“They preen about their principles, but it’s all preening.”
lol. adolescent and naive are understatements.
Debra Saunders lost me when she wrote “these comments were stupid and racist.”
Screw you Debra! I hope you and Townhall burn in hell!
Wow....Townhall has gone completely lefty.
What happened to Salem Communications? Were they always leftists and just posed as conservative, to attract/register members?
Really disgusting piece of journolism you’ve posted. I say send this on over to DU....they salivate over drivel like this.
“We use the term undocumented immigrants.”
****************************************************
They are not immigrants, they are illegal aliens.
Immigrants are people who apply to be Americans in their home country, pay their fees, wait their turn, learn the language, and comply with the laws.
Ilegal aliens break in and ignore all the laws.
Fraudulently documented foreigners is what they are.
Winning.
Maybe you'd better stop kissing, then, Debra, if that's what you think it feels like.
Townhall hopped on board the Cheap Labor Express years ago. I used to be a frequent commenter over there, but left when they went left.
The propagandists for The Cheap Labor Express are getting desperate to stop Trump.
Trump will stop the Cheap Labor Express.
She’s a bumbling dimwit— no shortage of those these days. If they move an undocumented, illegal criminal right next door to her she would squeal loudly like holy pig slop about it.
Yep....all things Salem Comm are a joke, nowadays. Too bad....as start ups, most of these outlets were excellent leaders of the new media.
That Cheap Labor Express must have some DEEEEEEP pockets. So sad to see them investing so much to take down our side....rather than exposing 0, Hellary and the left. That’s because they ARE the left ;-)
What grotesque, vulgar imagery. And that’s what they accuse The Donald of. Hope he reams her out at his next speech.
Townhall has been off the Rez lately.
“...Those comments were stupid and racist...”
But you can’t say they were untrue, can you?
Townhall hopped on board the Cheap Labor Express years ago. I used to be a frequent commenter over there, but left when they went left.
............................................................
I’ve left as well.The Repub. Establishment and the Dems are no different. Townhall has fallen in the gutter with some former very respectable commentators. Not worth reading anymore.
Correct.
I trust NOTHING townhall puts out.
Deb Saunders just stated that the truth is “stupid and racist”.
Eff her!
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