Wow, after reading the transcript, I have only one thing to say:
It’s going to be a long week for Rush. haha
I guess Rush didn’t hear the story about Trump now claiming that his earpiece was malfunctioning, so that’s why he answered the way he did.
Otherwise, Rush’s analysis might make sense. But I think he (Rush) is wrong. By Rush’s own recount, Trump knew about the KKK previously, in 1992 made some disavowing remarks, so Trump clearly knows who the KKK is and David Duke is.
So unless Trump has gone insane, which I guess is possible, the only thing that makes sense is indeed he was having problems with the earpiece, so didn’t hear Tapper very well when he was asking Trump about the KKK.
It’s an interesting view into Trump really, as well as Rush. Clearly Rush doesn’t like Trump much, not willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But also, interestingly it’s a look into Trump’s mindset. Rather than simply say “I can’t hear you very well Jake, would you repeat that”, he’d rather give some blustery non-reply, and hope it covers the question.
That is perhaps the most interesting thing to take away from this whole (non) scandal. Trump isn’t a racist, nor is he “worried about ticking anyone off”. But he clearly doesn’t have a problem just making stuff up, on the fly and off the cuff.
It’s either that, or his earpiece really didn’t have any problems, and he really was trying to pander to even the KKK. So, enjoy that, all the Trump fans on FR. You can’t escape that logic.
It's also missing all of the vitriol exhibited by some of the Cruz fans/Trump haters on this thread.
In a word, objective. :)