Just when you think Trump has little room to outdo his own inappropriateness, he finds a way to top his last stab at showing the world he is incapable of editing his impulsive thoughts...
Lest we think that Trump was seriously suggesting that someone assassinate Hillary Clinton, we need to step back and watch the video, and then exercise the sharp critical eye of educated consumers of political communication. He clearly had the sudden thought to make a quip that might rile Hillary Haters (yes, they should be capitalized now, since they have achieved the status befitting identification as a proper noun), especially those who love to pretend she is going to invade all their houses. Trump is, after all, dependent on this base of simplistic thinkers for the modest support he current maintains. So, a little red meat like this is probably an attempt on his part to keep the crowd foaming at the mouth over the prospects of a Hillary Clinton presidency. And are we really surprised that he found little need to edit or ignore this temptation he so often ha to go over the line of decency and civility? So, remember, it s less a plan or instruction from Trump to the extremists among his fans than an off-the-cuff statement by a candidate with a limitless supply of shamelessness, no self-control, and a desire to thrive on the denigration and hatred of his adversaries. In other words, this is the bluster of an offensive bully who has no self-control.
HOWEVER...my greatest fear since Trump started his scorched earth campaign was that he would lose control of the very people he seems to love to stir with comments like this. I have in the past referenced the movie "Bob Roberts," where a group of followers of the fictional candidate decide that they will rake the suggestions of the candidate and ratchet them up to exact violence in retaliation for the staged assassination attempt of their leader. The point of this is that in his penchant for doing what he can to keep attention focused on himself, Trump will continue to say horrible things like this. But what happens if someone (or a conspiracy of evil dunces who do not understand that Trump is simply mimicking a professional wrestler when he says these things) decides to take up his suggestion? Clearly, if someone tries to assassinate Hillary Clinton now or after she is elected, Trump should be the first person to take responsibility beyond the actual assassins. Will he? Of course not.
So, let's not go too far in asserting that Trump is making a recommendation; he does not really think that far ahead. But let's also understand that he has gone so far over the line this time that he needs to stop lying about his impulsive intent, apologize for suggesting that violence is acceptable political action if you lose an election, and start changing his verbal behavior and control himself. The only bet I will make here is that he will do none of these. I only hope that nobody takes Trump's insipid comment to heart.
Lest we think that Trump was seriously suggesting that someone assassinate Hillary Clinton, we need to step back and watch the video, and then exercise the sharp critical eye of educated consumers of political communication. He clearly had the sudden thought to make a quip that might rile Hillary Haters (yes, they should be capitalized now, since they have achieved the status befitting identification as a proper noun), especially those who love to pretend she is going to invade all their houses. Trump is, after all, dependent on this base of simplistic thinkers for the modest support he current maintains. So, a little red meat like this is probably an attempt on his part to keep the crowd foaming at the mouth over the prospects of a Hillary Clinton presidency. And are we really surprised that he found little need to edit or ignore this temptation he so often ha to go over the line of decency and civility? So, remember, it s less a plan or instruction from Trump to the extremists among his fans than an off-the-cuff statement by a candidate with a limitless supply of shamelessness, no self-control, and a desire to thrive on the denigration and hatred of his adversaries. In other words, this is the bluster of an offensive bully who has no self-control.
HOWEVER...my greatest fear since Trump started his scorched earth campaign was that he would lose control of the very people he seems to love to stir with comments like this. I have in the past referenced the movie "Bob Roberts," where a group of followers of the fictional candidate decide that they will rake the suggestions of the candidate and ratchet them up to exact violence in retaliation for the staged assassination attempt of their leader. The point of this is that in his penchant for doing what he can to keep attention focused on himself, Trump will continue to say horrible things like this. But what happens if someone (or a conspiracy of evil dunces who do not understand that Trump is simply mimicking a professional wrestler when he says these things) decides to take up his suggestion? Clearly, if someone tries to assassinate Hillary Clinton now or after she is elected, Trump should be the first person to take responsibility beyond the actual assassins. Will he? Of course not.
So, let's not go too far in asserting that Trump is making a recommendation; he does not really think that far ahead. But let's also understand that he has gone so far over the line this time that he needs to stop lying about his impulsive intent, apologize for suggesting that violence is acceptable political action if you lose an election, and start changing his verbal behavior and control himself. The only bet I will make here is that he will do none of these. I only hope that nobody takes Trump's insipid comment to heart.
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