"The Donald" Targeted by RNC and FOX - Controlling the Election

If Donald Trump represents something like the dark heart of the Republican Party, what we saw during the first official Republican Party debate on Thursday night was the machine trying to control itself. For a party that has gutted and isolated its own structure through its own policy victories, the debate offered everyone an example of the last remaining organ of authority flexing itself. 

A few hours before Thursday’s Fox News debate, a friend of Donald Trump’s confided that Trump was nervous. Not about the competition — he could handle them. No, Trump worried about Fox News, and in particular, debate moderator Megyn Kelly. She’d been hammering him all week on her show, and he was certain she was out to get him.

He had canceled a Fox News appearance on Monday night in order to avoid her. (Trump’s spokeswoman wouldn’t confirm or deny this.)

It turns out Trump was right. His toughest opponents Thursday night weren’t the candidates up on stage, but the Fox News moderators, who went right after him — none with more gusto than Kelly.

But first moderator Brett Baier asked Trump if he would pledge not to run as a third-party candidate if he doesn’t win the GOP nomination. Now historically speaking, this question has never been asked of GOP candidates.

“I cannot say,” Trump said. “If I’m not the nominee, I will pledge I will not run as an independent. … We want to win, and we will win. But I want to win as the Republican. I want to run as the Republican nominee.”

Kelly, the whip-smart queen of Fox News’ blonde stunners, went straight for the jugular. “You’ve called women you don’t like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals,” she admonished Trump. “Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?”

But Trump saw her coming a mile away and cut her off. “Only Rosie O’Donnell,” he barked, drawing cheers from the crowd. 

When Kelly tried to point out that he had insulted more women than O’Donnell, Trump, as he would all night, steamrolled right past her. ”The big problem this country has is being politically correct,” Trump practically shouted, invoking conservatives’ favorite term of disdain.

“I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time, either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China, we lose to Mexico, both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody. And, frankly, what I say often times, it’s fun, it’s kidding, we have a good time, 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. But I wouldn’t do that.

“But, you know what? We need strength. We need energy, we need quickness and we need brain in this country to turn it around.”

 The crowd went wild. 

It was clear, at that moment, that Trump was going to be Trump, and wasn’t going to heed the pundits and phonies to tone down his act.

One must wonder what prompted Kelly to go on the attack. Perhaps it was a monetary concern, after all, her husband, Douglas Brunt is  a major stockholder in CYREN (formerly known as Commtouch, formerly known as Authentium)  incorporated as a private company under the laws of the State of Israel.

Historically ‘”Israel supports candidates that they can control, and we all know that Israeli money can not buy and control “The Donald”. But it cam buy a moderator or even a few.

Or perhaps it was at the instructions of her network owner Rupert Murdoch. 

A reasonable person would probably arrive at the conclusion that both played major roles in her attack against Trump. She’s all about the money.

Then Chris Wallace got in on the action: “You say the Mexican government is sending criminals, rapists, drug-dealers across the border. Gov Bush has called those remarks, quote, extraordinarily ugly. I’d like you, you’re right next to him, tell us, talk to him directly and say how you respond to that.”

(The actual quote that had propelled Trump to the top while drawing loud condemnation from both Democrats and many of his fellow Republican contenders: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”)

Trump initially just shrugged and grimaced in response to this particular Fox interrogation, as Wallace pressed on.

“And you have repeatedly said that you have evidence that the Mexican government is doing this, evidence that you have refused or declined to share,” Wallace continued. “Why not use this first Republican presidential debate to share your proof with the American people?”

Trump slapped back: “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be talking about illegal immigration, Chris. You wouldn’t even be talking about it.”

The massive crowd erupted in cheers.

Wallace, frustrated at the crowds response, shot back: “Mr. Trump, I’ll give you 30 seconds to answer my question, which was: What evidence do you have, specific evidence, that the Mexican government is sending criminals across the border?”

Trump replied, “Border Patrol. I was at the border last week. Border Patrol people that I deal with, that I talk to, they say this is what’s happening because our leaders are stupid. Our politicians are stupid.”

Wallace then turned to Sen. Cruz. Cruz gave the politically correct answer, excusing politicians. ”You know, there was reference made to our leaders being stupid. It’s not a question of stupidity. It’s that they don’t want to enforce the immigration laws.”

Thus….They are stupid as Trump said.

Three words from Trump explained the issue while it took 27 words from a politician to assign political correctness to the issue.

Trump was targeted with other questions about his previous support of single-payer health care and donations to Democrats such as Hillary Clinton. Few of the other GOP candidates were on the receiving end of such pointed attacks by Fox News debate moderators

Baier blasted Trump: “You’ve supported a host of liberal policies. You’ve also donated to several Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton included, Nancy Pelosi. You explained away those donations, saying you did that to get business-related favors. And you said recently, quote, ‘When you give, they do whatever the hell you want them to do.’”

Trump chimed in: “You better believe it!”

Baier asked, “So what specifically did they do?”

Trump replied, “I will tell you that our system is broken. I gave to many people – before this – before two months ago. I was a businessman. I’d give to everybody. When they’d call, I’d give.

“And you know what? When I need something from them, two years later, three years later, I call them. They are there for me. That’s a broken system.”

Several of the GOP candidates on the stage grew very quiet…

Now, here are the painful facts for the RNC. They have two choices here.

1. They can continue their attack on Trump, making it very uncomfortable for him to continue, hoping that he will leave the race completely or just piss him off even more than they already have.

2. They can accept that Trump is a possible contender for President.

The consequences of their actions.

If they chose 1, to continue attacking Trump, he will simply leave the Republican platform, run as a third party candidate, and pull millions of republican voters with him, thus insuring defeat of any Republican candidate in 2016. The RNC is not that stupid, or are they?

If they choose 2, to allow an unbiased campaign, they will see what the masses want, and have a shot at a 2016 White House.

Chip Tatum