Trump vs Kelly

When Donald Trump called out Meagan Kelly, of Fox News, he used some offensive innuendos that were uncalled for.  But when you think about it what political season hasn’t had its share of political gaffs and out right lies?  The Mississippi Mud has only just begun to fly.

Just in the last ten years the statements made by our politicians have been outrageously, outrageous, bringing to mind the level of ignorance in all of them and making the statements of Trump seem tame in comparison.  Here are a few:

 "You know education, if you make the most of it and you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." -- Sen. John Kerry, Oct. 2006.  Basically, telling the entire military that they were stupid.

 "They misunderestimated me." President George W. Bush, Nov. 2000.   I think he only told the truth about himself.

"I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it." -- Sen. John Kerry, March 2004.  Letting us all know about his hypocrisy.

“The mind is a terrible thing to loose” Dan Quail.  He insulted the entire African American culture. He should have stopped after P-o-t-a-to-e

Trump was at least singular in his insult, more like Bush than the blanket statements of Kerry and Quail.I’m sure you can contribute to this list…that actually might be fun, so share away.  

Almost every politician makes stupid remarks, it’s almost impossible not too.  Most politicians’ brush them aside knowing that it really won’t have any lasting affect on his or her campaign.  But then there was Howard Dean with his famous "Yeeeah!" – Vermont in Jan. 2004, it virtually ruined his chances of winning.  No one can really tell you why his energized rant destroyed his chances, but everyone agrees the media played a substantial role in his decline.  It’s still being played and replayed.

Mud slinging has a special place in politics and has been around since the first elections of this country.  We are not the only country that revels in “negative advertising.” It is the mainstay of politics around the world.  The problem is that it works and often works well.

There is a difference, however in the mudslinging and the political gaffs that occur.  Some Gaffs are voiced out loud, while some are caught off the mike without the candidate’s knowledge, until the comments are fodder for news outlets that often put those statements on an endless loop for all to see, over and over and over again.  

President Obama speaking to the Russian President Medvedev saying, “I’ll have more flexibility after the election,”  not knowing the mic was on, obviously a comment he would have never made to the general public.

Then there was George bush saying "There's Adam Clymer, major-league asshole from The New York Times." Cheney, also unaware the microphones were turned on, agreed, saying, "Oh yeah, he is, big time."  Both forgetting the important axiom: always assume all microphones are live…

There are hundreds of these little gems that show the double faced and twisted tongues of those that lead.  They say one thing to our faces and another in private, giving us a clear indication of their inner beliefs and personalities.

In regards to Trump, he has always said what was on his mind, often saying too much; I perceive that he is the same way in private as he is in public.  What I’m not saying is that he’s perfect or the best candidate but I think his openness and lack of political speak works in his favor. 

Having a leader who is honest is a very difficult person to find.  Trump may not be everyone’s choice, he’s still not mine but I do thoroughly enjoy hearing him banter with the press.  I like the fact that he spells out his feelings, his rage, his dislikes and his passions freely.  To be honest I wish there were more like him, at least in that regard.

How can we trust a leader who says one thing in public but clearly means something different in private?  Like Larry Craig of Idaho who had a platform of morality but was caught soliciting for sex in a men’s bathroom on June 11, 2007.  For better or worse our government has become ultra secretive (in some respects I understand that need) and that secrecy has been promoted by the ruling elect and the political hierarchy, putting the public in a position of distrust and disdain. 

In my opinion, and I think I right most of the time, even with my belief that “most people are wrong about most things most of the time.”  I think Trump should continue to speak away, keep talking and keep exposing himself (verbally of course) , letting us all know what he thinks, believes and plans on doing and I hope the other candidates learn from him and do the same.

The worst that can happen is a much more colorful campaign season, with unabashed mudslinging and open insults for all to hear and most likely a more careful attempt at cloistering their private thoughts…. I used to like playing in the mud; it might be fun to do so again.