NEWS AND OPINION:
Press, pundits and politicians are still dithering over Donald Trump’s proposal, which would close the doors of America to Muslims for the time being. Most condemn Mr. Trump, but at least one image expert lauds his unapologetic candor.
“While I certainly wouldn’t advise my clients to make such defiant political statements, I do advise my clients to acknowledge the importance of transparency. In a world where people have so much information at their fingertips, it’s never been more important for a business to take control of their message. Trump’s proven that the masses appreciate directness in all manners,” says Ken Wisnefski, CEO and founder of WebiMax, a reputation management group. “Trump has garnered more media attention than any other candidate because of his ability to throw political correctness out the window.”
RedState.com founder Erick Erickson deems it all a “brilliant move,” with split-second timing.
“The day after the president failed to reassure a scared public following the second-worst terrorist attack since 9/11 on domestic soil, Donald Trump not only got himself to the right of all the other candidates, but also got every single one of them — save for Sen. Ted Cruz — to align themselves with Barack Obama,” notes Mr. Erickson.
“Hate Donald Trump all you want, be offended by his proposal all you want, but it is really brilliant politics for Trump right now in the Republican primary, and the reactions from the other candidates prove it. All the people attacking Trump on his immigration proposals have done themselves no favors within the primary process. Have none of these people read ’Art of the Deal’?” Mr. Erickson continues, referring to the candidate’s 1987 bestseller.
“This is an opening, bombastic salvo to set the terms of negotiations,” he adds.
FOR THE LEXICON
“Trumptation”
— “The moment when the GOP front-runner becomes the total focus of the political press based on an intentional provocation.”
A new term, coined by Fox News First columnist Chris Stirewalt.
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR
Republicans are finally sorting out the hefty presidential field, which numbered 17 not so long ago. It’s come down to four at this moment: Donald Trump, of course, Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and Ben Carson. So says a new Suffolk University poll of likely voters, which finds the four statistically tied with Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in a theoretical matchup. Mr. Rubio even bests Mrs. Clinton, 48 percent to 45 percent.
Time is closing in: The Iowa Caucuses are 54 days off, and drama looms should Mr. Trump weary of the GOP and strike out on his own. He’d take his fans right along with him.
“His following within the Republican Party is fiercely loyal. When Trump voters were asked if they would still vote for him as an independent candidate and not as a Republican, 68 percent said they would vote for him, while 18 percent would not, and 11 percent were undecided,” says David Paleologos, director of the university’s political research center.
“Trump is getting the maximum return on his campaign investment: He has spent the least amount of money yielding huge returns in the GOP primary, and his loyal following would control the outcome of the general election if he were to run as an independent,” summarizes Mr. Paleologos.
DEBUNKING THE ’REPUBLICAN WAR ON WOMEN’
“For years, Democratic Party leaders have attacked Republicans for waging a war on women. Now a former spokesman for the Democratic National Committee — and Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign — is denouncing that rhetoric,” notes Graham Vyse, a columnist for InsideSources.com.
The former spokesman in question? That would be Mo Elleithee, now director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. During a recent public appearance on the campus, Mr. Elleithee informed the audience: “I do not believe that there’s any sort of Republican war on women. I hate when people say that, just as I hate when Republicans say that there’s a Democratic war on religion or the military.”
And he later told Mr. Vyse, “I hate when there’s rhetoric that’s overly incendiary. I hate when there’s rhetoric that’s just not true. When you say there’s a war on something, that means you’re out to destroy it. Republicans aren’t out to destroy women.”
FOXIFIED
They’re doing something very right. Fox News continues to vanquish its rivals in no uncertain terms, now ranked No. 1 across the entire cable universe both in prime-time and daytime viewing, pulling in 2.8 million viewers during those golden evening hours and 1.6 million during the day, according to Nielsen Media. Coverage of the San Bernardino terrorist attacks had much to do with the latest Fox victory, which finds it besting ESPN, ABC Family, Hallmark and TBS. Fox News also trumped CNN, which drew 1.3 million prime-time viewers, and MSNBC, which garnered 770,000.
And one other note: “Special Report with Bret Baier” had a big night on Monday evening, averaging nearly 3 million in total viewers, and ranking as the No.1 program in the time slot - more than doubling both CNN and MSNBC in total viewers.
POLL DU JOUR
• 87 percent of Americans support presidential candidates financing their campaigns with their own money; 92 percent of Republicans and 85 percent of Democrats agree.
• 82 percent overall support candidates financing campaigns with individual contributions; 86 percent of Republicans and 81 percent of Democrats agree.
• 63 percent overall support candidates financing campaigns with funds from “individuals who collect large numbers of contributions”; 69 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of Democrats agree.
• 44 percent overall support candidates financing campaigns with funds from political action committees; 49 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats agree.
• 27 percent overall support candidates financing campaigns with funds from “public financing from the federal government”; 18 percent of Republicans and 36 percent of Democrats agree.
Source: An AP/NORC poll of 1.011 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 12-17 and released Tuesday.
Blunt assessments, helpful intel to jharper@washingtontimes.com
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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