Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog
It’s happened. Presidential debates, at least on the Republican side, have descended to the level of a reality TV show. In last night’s forum, I was waiting for someone to throw a chair or a punch in the best traditions of a Jerry Springer episode, or for Donald Trump to tell his opponents they were fired. Instead, he only conjured up vulgarities.
Granted, the Republican field was pretty crowded this year (seventeen candidates), and it’s hard to be heard in a crowd without some shouting and grandstanding. But the candidacy and rise of Donald J. Trump has taken the discourse to new lows. Regardless, or more likely as a result, he has a massive following which no doubt reflects the mindless, media-muddled attention span of the electorate and the general dumbing down of society. People are following his Carnival Candidacy like sheep to the slaughter, so I’ll say what others hesitate to: voters are being careless in supporting Trump. The fact is that he is vying for one of the most important jobs in the world, and with his childish attitudes and demeanor he couldn’t even pass an interview at McDonalds. I understand people are frustrated and mad at Washington gridlock, but gridlock is preferable to chaos. It is a check against extremism and often prevents us from making bad mistakes. President Trump would be a big one.
Trump, the Insult Candidate
In Thursday night’s debate, Trump referred to his opponents as “Little Marco” and “Lying Ted.” Can you imagine Hillary Clinton calling Bernie Sanders “Comrade Sanders” or even “Colonel Sanders?” It would be shocking, yet we have come to accept this childishness from Candidate Trump. It’s entertaining, like a sit-com. Criticize the Democratic candidates for their policies or pasts if you will, but at least they have substance and class. Their discourse doesn’t look like a high-school debate practice. Trump stands on the stage imperiously like a schoolyard bully, throwing taunts and deflecting criticism of his empty statements with well-practiced arrogance and bombast. He hurls invective like Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, pooping on his opponents (to borrow a Triumph catch phrase). His temperament is inappropriate for the office he is seeking and is beneath the dignity of a world leader. While I recognize that many people like him for this unorthodox brashness and willingness to say whatever is on his mind, is this really a quality we want in a president? Do you think for a minute he would hold his insults back from the leaders of Russia, Iran or North Korea? When George W. Bush called these countries the “Axis of Evil” it caused an uproar, but Trump would be criticizing Putin’s pecs, Khamenei’s headdress and Kim Jong-Un’s hair (some irony there, to be sure). The more disturbing thing about bullying and insults is that they are usually practiced because the perpetrator doesn’t have anything more intelligent to say.
Trump may seem like a regular guy who “tells it like it is,” and this is a refreshing change from the scripted, on-message politicians we’re accustomed to. But the race for the presidency is not an episode of Survivor. There’s quite a bit more at stake, and the childishness, inflexibility and lack of depth that Trump is exhibiting now is not limited to the primaries. He would behave the same way in office, and I don’t want a president who calls his critics and other world leaders names like a two-year-old. Strength and toughness is admirable, but in Trump’s case it is packaged with far too many negatives.
The presidency requires one to be diplomatic, measured and adult. One must respond, not react. Trump has shown time and again – as in every debate – that he cannot do this. He lashes out the minute he is criticized, because in his mind he is beyond reproach. No one does things better than him, as is evident by his constant bragging and generous use of superlatives when he speaks of his supposed accomplishments or abilities (given this nature, it is highly likely that most of his accomplishments are grossly exaggerated). He does this so much that it’s tempting to start believing his own false narrative. When something is repeated often enough, it can become indistinguishable from the truth. In this sense, he is a very dangerous leader who could easily convince people of atrocious and extremist positions (he has already started down this path with his denigration of entire classes of people. With Hitler it was Jews and gays, with Trump it’s Mexicans, Muslims, and immigrants). An electorate usually gets the leaders it deserves.
If you’re entertained by Trump, great. Go watch The Apprentice. But don’t reward him with a seat in the Oval Office. Distinguish strength from bullying, frankness from insult, and reality from fantasy. Vote for an adult.
So Let It Be Written 