>> If it's between the quotation marks it has been said.
That is true; but it has been said in the context that it was offered. Trump speaks mostly extemporaneously, and that is different from reading a prepared speech. But his listeners generally get it.
There are many, a massive number, in fact, of instances where Trump said things which the media mistook for its literal meaning.
Perhaps the most obvious example is, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK?"
Now, no reasonable person would have taken that literally. It was a joke, an exaggeration-for-effect, whatever you want to call it, but no reasonable person would have seen it any other way. Yet, the media ran with it for ages. CNN, that day, said:
After the event, Trump declined to answer when asked by CNN to clarify his comments.
The GOP front-runner has repeatedly pointed to the loyalty of his supporters, many of whom tell reporters and pollsters that almost nothing could make them change their mind about voting for Trump in the presidential race.
Trump’s comments come as the debate about gun violence in America has taken center stage in American political discourse amid several highly publicized mass shootings.
Trump has repeatedly touted his strong support for the Second Amendment and slammed President Barack Obama’s recent use of executive orders to expand the reach of background checks needed to purchase a gun.
The brash billionaire’s comments also come less than two months after two ISIS-inspired terrorists killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, and ISIS-linked attacks killed 130 in Paris. In response, Trump has called for fewer gun restrictions and a harder stance on terrorism.
Really? What does CNN's report have to do with what Trump said? Zilch. One guy said it made him "cringe". My thought when I heard it was, "WTF is he giving them THAT cudgel for?
But CNN thinks it has something to do with actual events.
Phillip Bump said later:
It was a comment about the robustness of his base of support, and it repeatedly has been demonstrated to be true. (Great start!)
But we’d like to now introduce a corollary that is also true: Trump could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and few of his voters would consider the ensuing murder trial legitimate. So, WaPo attacks the voters for not reacting angrily to Trump's comment. Makes sense.
And NBC runs with
Trump has previously boasted about the devotion of his fans, but the new comment is the most extreme example of such a remark. Extreme? Really?
If he really did it, that would be extreme. Or if he really MEANT it.
It is just so silly. It isn't disgraceful. It isn't dangerous. It isn't suggestive.
He was just making a funny remark. No one is getting killed. Although this year, it is entirely possible HE could be killed because some fool is convinced he will be untouchable for assassinating Trump since every DA in the country will turn their heads if someone kills Trump. With an actual AK45. |
