Every now and then, at critical moments, the American people actually pay attention. Following the massacre in Orlando, those who tuned in to President Obama’s detailed and reasoned approach to dealing with such events gave his speech a +10 net response (44 approve, 34 disapprove) according to a new CBS News poll. Hillary Clinton’s speech, which overlapped the president’s, was seen by many fewer people, but still rated +2 (36 approve, 34 disapprove).
But Donald Trump’s unhinged tirade in which he blamed immigrants, Muslims, Hillary, and President Obama for everything that’s gone wrong since the beginning of time, drew the most definitive public response.
Trump Response to Orlando |
Approve |
25% |
Disapprove |
51% |
A -26% net approval rating. That’s something that would make even Republicans in Congress wince. If you’re wondering why Trump’s poll numbers are absolutely crashing, it’s because America got a chance to see how he would handle a crisis … and they didn’t like it.
This wasn’t a 3 AM call. Trump had time to put together his response to what happened at Pulse and do it in a way that explained his actual strategy for preventing such horrors in the future. Instead, he delivered to the American people a clear insight into his conspiracy theory-driven, bigoted, and deeply un-American soul. In a moment where there was an opportunity to provide leadership, Trump delivered hatred.
This was a test. He failed.
Don't make any assumptions. Help get out the vote to defeat Trump.