So the state of Republican politics these days was revealed in all its glory today, when Donald Trump called in to the Chris Cuomo show on CNN.
Trump explained that he definitely was NOT talking about Carly Fiorina's face when he said this in the current Rolling Stone cover story:
Trump's expression sours in schoolboy disgust as the camera bores in on Fiorina. "Look at that face!" he cries. "Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?!" The laughter grows halting and faint behind him. "I mean, she's a woman, and I'm not s'posedta say bad things, but really, folks, come on. Are we serious?"
Why would anyone who read that think that Trump was talking about her face? Turns out, that's just how Trump talks when he discusses women business leaders!
Here was his explanation to Cuomo, from the CNN website:
"Look, I'm talking about her persona," he said, deflecting to Fiorina's previous career as CEO of Hewlett Packard. "She failed miserably at Hewlett Packard and ran for the Senate and lost in a landslide and now running for president. I'm talking about her persona."
But Cuomo didn't believe Trump's explanation, for some reason. Cuomo shook his head in disbelief and pointed out that Trump actually hadn't talked about any of that, because he specifically insulted her
face.
Finally, the truth came out. Backed into a corner, Trump said that he said what he said about Fiorina's face for what he thinks is a very good reason -- because supposedly Fiorina and others had insulted his hair. Seriously. He said this:
“When she hits me on my hair, I know that's OK and you won't defend me, but my hair is – and by the way you know me well enough, you know it is my hair. But when she hits me on my hair, and when she hits me... When she and other people attack me, nobody ever comes to my defense.”
Cuomo replied that he would not let anyone get away with insulting Trump's hair, saying if anyone on his show said Trump shouldn't be president because of his hair, Cuomo would tell them to "shut up and talk about something else." And then The Donald, who just that instant had whined that no one ever defends him, said:
"I'm not looking for you to defend me, I don't need you to defend me. I'm just saying no one ever defends me."
So this is what GOP politics (and CNN's political coverage) has come down to: Schoolyard insults about appearances, hurt feelings, and boasts about telling people to shut up. It's easy to feel depressed about the direction things are going, but my gosh, I hope the Republicans actually nominate this petulant, overly sensitive, babyish bully. My advice to any Democrat who debates him is: Never mind policy. Attack his hair, and watch him cry!