TRUMP OUTMANEUVERS EVERYBODY
Press, pundits and politicians still dither over Donald Trump’s recent proposal which would close the doors of America to Muslims for the time being. Most condemn Mr. Trump. But at least one reputation management expert lauds his 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 frontrunner becomes the total focus of the political press based on an intentional provocation.” New term, coined by Fox News First columnist Chris Stirewalt.
AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR
Republicans are finally sorting out the hefty Republican 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 frontrunner Hillary Clinton in a theoretical match-up. Mr. Rubio even bests Mrs. Clinton, 48 percent to 45 percent, respectively.
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.
CRUZ GETS A CONSERVATIVE BLESSING
Rep. Ted Cruz has some fierce fans, including longtime conservative maven Richard Viguerie, who has endorsed Mr. Cruz for president.
“For Democrats this election is important, but for Republicans and conservatives 2016 is not just crucial to the survival of this country and constitutional liberty – it is the ball game,” Mr. Viguerie says.
“That means Republicans must nominate a candidate who we know will govern according to constitutional principles, who is capable of drawing a clear contrast with Hillary Clinton and the Democrats on the issues of importance in today’s political environment, and who has the brains, talent and discipline to fight Hillary Clinton and win. That candidate is Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. To conservatives who continue to window shop I say, ‘What are you waiting for? In Ted Cruz conservatives have a candidate that’s everything we want.’ ”
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 the 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.”
THE POWER OF INNER METTLE
“The answer to terror is tougher citizens, not tougher government. In light of the recent attacks, we should remember our heritage and apply it today. Tough citizens don’t give government more power in a crisis. They know that government cannot always be there to protect them. Police and bureaucrats didn’t stop the hijackers of Flight 93 on September 11, the shoe-bomber later that December, the underwear bomber in 2009, or the Thalys train attacker this year. Neither did thicker cockpit doors or ineffective TSA screening. These acts of terrorism were stopped by ordinary citizens.”
— Op-ed by Paul Mueller, assistant professor of economics, and Steele Brand, assistant professor of history, both at The King’s College in New York City, in USA Today.
18 CLINTON FUNDRAISERS IN 5 DAYS
It could be a record: Hillary Clinton’s campaign recently staged 18 fundraisers in five days, sometimes with the candidate herself, sometimes with former President Bill Clinton there on her behalf. These are expensive events across a dozen states, from New York to Oklahoma, and points in between.
Democratic rival Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont will have none of it — and cannily campaigns off the big-money aura of the Clinton camp.
“Here’s the truth: Backed by almost one million contributions, we raised more money last FEC fundraising quarter than every Republican campaign, and just as much as Hillary Clinton,” Mr. Sanders notes in his latest message to fans.
”Our campaign is funded by people who have had enough of corrupt billionaires and super PACs buying our elections. The political media thinks we’re naive for taking this approach. But we will prove them wrong.”
HONOR AND HONESTY
“I can remember the day I was inducted in the Army until the day I was discharged. I’ve been through so many dangerous things, and I’m still here. I’m thankful to the almighty God for it. That’s all I can say.”
— Frank Levingston, age 110, and the oldest living World War II veteran, to KPLC, an NBC affiliate in Louisiana. Born in 1905, he felt the calling to enlist in the U.S. Army and served in Italy.
WHY COLLEGE TUITION IS OUT OF CONTROL
A comprehensive new report from the Chronicle of Higher Education offers a window into the ever-expanding, ever more expensive campus. Using Department of Education data and other sources, the Chronicle analysis finds that the median compensation for chief executives at private colleges in the U.S. is now $436,429 a year; 32 of those presidents earn over $1 million.
Columbia University’s Lee Bollinger tops the list at $4.6 million annually.
Among public colleges, the median compensation for presidents is $428,000. Penn State’s Rodney A. Erickson was the highest paid, earning just over $1.4 million last year.
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.
⦁ Follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin
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