Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Of Creepy Old Men and Bad Girlfriends

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist

Reality television star and right-wing mouthpiece Donald Trump has decided to weigh in on the Donald Sterling affair.  Trump called Sterling's racist remarks "terrible and despicable," but he also issued a righteous condemnation of Sterling's girlfriend, the woman who recorded his rant and then released the recording to the press.

In playing blame-the-girlfriend, The Donald noted that Sterling "got set up by a very, very bad girlfriend."  He added, "She's called the girlfriend from hell, but what he said was terrible and despicable and very strong action is going to be taken."

Trump did not say "Strong action should be taken," something that could have been interpreted as one billionaire turning on another - but rather he parroted what most Americans who read or listen to news already knew - that strong action was going to happen.

And it did happen.  Sterling has been banned by the NBA and fined two million dollars.  He also may be forced to sell his team, the LA Clippers, if three-quarters of the other owners make that collective demand.

Sterling's life was good, very good indeed - but that darned girlfriend went and ruined it.

Trump kept trumpeting:   "She's a terrible human being and he gave horrible answers and disgusting answers."  Trump said all of this on Fox, the only network that really cares what he thinks.

The Donald also did a bit of pot-kettle diagnosing of his fellow rich, white man:  "I think he could be out of it, frankly, based on his actions.  He could be pretty much out of it in terms of his whole mentality."

The same week that the "girlfriend from hell" released Donald Sterling's racist tirade, another Republican icon also got into trouble for saying what he really believed.  The rancher in Nevada who has been illegally letting his cattle graze on public lands for nearly two decades gave his ignorant rendition of life-on-the-plantation-was-pretty-darned-good.

The problem with Sterling and the rancher was that they used the King's English and said exactly what they meant.   They didn't obfuscate like so many pundits and politicians do today.   They just opened their mouths and let it flow.

Don't these yahoos know about code words?  Fox undoubtedly keeps a list - check it out.   Get with the 21st century, guys!

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