It’s Fair Game

By Ed Hoffman

I opened my live broadcast on Saturday with a clip from the movie “The Contender,” wherein Jeff Bridges’ character (the President) says the line, “Napoleon once said when asked to explain the lack of great statesmen in the world, that ‘to get power you need to display absolute pettiness; to exercise power, you need to show true greatness.’ Such pettiness and greatness are rarely found in one person.” Apparently, the presumptive Republican nominee has heard that Napoleon quote – and if he hasn’t, maybe he just inherently knows it to be true.

Here’s what I mean: As we all know, Donald Trump displayed true pettiness early on when facing off against 15 other candidates. He continued to display varying degrees of pettiness even as the number of opponents whittled down to 5. 4, 3, 2 and 1. Now, it’s just him – and I, like many other Republican voters, believe he is now demonstrating true greatness. He may have used absolute pettiness to get the power he wanted, but he understands (contrary to what you may hear in the media) that he has to make a shift in order to exercise that power as the Republican nominee. If elected President, he would then continue to demonstrate true greatness in order to maintain that power throughout his term. That is my belief, and I hope that many of you are starting to believe it as well.

Although some of you may not agree, here’s what I don’t believe is true pettiness: Trump pointing out the flaws of former President Bill Clinton. It’s perfectly acceptable on the Democrat side to point out Republican candidates’ spousal flaws, isn’t it? They did it to Ann Romney, calling her “just a housewife,” and Barack Obama never condemned it. In 2004, Teresa Heinz-Kerry did it to Laura Bush. So why on earth, when the presumptive Democrat nominee’s spouse is a former President himself, would it not be acceptable for the Republican nominee to point out that the spouse/former President has been credibly accused of rape – multiple times? Does anyone have a good answer – a well thought-out one that doesn’t include the same old argument about Trump being “unpresidential”?

The truth is, it’s fair game to point out Bill Clinton’s past when it comes to campaigning against Hillary. Last week, the New York Times published a hit piece on Trump that featured one ex-employee claiming he said she “liked her candy” after she had gained weight. Really? That’s the big bombshell about Trump’s treatment of women, compared to the gross allegations against the Clintons, which included them using henchmen to threaten Bill’s assault victims?

If Democrat voters truly care about women as much as they loudly and proudly claim to, then they should respect Trump for pointing this out. It’s fair game.

Ed Hoffman is host of The Main Event on AM590, which airs Saturday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM and Sunday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Follow him on Twitter @EdHoffman, and like him on Facebook by searching The Main Event 590.