Trump card again falls flat
‘‘Melania, you’re fired.’’ If only a camera had been rolling on America’s wannabe first couple in their Cleveland hotel. That behindclosed-doors chat would have been revealing.
From a distance, the rise and rise of Donald Trump, from business tycoon and gameshow host to presidential contender, has been extraordinary.
It is dismaying to consider that, of a population of more than 320 million, he is the best the Republicans can come up with.
Wife Melania’s headlining speech at the Republican convention this week was initially well received. Then came allegations she’d plagiarised a speech by incumbent First Lady Michelle Obama. The issue underlines yet again flaws in Brand Trump.
As any student knows, plagiarism is wrong, representing lack of knowledge and critical thought. It’s also incredibly easy to detect.
The confused and contradictory claims from the Trump camp about who was responsible added fuel to the fire. Now staff speechwriter Meredith McIver has put up her hand to say she had included ‘‘some of the phrases’’ from Obama’s speech that Melania Trump had admired and read to her. She did not check Obama’s address. After offering her resignation, McIver said Trump told her people make ‘‘innocent mistakes’’. As commentary around the speech grows, a telling Trump team response came from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who claimed 93 per cent of the speech was not stolen.
Presumably, he accepts that 7 per cent was plagiarised which would represent 1581 choice words and phrases from an average-size Shakespeare play. Message to Trump: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown [King Henry IV, Part II].
Middle America seems enthralled by the image of a ‘‘strong’’ president who shoots from the lip and never acknowledges fault. However, egomania, blind arrogance and bluster are not the hallmarks of a strong leader. How can anyone hope such a flawed character will ‘‘make America great again?’’
That campaign slogan was first used by Ronald Reagan in 1980 and has been picked up by rock groups, comedians and even TV’s South Park. No marks for originality there either.
Egomania, blind arrogance and bluster are not the hallmarks of a strong leader.