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by NedSparks at DKos Tue Apr 19, 2011
I never thought I would say this, but Donald Trump is far more clueless when it comes to domestic and international issues than even Sarah Palin, as unbelievable as this might sound. My jaw has not left the floor following an interview conducted by Savannah Guthrie on NBC and shown on MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown this morning. During the interview, Trump ignorantly blusters his way through a series of questions regarding China, the debt ceiling, to the right to privacy.
On China:
Trump suggested that he would be able to compel China to cease and desist in the manipulation of its currency.
Guthrie: It is a sovereign nation you can’t tell China not to manipulate its currency.
Trump: If you have the right messenger (winks), they won’t be doing it for long—Let me just tell you something—
Guthrie: Seriously, you think you could just tell them—
Trump: We have the cards, yeah—They don’t have the cards; we have the cards…. My policy is very very simple. I would tell china, VERY NICELY, fellas, you’re my friend, I like you very much— I’ve made a lot of money with China, by the way— A lot of money with China. I would say we’re going to put a 25% tax on all your products coming in and that’s gonna do a number of things—Number one, as soon as they believe it’s gonna happen, they would behave so nicely, because it would destroy their economy….
On the debt ceiling:
Guthrie: The, umm, debt ceiling vote, the Republicans are saying they don’t think the debt ceiling should be raised (Trump nods head); businesses have warned there could be dire consequences.
Trump: I don’t care, I wouldn’t raise it.
Guthrie: And you know most economists say that would send the US economy back into a recession?
Trump: What do economists know? Most of them are not very smart….
Guthrie: You don’t think if—
(cross talk)
Trump: Excuse me, excuse me.
Guthrie: The US default on its obligation it would be grave for the economy?
Trump: I don’t think we’ll have to default. You’ll have to make a deal someplace…you might as well do it now. Because if you keep raising it and raising it—Let’s keep raising it—You’ll go ten years, let’s keep raising the debt ceiling. I’d stop it right now. I’d go out, negotiate, I’d make deals….
Guthrie: (staring wide-eyed to try and make some sense out of what he is saying) who’s the deal to be made with?
Trump: Well, the President should be leading the deal, but I don’t think he’s capable enough to lead the deal. Instead you have the Republican here (he moves his body from left to right) the Democrat—
Guthrie: (squinting her eyes slightly as she tries to zone in on his gibberish) Are you talking about a political deal?
Trump: Well ultimately, it’s all political when you get right down to it, isn’t it Savannah?
Okaaaay....
As Chuck Todd, Guthrie’s co host on the Daily Rundown, struggled to suppress his laughter after watching the segment, Guthrie wrapped up the conclusion of her interview with Trump by offering this:
One other note, I also asked Trump about whether there was a right to privacy in the constitution, this is the legal underpinning of Roe verses Wade, a hotly disputed issue amongst social Conservatives. Trump says he is now anti-abortion, but didn’t see the link between the two issues.
On the right to privacy:
Guthrie: Is there a right to privacy in the constitution?
Trump: (staring absently) ….I guess there is…I guess there is…. (This is a man who claims to be pro-life).
There is a pregnant pause as he stares at Guthrie.
Guthrie: So—
Trump: Why do you— why just out of curiosity, why do you ask that question?
Guthrie: Well, I’m just wondering how that squares with your pro-life views?
Trump: (pausing) Well, umm, it’s a pretty strange way of getting to pro-life…I mean; it’s a very unique way of asking about pro-life…. Why are you, what does that have to do with privacy? How you are…how are you equating pro-life with privacy? (this is a man who has called Barack Obama stupid).
Guthrie: (staring at Trump with a look of “Oh my, oh my”) Well, you know about the Roe V. Wade decision?
Trump: Yes, sure—Look, I’m for pro-life—I’m pro-life. I’ve said it. I’m very strong there and I’m strong on pro-life….
I couldn’t help staring at the television in absolute disbelief as I dropped my precious Krispy Kreme doughnut….
These embarrassing responses by Trump demonstrate the undeterred recklessness and arrogance of many on the Right who consider anyone of their ilk to be amply more qualified to occupy the White House than our current President. It has become resoundingly clear over the past two years, judging by the reception of people like Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, and now Donald Trump that there are people in this country ready to entrust the welfare of this nation to a potted plant, rather than doing so to Barack Obama. This is loony stuff....
