Brian Kilmeade had work to do this morning.
Some way, somehow, Kilmeade had to figure out some justification for how it was that debate moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump to condemn white supremacist and militia groups, people who have always been happy to support Trump vociferously, and yet, not only did Trump not condemn the racist hate groups, he went on to all but openly encourage their uprising.
Trump answered with:
“Proud Boys — stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what. Somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem.”
So this morning, Trump’s statement became Kilmeade’s problem because Kilmeade would support Trump if Trump appeared with goat horns and insisted upon being called “Osiris.” Kilmeade said:
Donald Trump ruined the biggest layup in the history of debates by not condemning white supremacists. I don’t know if he didn’t hear it, but he’s got to clarify that right away.
“I don’t know if he didn’t hear it?” THAT is the best Kilmeade could do?
“Why the president didn’t just knock it out of the park, I’m not sure.”
It must have occurred to Brian that Trump thinks that he DID in fact knock it out of the park because the last thing he wanted to do was condemn white supremacists. They make up such a huge portion of his base. At some point, Fox might want to grapple with the fact that Trump is a proud racist, as is much of their audience. Trump is unique but his rise in the Republican party was forty years in the making and the dog whistles have given way to clarion calls.
Brian Kilmeade: "Donald Trump ruined the biggest layup in the history of debates by not condemning white supremists. I don't know if he didn't hear it, but he's gotta clarify that right away. … Why the president didn't just knock it out of the park, I'm not sure." pic.twitter.com/Qo52jBDTPl [1]
— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) September 30, 2020 [2]
“Why he didn’t knock it out of the park …”
Trump believes he did. Trump hit that ball straight into the bleachers in which he wanted it.
****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak