Doris Kearns Goodwin: Trump Doesn't Have a 'Girdle On'


Image: Doris Kearns Goodwin: Trump Doesn't Have a 'Girdle On' (Getty Images)

By Newsmax Wires   |   Sunday, 30 Aug 2015 06:17 PM

 
Below is a transcript of her remarks:

DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN: Well, it certainly has been the most entertaining age of journalism. ... I mean, I must admit, like everybody else, there is something compelling about this kind of talk when these guys are talking against each other, when Trump has no political correctness button that he pushes. I think one of the reasons why he is attracting so much attention now is for years the journalists have gone after candidates when they make one silly mistake, they make a gaffe, they say oops or they say 47 percent or they say something that they then have to claim, I misspoke, I didn't mean what I said. They have to be defensive.

Trump has not an ounce of defensiveness. He turns it against the press. It may be that partly what we're seeing is for so many years we have asked our candidates to be authentic, but they fear if they say something that will get them into trouble, they have to put a girdle on themselves.

You feel like all the candidates have put this girdle on. They talk from a teleprompter. They talk from a script. And we are not seeing them. We are seeing Trump as he is. And maybe that's part of the appeal.

BRIAN STELTER: I quip about this campaign going on too long, but like it or not, journalists are helping provoke important national discussions by interviewing candidates like Trump and probing for insight.... Do you think there is a situation here — we saw a poll in Iowa come out yesterday with Ben Carson on the rise, suggesting that maybe we are going to see a continued wave of these candidates all fall. Are you at the point now where you think Trump is more than just one of these cycles that will flame out? It has been two months, more than two months since he started running, after all...

GOODWIN: No, it has gone longer than I think many people would have predicted.

Clearly, there is something about that outsider mentality. When you think about what Washington has been like for these last years, and people so upset with a broken system, with parties not talking to each other, with little getting done, there is a sense in which somebody who is not a politician, somebody who is talking against the elite, somebody who is even talking against the press, we have had that in history before.

When people feel anxious or they're worried about something or there is some sense that things are going on in the banks or in Washington that we don't like, a candidate comes along and he can sort of get that appeal going. When you see the combination of Trump and Ben Carson, that's a large percentage of the Republican Party choosing a non-politician.

And whether that's good or bad, there is something still about politics you hope is an honorable vocation, that people are going to feel proud of becoming politicians. But maybe that has been turned on its head as well.


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Replies

  • When I read this bilge - I figure it was you who posted it. Nice try but no dice.

    • Good Job John....My feeling is that Going Rogue is an establishment mouthpiece ..He tears at Trump every chance he gets..But Thankfully most can see right through his antics....We have been watching this kind of CRAP for the last 7 years....Trump and Carson collectively have over 40 % of the vote..That is scaring the heck out of the establishment knuckleheads...May i ask why we are supposed to care what Doris Kearns thinks anyways....She is no different than anyone else....Just another establishment PUPPET...

    • What's wrong rouge can't answer the question? Guess staying on hate and bashing work best for you. Your name suits you!! Here however, we seek real answers, some of us do our homework, check and verify. I know you like to vilify Trump for changing his opinions and party. Well... The only thing constant in life is change. Show me someone who's never changed his opinion or belief and I'll show you a corpse!!!! My questions still on the table and those of us who take this stuff serious are still waiting. Hey you could be right and me wrong. Only your going to have to do more than just bash people. The Dems do that and it's not working for me. So ROUGE, how about getting real?
      Unlike you I'm not here to pick a fight im here to make my best movevtobtry to save what's left of our country.
  • OK! lets say that you are more intelligent that the rest of us. What is your plan to save America. Same old Same Old? When will detractors get the picture that this cabal of congressmen and women will never act according to "We the People".

    We need REAL Change for a New Hope.You are correct - America is Dying - but what say you?

  • IOWA...Trump 28%  S.CAROLINA Trump 31%  New Hampshire Trump 25%....Somebody thinks he would do quite well.... 

  • Rouge.. Get a grip for crying out loud. Your in so deep you can't see the forest for the trees. Trump wants to raise taxes on corporations not friendly to America. That's a bad thing to you? I'm starting to wonder if you even able to come to a correct conclusion to objective truth. Im only going to ask you one more time; "Who's the answer to all your problems?" I know it's not Trump so it must be someone with extensive business background with a proven success record in business. Well.... IM WAITING.....
    • Donald Trump has the personal expertise to straighten out our economical mess due to over borrowing to pay for entitlements...Donald Trump has the courage and fortitude to disagree with those who are selfish......Donald Trump has the connections to sorround himself with very smart and cunning military and financial wizards ...Unlike Obama Donald Trump loves AMERICA as it was before Obama and his band of traitors came along..Donald Trump can and will make America great again....Donald Trump will encourage MILITARY STRENGTH...And by the way why would anyone be upset about raising taxes on the ultra rich..Anymore questions?

  • OK,,,,,,,, I'm going to jump in here for a minute, before you people start cutting each others throats.

    And my reason I'm going to do that is because I just happen to know all of you in this thread right now are all on the same team,,,,,,,you're all on the same side here.

    Are there issues with Trump? Yes - probably, But there are issues with each and every one of the candidates,,,,,,,,, and don't even think about the left-wing nut jobs running out there.

    Please people,,don't be cutting ties with those who would otherwise be your best friends over this crap.

    • Old Rooster... With all due respect. For me on my part I don't equate disagreement with a patriot as anathema.
      Controversy is good for the soul. It forces one to defend their position. I hope others will agree and keep up the debate. This is how the founders did it. Let's just make sure our beliefs are ours and not we've been conned into believing. I believe those here want the best for America or I wouldn't be her. I and going Rouge might not agree on everything, I would be concerned if we did. I still love him (or her) because I know Rouge cares about the country, enough said..
      • I hope you are not concerned about me Michael..Because we do agree on almost everything...

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