LANNY DAVIS\’S WHISTLESTOP PAST THE POLITICAL GRAVEYARD

Ken Berwitz

So I can just imagine Republican presidential candidateDonald Trump\’s inner voice giving him advice in his usual fact-free zone… “You mocked Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly for menstruation,Republican candidate Carly Fiorina for her face, Hillary Clinton for taking toolong to go to the restroom, your poll numbers among most women are down andheading even further down — so now, you need to launch personal attacks onPresident Bill Clinton as a way of convincing women voters not to vote for hiswife, Hillary Clinton.”

Really?

Here are four facts The Donald seems to have ignored:

Fact No. 1: The Clinton two-term presidency was highlyregarded by nearly two-thirds of all Americans on his last day in office.

Fact No. 2: Bill Clinton is currently one of the most popularindividuals in public life in the United States. 

Fact No. 3: Polls show that such personal attacks on herhusband have historically helped Hillary Clinton\’s popularity among mostAmericans, including Republicans and conservatives.

Fact No. 4: One-half of American voters, according to thelatest year-end Quinnipiac University poll completed on Dec. 22, 2015, say thatthey would be “embarrassed to have Trump as president.” (The poll hada margin of error under 3 percent). That\’s right: One-half of all voterssampled from all parties.

So, my message to The Donald: Thank you for your great idea.Please keep up your personal attacks on Bill and Hillary Clinton.

And good luck in your effort to obtain the GOP presidentialnomination. I sure hope you are successful: May the Force be with you.

-Yes, Donald Trump has made what I would join Mr. Davis in calling stupid, nasty comments.  But where are those falling poll numbers among women that he\’s talking about.  I haven\’t seen them.  In the latest poll, Trump leads every other candidate – not just in total, and not just among men, but among women as well.  It is true he has a lower percentage of women supporters, but that was true last time as well, so – asking again – where is this downward trend?

-Clinton\’s last day in office was 15 years ago.  Lanny Davis may think his popularity has held steady for 15 years, or that millennials, who were children then feel the same way, or even that people who support Clinton overall were ok with his predatory sexual behavior, but don\’t bet the ranch on it.

-He is being attacked on his sexual behavior….because a Hillary Clinton presidency would put that behavior right back in the White House with four years, maybe eight, of fun and games with the interns.  Does Davis think the country liked his behavior toward Monica Lewinsky?

-It sure doesn\’t look like Trump\’s attacks are helping Clinton now, or hurting him.  Wake-up time, Lanny.

-Trump may or may not be the Republican nominee.  But regardless, the attacks on Hillary will leave their mark.  Pay attention to the demands that Hillary answer Trump\’s points at future campaign appearances, as they have occurred in the past week.  If anything, the clamor will get louder, not quieter.  And claiming that “the evidence” shows Hubby Bubba didn\’t do anything, or dismissing questioners as “rude” won\’t cut it.