Fake News, Eddie Haskell & Trump......
Trump struck first with using the term “Fake News”. As such he took the dominant position on it.
Now what am I trying to say regarding this? Let me see if I can explain.
When he positioned himself as the victim of “fake news” from the start – anything that even had a hint at attacking him or blaming him for whatever the issue - was then made ‘suspect’. He made the press/media and their representatives the enemy and he turned his people against the press/media. He also placed himself in the position that he was the decider on what is and what isn’t - “fake news”.
Meaning – that when he lies and he is actually creating ‘fake news” or a false situation – he appears to look like he is being ‘honest’ and ‘truthful’ and everything that is pointed at him or blaming him is a lie or fake.
He’s used this technique all through his presidency and is continuing using it till today.
He’s now using it on this whole ‘Putin/Russian Bounty’ story. He’s discrediting this whole story on ‘leaks’ by his enemies; that it is a hoax (where have I heard him use that term before) and the whole thing is ‘fake news’ that is being perpetrated by the press/media. And everybody is against him.
And guess what - his faithful supporters (the deplorables) believe him.
When you think about this and it really sinks in – it is really an ingenious strategy. It’s worked in countless incidents surrounding him and continues to work today. And no matter what the situation – because Trump struck first by using the term ‘fake news’ - we are stuck with his characterizations and intended perceptions.
He’s the Eddie Haskell [of Leave It To Beaver fame] of politics. The innocent ‘bad boy’.
Here’s a description of the Eddie Haskell character kinda lifted from Wikipedia.
The Eddie Haskell character has become a cultural reference and is recognized as an archetype for insincere sycophants. It was once remarked that "[Eddie] is so polite, it's almost un-American".
Eddie was known for his neat grooming and hiding his shallow and sneaky character. Typically, Eddie would greet his friends' parents with overdone good manners and often a compliment such as, "That's a lovely dress you're wearing, Mrs. Cleaver." However, when no parents were around, Eddie was always up to no good—either conniving with his friends or picking on Wally's younger brother Beaver, whom he regularly derided as "Squirt." "Gertrude" and "Sam" were nicknames he reserved for Wally. Always a nickname for people.
Eddie's duplicity was also exemplified in his efforts to curry favor by trying to talk to adults at the level he thought they would respect, such as referring to their children as Theodore (Beaver's much-disliked given name) and Wallace, even though the parents called them Beaver and Wally.
An untrustworthy wise guy, Eddie could be relied upon to concoct and instigate schemes with his friends, schemes for which they would be in the position of blame if (and frequently when) they were caught.
And how did Eddie's scheming character come to be? In one of the episodes of Leave It To Beaver he related a story from kindergarten, when a caregiver sent him to school with a home permanent (hair style). When he told his father about it, his father made a big joke about it. Eddie claims that was the last time he told his dad anything. Then he adds "If you can make the other guy feel like a goon first, then you don't feel so much like a goon."
Now does this sound familiar?
Trump fits Eddie like a T or Eddie fits Trump like a T.
Trump is classic Eddie Haskell. And the ‘fake news’ meme works for both of them.
I’m thinking - though - that Trump’s use of ‘fake news’ for everything that comes his way is now becoming worn and dated. It's been overused by him.
He’s become the ‘boy that cried wolf’ too many times. We got his number. And guess what – some of his own supporters are becoming former supporters because I believe that they’ve finally caught on to his act.
Yes – there are still many ‘die-hard deplorables’ out there – but their numbers are declining along with Trump’s polls.
Thank God we only have 5 more months to deal with Trump’s behavior. He can’t keep up this act for another 4 years – and I think he is beginning to realize it too.
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