Trump: "This fucking virus, what does it have to do with me getting reelected?"

[kpete]

Parscale, speaking from his Arlington, Va. apartment, had just told the president how good his internal poll numbers looked. But now he had an urgent message: The coronavirus was a big problem – and it could cost him reelection.


Trump was perplexed. The economy was strong. The president had built an enormous political infrastructure and was raking in hundreds of millions of dollars. That month, Trump’s campaign conducted a $1.1 million polling project showing him leading prospective Democratic challengers even in blue states such as Colorado, New Mexico, and New Hampshire.


“Sir, regardless, this is coming. It’s the only thing that could take down your presidency,” Parscale told the president.

Trump snapped.

“This fucking virus,” Trump asked dismissively, according to a person with direct knowledge of the exchange, “what does it have to do with me getting reelected?”

That was exactly the attitude Joe Biden expected from the president. And Biden saw his task as unambiguous.

Create a contrast. Follow the scientists whom Trump ignored. Wear a mask, halt public events and reinvent campaigning to avoid putting people in harm’s way.

MORE:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/07/this-f-ing-virus-inside-donald-trumps-2020-undoing-434716

[NotAPuppet]

1. That was quick!

I’m sure we can expect many more stories to come out within the next few days.

[KS Toronado]

2. Appears it had everything to do with his reelection.

Stupid repugs wanted a stupid president and they got one.

[Mister Ed]

3. Coronavirus could have absolutely guaranteed Trump's re-election.

All he had to do was just lead a little bit. Actually do something - anything - that would help to reduce the impact of the pandemic on the U.S.

He wouldn't have had to change his style or his substance. He could have just crassly bellowed at his rallygoers that we're not gonna let the China virus take down our great nation, and we're gonna fight back, and we're gonna mask up and beat the Chineeze, etc. etc. etc. They would have lapped it up.

Then he could have gone out and played golf, leaving some bright, competent people in charge of the real effort, with free rein to do whatever needed to be done. It would have been enough. People always close ranks behind their leader in a crisis (think Bush after 9/11).

But the lazy-assed, selfish bastard couldn't even be bothered to do that much. Couldn't even conceive of doing that much. And now he has payed the political price.

[dsc]

8. It could have

to see that just look at NC where Gov Cooper is the only statewide official here to have won his race by more than a few points. He handled the virus professionally and got a ton of credit here. In a year where Democrats here did fairly poorly he won easily. He also out performed every GOP state wide person on the ballot.

[meadowlander]

12. Yep. If he'd handled it halfway competently, he would have been unbeatable.

[spanone]

4. Just shows how ignorant and clueless this man is.

[bluestarone]

5. Golley. Only the fact that you

KILLED 245,000 people DUH!

[Towlie]

6. I certainly hope it wasn't the only thing that could take down his presidency!

It's hard to accept that America would otherwise have reelected Trump.

[dsc]

9. I think it is very clear that is true

as it is Biden didn't win a crushing, Reagan like victory. Had the economy not gone into the toilet and 230k people died I can't see a scenario in which he actually would have lost this.

[Towlie]

10. Even if it's true, it's still hard to accept.

[dsc]

11. often truths are

Our country clearly has some real problems. I think we may never see a win like Obama's ever again. Too many white people in this country feel a sense of grievance that is bottomless or close to it. I grew up on a county that was among the most Democratic in the nation. In 1984, when Reagan was winning close to 60% of the vote and a 49 state landslide, my county voted for Mondale. Now it is a Trump bastion.

[smirkymonkey]

7. He really just doesn't get it, does he?

What a stupid, clueless, evil POS.