Kaine’s acceptance of gifts in Virginia could create opening for Republicans

[CBHagman]

27. Then we close that "opening" right on their Karl Rove-style fingers.

We all know that the Rove playbook is to attack opponents on their strengths, and within minutes of the Kaine announcement the vulgar, obnoxious Donald Trump, with his multiple bankruptcies and multiple wives, was styling the nice-guy senator from Virginia as "corrupt Kaine," as though alliteration would make it so.

We all know the media will for the most part be its usual unhelpful self, inclined to headlines such as Questions raised about such-and-such and New questions raised about this and that, using the he said/he said or she said/he said technique to pepper articles with dueling quotes.

We saw this go on with Al Gore and John Kerry, and we should know enough by now that whoever gets control of the narrative can shape history.

I'll repeat it: A vulgar, boorish billionaire with multiple bankruptcies and multiple wives and a brand that is toxic nastiness should not be able to pull this off in the age of social media, especially when so many people are genuinely horrified at the prospect of turning over the executive branch to someone who is ruthless and ignorant.

I must admit I thought Kaine an unexciting choice, but I can't disparage his skills (including fluent Spanish) and his overall character, so let's do this.