NEWS AND OPINION:
Fox News and Donald Trump have much in common: Both are formidable titans of the media. And clever. Their spat over a single Republican debate has generated as much serious news coverage and trite buzz as the debate itself. But Fox News and Mr. Trump are old friends. Why, he’s appeared on the network 133 times in recent years; everything was easy-breezy. What’s happening here? Another titan offers insight about Mr. Trump.
“He is controlling the media, and it’s his objective. He controls the media when he’s not on it. He controls the media when he is on it. He controls the media when he’s asleep,” radio host Rush Limbaugh told his audience Tuesday. “Nobody else has been able to do anything like this short of the Kennedys, and they’re pikers compared to the way Trump is doing this.”
Mr. Limbaugh advises the curious to consult Mr. Trump’s bestsellers.
“Trump is not that hard to understand if you pay attention to him and read his books. In ’The Art of the Deal,’ one of the things that he makes a huge deal about is being able to know when to walk away and have the guts and the courage to do it,” Mr. Limbaugh noted.
Memorable exits matter before an adoring audience. Mr. Trump was a guest on the “O’Reilly Factor” on Wednesday night, even as the debate controversy raged. Fox News host Greta Van Susteren, meanwhile, polled her own viewers, revealing that 85 percent said they would not watch the debate if Mr. Trump was missing.
So who won this match? Did the Trump trump the Fox? That is in the eye of the beholder — and Nielsen Media, the ultimate authority which will reveal how many actually tuned into a Trump-less debate. But there’s always next time; the eighth GOP debate is a mere eight days later in Manchester, New Hampshire.
HISTORIAN: TRUMP RAN FROM THE FIGHT
Not everyone has accolades for the billionaire Republican front-runner.
“Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump says he will not attend a debate scheduled for Thursday night in Des Moines, an unexpected twist just days before voters here launch the election process,” points outs Reagan biographer and presidential historian Craig Shirley. “Ronald Reagan never ran away from a fight. Now apparently Donald Trump did just that. So much for comparisons between him and Reagan. Ronald Reagan is widely known as The Great Communicator. Donald Trump may be more aptly known as ’The Mouth.’”
WHERE ARE THEY THE DAY AFTER?
So where are the Republican presidential hopefuls once the debate is in the rear view mirror? They’re all still in Iowa. This is their reality: Campaigns never stop, duty always calls. It’s not always glamorous. Here’s where the main-stage hopefuls will be on Friday:
Sen. Ted Cruz has five stops planned around the state at a bar and grill, a library, a community college, a community hall and a plastic manufacturer. Sen. Marco Rubio has four townhalls in Burlington, Muscatine, Dubuque and Clinton. Jeb Bush visits the Greasewood Flats Ranch in Carroll, plus an eatery and a college in Sioux City. Sen. Rand Paul heads for a “Race to the Finish Line” rally at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum in Knoxville, followed by a rally at a hotel in Davenport. Gov. Chris Christie has five events scheduled, including town hall meetings at a brewery in Ottumwa and a bakery in Burlington. Gov. John Kasich stages a rally at the National Czech & Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids.
A REAGAN MOMENT
Amid political chaos and winter weather comes this happy little message: “Beautiful Valentine’s gifts for your first lady!” Aw. Of course it comes from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which has an extensive gift shop for those charmed and comforted by all things Reagan. The organization offers an unapologetically patriotic collection of necklaces, earrings and other baubles — red, white and blue hearts, stars, bows, eagles and angels in Swarovski crystals and pearls. There’s a sale on some items until Tuesday.
For those seeking something for their first lady or a reasonable facsimile therein, find the offerings at Reaganfoundation.org under the “Museum Store” heading, specifically the jewelry division.
HOLLYWOOD WOMEN SHUN THE CLINTON CLIQUE
The Hollywood Reporter compiles an influential list each year of the most powerful women in the entertainment industry — producers and performers with political clout.
“So why are so many of them still withholding donations from Hillary Clinton at a time when she stands such a strong chance of becoming America’s first woman president?” asks Tina Daunt, a reporter at the publication who checked the most recent Federal Election Commission reports to find that only one in four women on the power list had donated to Mrs. Clinton’s campaign.
A major production executive and Democratic insider — female — told Ms. Daunt that the candidate had not reached out to the Hollywood sisterhood, and also suggested her nomination was not preordained.
“Some Hollywood power women are reluctant to give Clinton cash for a range of reasons. They don’t like Benghazi,” observed another lady powerplayer. “They don’t like the way she’s handled Bill’s infidelities. They don’t like the email scandal. All these things have created a lack of trust. Every woman I know who hasn’t given to her feels guilty about it. We all want a woman to be president — some of us just wish it was someone else.”
POLL DU JOUR
65 percent of Democratic voters say there’s a better chance for Hillary Clinton to be elected president; 26 percent say Sen. Bernie Sanders has a better chance.
57 percent of Democratic voters say they will “definitely vote” for Mrs. Clinton; 41 percent say there’s a chance they will change their mind.
48 percent say Mr. Sanders is the most honest; 36 percent say Mrs. Clinton is more honest.
47 percent say Mrs. Clinton is “closer to them on the issues”; 43 percent cite Mr. Sanders.
46 percent say they will definitely vote for Mr. Sanders; 53 percent say there’s a chance they will change their mind.
Source: An ABC News/Washington Post poll of 340 registered Democratic voters conducted Jan. 21-24.
Snarls and wails to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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