Donald Trump spoke to the Tea Party Convention. The context of this speech was unusual for Trump. The convention was sold out in a small but crowded venue with maybe 450 in the crowd, very small crowd for Trump.
This was not a Trump rally; there are about 20 speakers in 3 days, and Trump is only one of them. Many people in the crowd wore tee shirts and insignia for other candidates. It was a crowd, but it wasn't HIS crowd.
Huckabee and Cruz gave this crowd the reddest of red meat. They knew the audience wanted the strongest possible anti-Washington, pro-gun talk possible. Cruz, whose tone was angry at a rally two days before was even more angry here. The issues are white and black, good and bad, Tea Party values versus sellout.
Trump did something else.
He spoke for about 40 minutes and he was affable, even funny. He gave his version of typical Trump themes--his great poll numbers, how little he has needed to spend, the incredible ratings he brings news shows, the enthusiasm of his audiences, the big press following (15 large TV cameras by my count). He told the story of the way he got the ice rink at Central Park built for two million dollars when previous efforts had taken years and had spent ten million with no results. He described his campaign's efficiency, saying he felt sorry to be so cheap, spending so little money on advertising. He laughed over the fact that by law his campaign is required to pay The Trump Company for the use of his jet at fair market value so he is actually forced to make money by use of his own jet. He shrugged ruefully. The crowd laughed.
I did not count actual laugh lines but I would estimate that the crowd was chuckling or laughing out loud once or twice every minute. He wasn't being clownish but he was being apparently guileless and happy in explaining his situation and the situation in the world. Describing the exchange for Sergeant Berghdahl Trump said this was a miserable trade, that 50 years ago he would have been tried, found guilty, and immediately shot, that 30 years ago would have served a very long terming prison, and ten years ago a short prison term, now he will get off free most likely! He told the story casually, shaking his head in wonderment at the loss of military rigor. He wondered, where is General Patton????
The crowd laughed along with him.
I got back to my motel, turned on the news and saw the cable news covered this event and thought the most important thing was Trump's getting some boos when he said that Cruz would end up saying whatever his donors needed. Yes, there was some boos and complaints, but these were inevitable. Perhaps 20% of the audience came to the event committed to Cruz and were wearing the bright red Cruz tee shirt. Of course they would protest.
The boos weren't news. It would have been news had there NOT been boos.
The important thing that happened here is very different. It is how Trump chose to handle this most conservative group. He didn't pander or lean into his most anti-immigrant or pro-gun views. He didn't run through Tea Party planks, although Trump's helped define those very planks.
Trump's differentiation was in tone. He was sunny and optimistic, emphasizing the future greatness of an America that wins. And he presented a very likable personality, immodest but sometimes self-mocking, noting that of course he brags about polls because--only because--he is doing so well.
He made the point that government does things stupidly and expensively and slowly (exemplified by the ice rink) and contrast ed it with smart businessmen like himself, who got the ice rink built quickly and cheaply, who gets so much free media that his campaign is $35 million under budget, and that a great negotiator like him would get Mexico to build a wall, China to equalize its trade with the US, and Iran to deal with someone who knows how to extract value. Life is good.
Trump makes a sharp contrast with Cruz. I reaffirm my post of a couple of days ago when I said that Trump and Cruz are more different that they are being described. Trump is secular; Cruz is religious. Trump is New York; Cruz is Texas and rural.
And today's event, with Cruz speaking and then Trump speaking show another contrast. Trump promises an optimistic future. Trump used a word I have not heard him use before. He said he wanted to bring back American "spirit". America under Trump might actually be a fun place to live.
Cruz presents a world at mortal conflict and he is ready to lead us in a war, a war we can win if we fight both Washington and our foreign enemies.
Both candidates had enthusiastic crowds hoping to see them after their speeches.
This was not a Trump rally; there are about 20 speakers in 3 days, and Trump is only one of them. Many people in the crowd wore tee shirts and insignia for other candidates. It was a crowd, but it wasn't HIS crowd.
Huckabee and Cruz gave this crowd the reddest of red meat. They knew the audience wanted the strongest possible anti-Washington, pro-gun talk possible. Cruz, whose tone was angry at a rally two days before was even more angry here. The issues are white and black, good and bad, Tea Party values versus sellout.
Trump did something else.
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| Trump doing a very entertaining show |
I did not count actual laugh lines but I would estimate that the crowd was chuckling or laughing out loud once or twice every minute. He wasn't being clownish but he was being apparently guileless and happy in explaining his situation and the situation in the world. Describing the exchange for Sergeant Berghdahl Trump said this was a miserable trade, that 50 years ago he would have been tried, found guilty, and immediately shot, that 30 years ago would have served a very long terming prison, and ten years ago a short prison term, now he will get off free most likely! He told the story casually, shaking his head in wonderment at the loss of military rigor. He wondered, where is General Patton????
The crowd laughed along with him.
 |
| Funny stories, at ease |
The boos weren't news. It would have been news had there NOT been boos.
The important thing that happened here is very different. It is how Trump chose to handle this most conservative group. He didn't pander or lean into his most anti-immigrant or pro-gun views. He didn't run through Tea Party planks, although Trump's helped define those very planks.
Trump's differentiation was in tone. He was sunny and optimistic, emphasizing the future greatness of an America that wins. And he presented a very likable personality, immodest but sometimes self-mocking, noting that of course he brags about polls because--only because--he is doing so well.
He made the point that government does things stupidly and expensively and slowly (exemplified by the ice rink) and contrast ed it with smart businessmen like himself, who got the ice rink built quickly and cheaply, who gets so much free media that his campaign is $35 million under budget, and that a great negotiator like him would get Mexico to build a wall, China to equalize its trade with the US, and Iran to deal with someone who knows how to extract value. Life is good.
Trump makes a sharp contrast with Cruz. I reaffirm my post of a couple of days ago when I said that Trump and Cruz are more different that they are being described. Trump is secular; Cruz is religious. Trump is New York; Cruz is Texas and rural.
And today's event, with Cruz speaking and then Trump speaking show another contrast. Trump promises an optimistic future. Trump used a word I have not heard him use before. He said he wanted to bring back American "spirit". America under Trump might actually be a fun place to live.
Cruz presents a world at mortal conflict and he is ready to lead us in a war, a war we can win if we fight both Washington and our foreign enemies.
Both candidates had enthusiastic crowds hoping to see them after their speeches.
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| Fifteen TV Cameras |
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