The new reality TV series otherwise known as the American presidential election is reaching a fever pitch. The latest antics of Donald Trump seem to fill every website on the Internet and it’s become almost impossible to switch the channel on the TV without seeing that unmistakable combover.
The media simply cannot get enough of Trump and his antics that draw clicks to websites and help drive up television ratings.
The media’s insatiable appetite for everything Trump has propelled the real estate developer and TV pitchman to within reach of the Republican Party nomination, much to the horror of party insiders. But the non-stop media glare is proving to be a double-edged sword, one more than capable of fatally wounding a political campaign. Instead of merely rolling their eyes, Trump’s interviewers are finally beginning to take him seriously.
Persistent follow-up questions during an interview last week prompted Trump to suggest that there should be some form of punishment for women who have an abortion. And political pundits and talking heads were aghast with Trump’s refusal to commit to whether he would use nuclear weapons in the Middle East.
This would all be well and good if his main opponent was receiving the same kind of scrutiny. If Trump fails to secure the Republican nomination, it would likely fall to Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who is second in the delegate count. While Cruz didn’t call for women to be punished for having an abortion, he did suggest their doctors face execution. And his Middle East policy of “carpet bombing” so he can find out if the “sand can glow in the dark” can hardly be seen as moderate. One gets the impression he is only seeking the presidency because his dream job was unavailable: the Spanish Inquisition isn’t hiring.
The media’s newfound attention to Trump’s “policies” may finally bring an end this comic chapter in U.S. political history. But the lack of attention shown to his opponent could mean another horror story is just be beginning.