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Donald Trump and the Crying Baby: The Real Story
It’s all over the news: the Republican candidate for the presidency, Donald J. Trump, hates babies. Even this morning’s edition of Ricochet’s Daily Shot newsletter trumpeted the disinformation campaign being waged against Trump:
Donald Trump has been having … a rough week. (Pro-tip: Candidates are supposed to kiss babies, not feud with them.)
If you’d like to hear from an eyewitness to this event, who reports a very different story about The Donald’s interaction with the baby and the baby’s mom, read the below from PJ Media. In addition to setting the record straight, the writer also paints a very different picture of candidate Trump. Adjectives used to describe the encounter include, “radiates confidence,” “soft spoken demeanor,” “didn’t forget the ‘little people.'” However, if you wish to remain in disinformation land, don’t read. I’m reminded of that important observation: it’s not who controls the sound but the echo.
Published in GeneralRead this Facebook post from Will Estrada, who attended the rally:
Today I went to the Donald Trump rally in Ashburn, VA. Since I know good people can disagree over whether or not to support Trump, I am just going to post some candid thoughts below. I report, you decide!
Since I am the chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee, I was working with the campaign in advance of the rally. On Monday evening, a senior Trump staffer emailed me and asked me if I would be willing to give the invocation at the rally. I said I’d be happy to, but I also told him that as a born again Christian, I end my prayers with “I pray all of this in the name of Jesus.” Since I know that in this day and age mentionoing the name of Jesus can offend some people, I said I’d understand if they preferred that someone else give the invocation. His response to me was: “We know that’s how you pray, that’s why we asked you.”
After the welcome (by John Whitbeck), invocation (by yours truly), pledge (by Sheriff Michael Chapman), and National Anthem (by Briar Woods High School Teacher Nina Peyton), we waited back stage to get a photo with Donald Trump. And then – he was there, with a crowd of staff, Loudoun County Sheriff’s deputies, and Secret Service. I was immediately struck by his presence – he radiates confidence, but also I was struck by his soft spoken demeanor. He spoke softly and thoughtfully the entire time we were backstage.
The first person to get a photo with him was an older man. We had been chatting before-hand while all of us were waiting for Trump to arrive, and he introduced himself as Lieutenant Colonel Louis Dorfman and he had served in the 82nd Airborne. He shook hands with Donald Trump, and handed him his Purple Heart saying he wanted Trump to have it as thanks for standing up for wounded vets. Trump was surprised and said something like “I can’t take this!” We were all surprised and not expecting this. It was pretty cool to see the respect this veteran had for Trump.
Then it was my turn to shake hands with Trump and get my photo taken. I told Mr. Trump that I was the chairman of the Loudoun County Republican Committee and he immediately stopped and looked at me: “Will, how do I win Loudoun?” he asked me. We started talking and he called over one of his staffers. “George, these people here in Virginia know what we need to do to win Virginia.” And then – in a really cool turn of events – John Whitbeck, the GOP chairs of Prince William County and Arlington County, Trump’s campaign staffer, and me are all huddled in a corner, photos forgotten, strategizing on how Trump will win Virginia. Trump didn’t do a lot of talking. He listened to all of us, he made sure his staff had our emails, and he said that we would have everything we needed.
As we finished up the photos, Trump looked at all the Sheriff’s Deputies. “Let’s get them in the photo,” he said. And then he was taking group photos with all of the cops. They loved it. In fact, my favorite photo I took was all of the deputies with Trump (I’ll post it tomorrow). I was struck by how Trump didn’t forget the “little people.” Even though it was just a few of us and no media, he was relaxed and took the time to get photos with everyone.
The rally itself was super cool. Lots of energy, packed room (something like 2000 people had to be turned away because the auditorium was packed – and just on 24 hours notice!), everyone stood the entire time even though they all had seats. One thing I want to mention is the baby crying, because that has been national news. Contrary to news stories, it was a very funny thing, Trump was very supportive of the mom calling her and her baby “beautiful” and “wonderful”, and then when the baby kept crying he turned it into a joke. Everyone was laughing and it was actually very endearing and funny. Not at all anti mom or anti baby like the media has portrayed it to be.
Which brings me to the final point: I was there and saw and heard the entire event with the mom and baby. There was nothing to it. But then after I’m reading all the news coverage saying “Trump hates moms and babies!!!” I started to doubt myself. Did I really miss a huge story right in front of me? I started asking others who were there, including a husband and wife with young kids. And everyone in the room said the same thing: there was no story here. Trump was being funny and personable and going out of his way to make sure the mom wasn’t embarrased by making it a funny situation.
My conclusion is that the media is selling us a narrative. Be very skeptical of what the media is telling you, because I saw it with my own eyes and it was something very different.
Typo in your header “you’re” – I saw this on my Facebook feed as well; I’m glad you posted it.
Bless you Melissa, for this post
Thanks as always Melissa for chiming in.
.(self deleted as ‘unhelpful’)
I had the same reaction when I read the Daily Shot this morning, which I really enjoy – glad it wasn’t just me. I feel like someone keeps pulling my strings – we are surrounded by so many people freaking out that I am starting to question the 99% media Trump bashers’ motives. This is a balanced story – I am not seeing many of those. Maybe change your title to Really Ricochet? and they might promote to main feed…I think it should be promoted.
Do you read Scott Adams’s blogs on this election? They’re worth it for his perspective on (among other things) media manipulation of events.
http://www.dilbert.com
If the Daily Shot irritated you, why did you come here to tell us that we are annoying?
From politico http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-kicks-out-baby-rally-226566
“They have ripped us to shreds, ripped us absolutely to shreds,” Trump said of China, before turning back to the woman with the child.
“Actually, I was only kidding, you can get the baby out of here,” the Republican nominee said to laughter and applause. “That’s all right. Don’t worry. I, I think she really believed me that I love having a baby crying while I’m speaking. That’s OK. People don’t understand. That
I liked the story
edit: Great title, and glad to see this on the main feed. Thank you for posting this!
I have no problem believing he was joking. But the reason people who were not there are ready to believe he was insulting is that he is known to be an insulting person.
Also, if your baby is crying and disturbing everyone around you, and you have the ability to leave (ie – you’re not 30,000 feet in the air), then LEAVE. Nobody should have to ask you, jokingly or not, to leave so the rest of the people can hear the speaker, enjoy the meal, whatever.
It was a joke. This reporter who was at the rally, verifies it. Conservatives are going to have to lighten up. You can get Trump on so much more than this, this is a molehill being made into Mountain.
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/08/02/no-donald-trump-did-not-eject-a-baby.html
I just don’t get the vituperation being heaped on Trump by the “center Right.”
Obama sends an unmarked plane carrying $400,000,000 in cash of assorted types (Euros, Swiss Francs, etc.) to Iran, the media bangs on about Trump being rude to a Gold Star Family (with scant mention that Mr. Khan is a Democrat Party operative, advocate of Sharia Law, and operator of a law practice specializing in bringing in Muslim immigrants; and who could have come forward with this story in 2004, 2008, and 2012 and for some reason chose not to).
Clinton holds rallies in almost vacant venues, while people line up around the block to get into Trump rallies. The story is TRUMP MEAN TO BABY (which it turns out isn’t true anyway).
Clinton’s campaign manager John Podesta fails to disclose material involvement with a Russian energy company, and there is a hair-on-fire rant implying Trump will start a nuclear war on the Ricochet main feed.
Why is it that some people who are both Never Trump and Never Clinton, who are going to sit this one out because of their Principles™, are so invested in hating on Trump while giving Clinton a pass?
Were there a lot of posts bashing Trump for kicking a baby out of his rally? If so I must have missed them.
I heard the excerpts on I think it was Ben Shapiro’s podcast and thought it was a joke, the audience appeared to be in on it as well.
I’m not a Trump fan but will vote for him but these false media narratives? GOP/Conservative/’Non-Left’ candidates and movements have had to put up with those for decades. Let’s face it though, in ‘The Donald’s’ case – it’s an easy sell.
You can either wait for the media to be fair & impartial, or you can improve your performance & messaging.
I agree that his penchant for insulting people can lead people (myself, included) to cast things in different light. Do I think he is anti mother or anti baby, no.. What I think happened was the baby was crying and he did what he thought politicians are supposed to do…. basically kiss the baby for publicity and crowd approval. So then he continues the speech and the baby continues to cry and he gets annoyed (understandable, I would to). So he decides to address it (fine, but it’s a tricky proposition). So he does it by to some extent making fun of the mother and saying he was kidding, did she really believe him when he said what he had said earlier…. that’s basically telling a joke and making the mother the butt of it. (and here is where my view of trump comes in, he has a history of putting down people who displease him)
cont
BTW I also agree that the mother should have had the common sense that the baby was being a distraction and should have removed him on her on.
Yeah, I was so annoyed I made a junior-level annoying typo!
You should learn to embrace the tags!
We know the media is biased so that should not surprise us. But you gloss over the obvious point: in cases like this dishonest reporting is effective because the story, as reported, is not implausible.
This candidate has a well-documented history of saying incredibly stupid and demeaning things; would anyone here be surprised if he had kicked a crying baby out his rally? Really? Anyone? His past behavior does not exactly invite giving him the benefit of the doubt. Note that the press couldn’t get away with this level of character assassination with Reagan, Dole, either Bush, McCain, or Romney (not that they didn’t try). Whatever their personality flaws, all were/are fundamentally decent and honorable men and it showed.
Also: you can’t have it both ways. Yes the media is biased and they will portray him in the worst possible light. But his die-hard fans are the polar opposite: excusing every misstep and dismissing glaring character flaws to paint him in the best possible light. Just because the person was at the event doesn’t make them an unbiased witness.
Take another look at those descriptors: “Radiates confidence”, “soft-spoken demeanor”. Sorry, no. This is a man whose first reaction to any kind of setback or criticism is bellicosity and insults. That is neither confident, nor soft-spoken.
Good post
Next week:
Trump eats baby.
You don’t need the media to tell you anything. Just listen to him. What do you think now?
Not sure the point you’re making.
I have noticed there are two Trumps, two Trump campaigns. The ones I see reported and commented on, and the one I’m actually watching.
Oh, I think the explanation is fairly straight forward.
In defense of babies, they are just being babies, but can get super loud- parents take them out into the hall at church – even at Walmart and other stores I’ve seen parents who babies and toddlers are screaming at glass shattering tones do nothing – just ignore. WHILE NO ONE is talking about the headlines you mention above with Clinton or Obama. I completely understand Trump’s frustration.
Really? Maybe you think his daily insults are no big deal.
I’d be interested to hear your impression of his speech. I couldn’t get much beyond the sales pitch for his golf club. How did it go with the audience?
The coverage of Trump in the National Review has alos been fish wrap. They have gone out of their way to mislead and slander him. When reading a Trump article, if feels like reading the Daily Kos.
You said it.
The Trump supporters work harder at this election than he does. Yes there is narrative by the media and you knew this when you chose him.
So move on. He is his own worst enemy and apparently forgot there are weaknesses about Obama, Clinton and the other side.
He is doing this to himself. You can’t stop him, the media or the Dems. Only he can and he isn’t. It is set in motion now.