Pollster Frank Luntz described it as “one of the best” focus groups he’s ever done. Fox News viewers, though, might just call it good TV.
Tempers flared on Monday night’s “Hannity” as a panel of New Hampshire residents — 26 in all — convened to discuss the Republican presidential candidacy of businessman Donald Trump.
One woman described the candidate as “a live sitcom we’re watching here.” A man in the group said Trump “changes his views like he changes his underwear.” The Donald’s supporters spoke up in his defense, and soon, a verbal melee broke out. By the end, host Sean Hannity was left breathless.
“Wow,” Hannity said.
The host introduced the segment as a chance to hear what New Hampshire residents thought about the GOP field.
One woman in the group quickly compared Trump to former President Ronald Reagan, who, like Trump, was in show business before running for office.
“People of the United States are agreeing with what he’s saying,” the woman said. “The other Republicans better start making fun of him because they made fun of Ronald Reagan and I think Donald Trump could become the next President of the United States.”
One of the participants accused Trump’s supporters of not knowing what the candidate stood for.
“People have not done their homework,” the man said. “He changes his views like he changes his underwear.”
When the discussion turned to upholding the President to follow the Constitution, a woman interjected: “All he has to do is read!”
“Are we not concerned that this guy has a communication issue?” another woman commented.
When one participant defended Trump, another would quickly counter the argument. Luntz said for every Trump supporter in the room, there were two who didn’t support him.
Watch the exchange below:
h/t: http://www.ibtimes.com/watch-donald-trump-causes-fox-news-focus-group-self-destruct-2038397
So, the takeaway here is that Trump isn’t part of the Faux machine, and now Faux is trying to steer the narrative back on track?
Fox is Frankenstein, Trump is the Monster. The difference is that when the Monster threw the little girl (McCain) in the pond, many of the villagers either looked the other way or cheered him on.
Don’t you wonder how Luntz and company screen for these focus groups? I guarantee you, there are criteria that Faux News (Luntz’s employer) is not sharing with their audience, much like they’re not sharing who gets in to their Faux Fantasy Debate until the 11th hour.
And come on now…tRump is “a live sitcom” as much as Carson, the Huckster, and Carnival Cruz are, in almost equal amounts…except they haven’t been able to get a word in edgewise since tRump’s PR campaign has worked out more to his benefit in recent weeks.
Sorry sheeple…your brain-dead party built that. Enjoy your mess…I know I will.
The desperation of the FAUX Machine to derail The Trumpster is in full view now.
They hand pick a group to attack Trump and sprinkle in just enough Trump supporters to spice it all up for the knuckle-draggers watching on FAUX News.
That paragon of virtue: Frank Luntz loved it because he did what he was paid to do. Smear Trump.
What this showed me was that the Republican Presidential Primary has devolved into “The Jerry Springer Show”.
That is why Trump is so popular. He fits right in.
THIS. It’s precisely this kind of hectoring TV-level argument between core Fox viewers that is happening all across the Republican party as the base shatters from the centrifugal force of 17 candidates each saying and doing contradictorily outrageous things.
This is why the GOP is going to lose in '16. They know it. Trump is simply bringing the fractures into play earlier, louder, and more visibly.