Does Trump really think that we have forgotten?
Sure, Trump’s record of flip-flopping is well-documented ( http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/full-list-donald-trump-s-rapidly-changing-policy-positions-n547801 ), his self-contradictions something of a meme (http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/videos/a47481/trump-contradicting-himself/ ) and keeping track of his lies are something of a sport (http://www.dailywire.com/news/4834/trumps-101-lies-hank-berrien# ), but if he thinks the latest doozy went over our heads during the Final Presidential Debate, his capacity for self-deception must be truly extraordinary. Either that or he thinks that the American electorate has become truly Orwellian in terms of self-censorship and double-think (the acceptance of or mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time, especially as a result of political indoctrination.)
I am of course talking about him waffling on accepting the outcome of the election itself. The final question of the First Presidential Debate was asking if the Party Nominees would accept the outcome of the election. Hillary made it clear that she would. So did Trump.
"HOLT: Will you accept the outcome of the election?
TRUMP: Look, here's the story. I want to make America great again. I'm going to be able to do it. I don't believe Hillary will. The answer is, if she wins, I will absolutely support her." –full transcript found here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/26/the-first-trump-clinton-presidential-debate-transcript-annotated/”
Trump, the man who supposedly “tells it like it is” seems to have forgotten that, but more to the point, he seems to think we have forgotten as well. During the Final Presidential Debate, this is what he had to say when asked again:
“WALLACE: Mr. Trump, I want to ask you about one last question in this topic. You have been warning at rallies recently that this election is rigged and that Hillary Clinton is in the process of trying to steal it from you.
Your running mate, Governor Pence, pledged on Sunday that he and you -- his words -- "will absolutely accept the result of this election." Today your daughter, Ivanka, said the same thing. I want to ask you here on the stage tonight: Do you make the same commitment that you will absolutely -- sir, that you will absolutely accept the result of this election?
TRUMP: I will look at it at the time. I'm not looking at anything now. I'll look at it at the time...
WALLACE: ...But, sir, there is a tradition in this country -- in fact, one of the prides of this country -- is the peaceful transition of power and that no matter how hard-fought a campaign is, that at the end of the campaign that the loser concedes to the winner...Are you saying you're not prepared now to commit to that principle?
TRUMP: ...What I'm saying is that I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense. OK?" –full transcript found here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/19/the-final-trump-clinton-debate-transcript-annotated/”
It reminds of something that I read once…
"It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grams a week. And only yesterday […] it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it." --George Orwell, 1984
If you'd thought that an American Presidential Nominee would, at the very least, respect the basic democratic process, Trump has proved you wrong. But for a man batting a thousand on lies and contradictions, is anyone actually surprised?
