How to use federal anti-bullying guidelines to defeat Donald Trump
Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is facing off against 10 of his rivals at the Reagan Library tonight for the second GOP presidential debate, and CNN has promised verbal fisticuffs. None of those candidates should take the bait, argues Dana Milbank at The Washington Post. Ignoring and punching back at Trump have only fueled his rise in the polls, "because his opponents are following the wrong script," Milbank says. "They treat him as if he were a conventional candidate, and not the schoolyard bully he has been acting like."
In fact, Milbank adds, the other, non-Trump GOP candidates and Republican leaders " would do better going to StopBullying.gov, the website for a public-service campaign run by the Department of Health and Human Services." If you replace every mention of "child" or "children" with "candidate" or "candidates," you get some pretty sage advice for Trump's opponents on-stage and off:
StopBullying.gov has some wisdom for CNN's Jake Tapper, the moderator of Wednesday's debate, when he (inevitably) encounters Trump’s bullying. “Intervene immediately. It is okay to get another adult to help.... Don't think candidates can work it out without adult help." And the targets of Trump's bullying? "Look at the candidate bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try to laugh it off." [The Washington Post]
If you see some good forced laughs at the debate tonight, somebody's been doing his or her homework.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why is the Trump administration talking about ‘Western civilization’?Talking Points Rubio says Europe, US bonded by religion and ancestry
-
Quentin Deranque: a student’s death energizes the French far rightIN THE SPOTLIGHT Reactions to the violent killing of an ultraconservative activist offer a glimpse at the culture wars roiling France ahead of next year’s elections
-
Secured vs. unsecured loans: how do they differ and which is better?the explainer They are distinguished by the level of risk and the inclusion of collateral
-
Labor secretary’s husband barred amid assault probeSpeed Read Shawn DeRemer, the husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, has been accused of sexual assault
-
Trump touts pledges at 1st Board of Peace meetingSpeed Read At the inaugural meeting, the president announced nine countries have agreed to pledge a combined $7 billion for a Gaza relief package
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
