Remarkable finding in new Marist poll: By 68-32, voters say they're more concerned about a president who doesn't tell the truth than one who is too old to serve.
Maybe we should cover Trump's lying as a sign of his unfitness for the presidency. 1/
(link)
newrepublic.com/article/183784…
The new Marist poll also finds that 56 percent say Trump lacks the character to be president.
Dishonesty is surely part of that. WaPo found that Trump told 30,000 lies/distortions as president. @ddale8 described his lies at the debate as "staggering." 2/
newrepublic.com/article/183784…
I'd like to suggest a crucial distinction, one between "mental" unfitness for the presidency and "temperamental" unfitness for it.
Some polls use the former language, and there Biden loses.
But when it's polled as the latter, Biden leads Trump. 3/
newrepublic.com/article/183784…
What would it look like if media covered Trump's lying as a big strike against his temperamental fitness for the presidency?
I suggested some ideas here. See these screen caps. 4/
newrepublic.com/article/183784…
One thing we should *not* do is cover Trump's lying as savvy or effective politics. This recent NYT example is a really grating one. 5/
newrepublic.com/article/183784…
We keep hearing voter concern about age/mental unfitness is the reason the media relentlessly focuses on it. That's fine, but voters are also concerned about *temperamental* unfitness and sheer dishonesty.
Maybe it's time to cover this the same way. 6/6
newrepublic.com/article/183784…
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