# What did the reporter ask Trump that elicited such derision? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 9, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417 "2016-03-09T16:24:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/21 "2016-03-09T20:46:08Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Trumps mockery wasn’t substantive. He just insulted the questioner. That doesn’t really get at the lameness of the inquiry does it? Doesn’t curb it. Won’t change it. At all. Granted, I’ve only read the text in this thread and the linked article in post #2, but I thought the response did address the lameness of the inquiry. It’s off the cuff remarks, but the gist of the response was that the question was PC bullshit. > [@](#): > > Moreover, as noted upthread, Presidents have to deal with inane questions on a regular basis. They also have to know how to speak diplomatically, because they are the chief representative of the country. Keep in mind, I personally don’t think the levels of profanity being used are anything concerning. But remember, [Obama’s foreign policy is “don’t do stupid shit”](http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/06/04/obamas-dont-do-stupid-shit-foreign-policy/). And according to Obama, Kanye West is a jackass, and he’s not calling him a donkey. So yeah, I could get behind the idea that it’s a good idea for Presidents and candidates to not use profanity. It’s far from a big concern - probably rates ever so slightly above lapel pins. But once children are used as both a shield and a bludgeoning instrument, it’s just political theater BS. The use of profanity alone isn’t enough to conclude that a person is unserious in pursuing the office of President. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/22 "2016-03-09T20:58:06Z")
Oh I expect Presidents to swear behind closed doors. That’s accepted, even appropriate. It’s when they do it casually on national television that it becomes an issue. I agree though that using generic children as a shield or bludgeoning instrument is basically using cheap emotion. Which is ok I guess, except that it doesn’t help us weigh larger vs. smaller issues. Lead in the water? _Elevated, documented and hazardous lead in the bloodstream?_ Think of the children. (Good. Do that.) Fluoride in the water? Think of the children. (No. Let’s not. Let’s measure the issue and calibrate fluoridation levels by applying the best science and risk assessment. Fluoride levels can actually be too high when fluoride comes from natural sources. But stop thinking about puerile sentiments. They are a distraction.) ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/23 "2016-03-09T21:40:01Z")
The issue about Trump swearing isn’t about swearing, its about whether or not he can maintain an outer facade when dealing with the issues a president has to deal with calmly. It would be kind of fun to tell the president of China to fuck off, less so if that quip costs the country billions of dollars in trade. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/24 "2016-03-09T21:49:40Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > The issue about Trump swearing isn’t about swearing, its about whether or not he can maintain an outer facade when dealing with the issues a president has to deal with calmly. It would be kind of fun to tell the president of China to fuck off, less so if that quip costs the country billions of dollars in trade. And how would you then explain that trade defecit to your children? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/25 "2016-03-09T21:57:45Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I got to agree with Bone on this. Why should Trump be asked how to explain stuff to your children? Figure it out yourself and if you don’t like his potty mouth then don’t vote for him. No one actually cares about Trump’s opinion on child rearing. The question is a rhetorical device to question whether he understands and/or agrees that the President has an obligation to communicate professionally. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/26 "2016-03-09T22:04:22Z")
Exactly. It was a bullshit rhetorical device. That’s what we’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/27 "2016-03-09T22:07:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > And how would you then explain that trade defecit to your children? ☹ “The president of China was very unfair to me. OK? He’s unfair. Have you seen this guy? With those eyes? (tugs on the upper corners of his eyes) And you know what they say about Chinese men - let me assure you, I don’t have that problem at all.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/28 "2016-03-09T22:13:24Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Having read the offending question, and the reaction, try to imagine Trump as president. Try to imagine him responding like an adult to any one of the hundreds of ridiculous questions, horrendous tragedies, or actual personal insults that a president will certainly face. Can’t do it? Me either. > [@running\_coach](#): > > I _can_ imagine it. And that’s scary as shit. I can’t imagine him responding like an adult – but I can imagine him responding, and **that’s** scary as shit. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/29 "2016-03-09T22:17:25Z")
I have never understood why Trump thinks he is less politically correct than his detractors. Trump is the one who thinks any business who says “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” [should be boycotted](http://www.mediaite.com/online/trump-says-everyone-should-say-merry-christmas-forgets-his-own-happy-holidays-history/). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/30 "2016-03-09T22:22:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I can’t imagine him responding like an adult – but I can imagine him responding, and **that’s** scary as shit. That’s what I meant and i screwed up. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/31 "2016-03-09T23:34:36Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I got to agree with Bone on this. Why should Trump be asked how to explain stuff to your children? Figure it out yourself and if you don’t like his potty mouth then don’t vote for him. Yeah, I agree with Bone that it was a stupid question, and more to the point, kids are exposed to all kinds of shit they shouldn’t emulate. The parenting is in teaching them how to behave appropriately, not in keeping them from being aware that inappropriate exists, or what it looks like. One of my pet peeves is that rather than teach appropriate, we try to deny inappropriate’s existence. That said, I don’t like Trump and the real indictment of him is that he can’t behave appropriately when answering that question. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/32 "2016-03-10T00:04:16Z")
Couldn’t a smart person simultaneously have called out the bullshit of a ridiculous question and provided a substantive answer at the same time…while insulting the reporter? That Trump can’t and has to resort to peurile insults is disturbing ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/33 "2016-03-10T00:17:25Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > Better yet: “Fuck off, dickhead.” Brevity is the soul of wit. “Fuck off.” Brevity is wit. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/34 "2016-03-10T00:25:05Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > “Fuck off.” Brevity is wit. Brevity. . .wit. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/35 "2016-03-10T00:25:33Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > “Fuck off.” Brevity is wit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/36 "2016-03-10T00:55:52Z")
Trump Tweeted this in response to Vicente Fox saying Mexico wouldn’t pay for “that fucking wall”: > [@](#): > > FMR PRES of Mexico, Vicente Fox horribly used the F word when discussing the wall. He must apologize! If I did that there would be a uproar! > — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/37 "2016-03-10T04:42:22Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > “Fuck off.” Brevity is wit. > [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Brevity. . .wit. Yep, saying something in as few words as possible is the best way to express a humorous sentiment in a clever manner.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/38 "2016-03-10T05:19:42Z")
If anyone wants to see it, it’s at 28:47: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCaL8x75TiE) Trump is usually fairly charming (while serving a lot of [baloney](http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/03/donald-trumps-foreign-policy-team-isum) in the form of knowingly false promises and inaccuracies), but this wasn’t one of his greatest moments. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/39 "2016-03-10T05:30:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > He has people for that. The best people ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417/40 "2016-03-10T06:40:22Z")
Maybe somebody could bring their little kid to a Trump rally and finagle himself into a position where the kid gets to ask him the question. Could provide Trump with his “Martin Sheen in _The Dead Zone_” moment… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-the-reporter-ask-trump-that-elicited-such-derision/748417.md?page=3)