Wake up, Democrats, Trump is spinning his way to a second term
Trump is now in his reelection campaign phase, so his State of the Union address was notably sweetened by his reality TV-style honors to notable individuals. To spotlight school choice, a favorite issue of Vice President Mike Pence, he gave Janiyah Davis, a Philadelphia fourth grader, that promise of a scholarship to the school of her choice. He promoted retired Tuskegee Airman and World War II vet Charles McGee to brigadier general. He also reunited surprise guest Army Sgt. 1st Class Townsend Williams with his family in a surprise trip home from his fourth deployment in the Middle East.
And in a bold move of Trumpian chutzpah, he gave a Presidential Medal of Freedom to a friend, Rush Limbaugh, the right-wing radio giant, who just received an advanced lung cancer diagnosis. A lot of people, including me, found that inappropriate for one of the country's leading political polarizers. But considering his condition, even I felt moved to put his politics aside to wish him well.
Trump also gave a little overdue time in the spotlight to Opportunity Zones in a plan spearheaded by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the body's only black Republican, and supported by the president's daughter Ivanka Trump. Using tax breaks to revive investment in underdeveloped communities, Opportunity Zones tend to have their biggest success in communities that need help the least, but we have to start somewhere.
On the whole, it was a great night for Trump. He even looked and sounded (gasp!) presidential, mostly. And many Democrats shared the frustration shown by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who followed his exaggerations and outright fabrications by grandly tearing his speech in two, while Trump basked in applause. Although many people shared her frustration, it probably wasn't her best hour.
Worse for her party was their week of agony over the botched Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses, which would end the week still uncertain as to which candidate won, all because of a smartphone app that apparently few knew how to operate. That's not a good look for a party that's trying to brand itself as ready for the future.
But Trump's rambling rant the next day, when he was untethered to a teleprompter and still fuming over his impeachment fight, wasn't his best hour, either.
Looking ahead, the 2020 campaign season has only begun. I expect to see a lot more Twitter Trump and rally Trump -- and Democrats apparently need all the time that they can get. While they try to get their act together, Trump may be spinning his way to a second term.
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(E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@chicagotribune.com.)
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