At Thursday's presidential debate, CNN's Jake Tapper asked Donald Trump about incidents of violence at his campaign events:
TAPPER: Do you believe that you've done anything to create a tone where this kind of violence would be encouraged? TRUMP: I hope not. I truly hope not. I will say this. We have 25 (thousand), 30,000 people -- you've seen it yourself. People come with tremendous passion and love for the country, and when they see protest -- in some cases -- you know, you're mentioning one case, which I haven't seen, I heard about it, which I don't like. But when they see what's going on in this country, they have anger that's unbelievable. They have anger. They love this country. They don't like seeing bad trade deals, they don't like seeing higher taxes, they don't like seeing a loss of their jobs where our jobs have just been devastated. And I know -- I mean, I see it. There is some anger. There's also great love for the country. It's a beautiful thing in many respects. But I certainly do not condone that at all, Jake. TAPPER: Some of your critics point to quotes you've made at these debates -- at these rallies including February 23rd, "I'd like to punch him in the face," referring to a protesters. February 27th, "in the good ol' days, they'd have ripped him out of that seat so fast." February 1st, "knock the crap out of him, would, you? Seriously, OK, just knock the hell. I promise you I will pay for the legal fees, I promise, I promise." (APPLAUSE) TRUMP: We have some protesters who are bad dudes, they have done bad things. They are swinging, they are really dangerous and they get in there and they start hitting people. And we had a couple big, strong, powerful guys doing damage to people, not only the loudness, the loudness I don't mind. But doing serious damage. And if they've got to be taken out, to be honest, I mean, we have to run something.
Now tonight's debate was comparatively civilized, and unlike the last debate, Trump kept his cool. Trump himself said from the debate stage, "I cannot believe how civil it's been up here." As a result, many commentators are praising this debate, and Trump specifically, for being substantive and reasonable. But the specifics of Trump's answer here might be the most disturbing thing that's been said at a debate to date.
First, Trump engages in a bit of rhetorical sleight-of-hand to suggest that the violence at his rallies is a result of "when they see what's going on in this country, they have anger that's unbelievable." Even if that were true, that's hardly an excuse.
Second, Tapper specifically called out Trump for engaging in rhetoric that directly encourages violence, such as offering to pay the legal fees for people that beat up protesters. Trump's answer is, essentially, that the protesters are so bad they're asking for it.
Finally, one of the big news stories of the last few days is that Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, a combative figure who was once arrested for trying to bring a loaded gun into the U.S. Capitol, allegedly assaulted reporter Michelle Fields. There is a Washington Post reporter who witnessed the assault, an audio recording that corroborates their version of events, and other press sources saying Lewandowski admitted to grabbing and injuring her. The Trump campaign not only denies this happened, Lewandowski went on Twitter today to accuse Fields of previously manufacturing sexual assault allegations based on an incredibly dubious source.
Incredibly, CNN did not ask about this incident. Why?