Keller @ Large: Donald Trump Faces Payback In Debate
BOSTON (CBS) - A three-hour debate? Really?
That was an endurance test for the Republican presidential candidates Wednesday night, let alone the voters, but so is the campaign and the presidency itself. Just as in baseball, there's no crying in politics.
But there is payback. If your pitcher throws a fastball at the head of the other team's best hitter, your hitters better be ready to duck when they come up.
It's human nature.
Just ask Donald Trump.
He spent much of the debate getting the bark stripped off him by other candidates who he has chosen to attack, not on the basis of any policy disagreements, but on things like their appearance and the ethnic origin of their spouses.
Trump was forced to recant his derogatory comments about Carly Fiorina's looks. But his penchant for that kind of schoolyard taunt slipped out when Rand Paul called him on it.
"I never attacked him on his look," Trump said, glaring at Paul, "and believe me, there's plenty of subject matter right there."
Super classy.
And Trump also refused to apologize for suggesting Jeb Bush's immigration policies are influenced by his Mexican-born wife.
Paul described Trump's behavior as "sophomoric," and while it has certainly helped Trump grab attention, there are plenty of voters who may not want a sophomore as commander-in-chief, whatever else they might like about him.
Trump himself said Wednesday he might try to "tone it down a little bit."
Good idea.
Unless you're auditioning to co-host a morning radio zoo, gratuitous insults just aren't a smart game plan.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News weeknights at 11 p.m.
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