I was wondering which one of you dumb SOBs was going to bring this shit up.
Not surprised that it turned out to be the worm. The dumbest SOB of them all.
This "gotcha" scenario has played out in every Republican campaign since Reagan. (Notice how it's only Republicans that get this type of question.) Some candidates have handled it better than others. Trump was probably right about most of those names not being around by the time he takes office. At this point in the campaign it doesn't matter anyway.
BTW, Reagan had the best answer of all when he said, "It doesn't matter whether I know their names, but they better know mine."
Originally Posted by gfejunkie
Yes actually, at this point in the campaign it does matter. I'm not looking for the candidate who can embrace mediocrity with gusto. I'm not looking for a candidate who has to turn ignorance into a virtue, or who's approach to foreign policy is to hire the right people because its all just so darned confusing.
When I can watch an interview and scream at the TV "he's the leader of Hezbollah you idiot!", then I know I'm not looking at a candidate who represents the best and the brightest. I don't expect Trump or any other candidate to be an expert on foreign policy, or to be an expert on any particular subject. But I do expect any man or woman who is asking to be trusted with the awesome responsibility of leading this country to show some engagement, some initiative, and at the absolute least, have the necessary knowledge to discuss foreign affairs intelligently, even if they don't yet know enough about the major players on the world stage to deliver a dissertation on foreign policy.
Trump doesn't have that, and if his preparations to be taken seriously didn't include at least a crash course on foreign affairs, then his preparation is piss poor at best. Trump is, at best, a one trick pony. He does not come close to representing the best this country has to offer.
And while I am at it, I am really sick of hearing the phrase "gotcha questions". Its not a gotcha question when the interviewer is attempting to ascertain, on behalf of the voting public, the level and depth of a candidate's knowledge and preparedness to LEAD. It is not a gotcha question to expect a candidate to either disavow their own words spoken in haste, or back them up and stand by them.
If you know nothing about foreign policy and do not wish to look like a fool for it, then don't run for President.
If you want to open your mouth and allow a sewer to run from it in place of intelligent discourse, but can't handle being called out about it, then don't run for President.