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.Completely agree. The president needs to possess a certain level of knowledge about foreign policy, etc. and asking him about that is not a gotcha question. They label them thusly because they can't answer them and it's the only retort they have. It makes one look like a whiney asshole.
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. Originally Posted by SinsOfTheFlesh