George Will is proof, is any proof were necessary, that formal education (he has a Ph.D. degree from Princeton) is compatible with quite blatant stupidity. In this op-ed column, he makes two grave errors:
- He misunderstands Donald Trump's complaint. Trump isn't asking that the current rules be suspended or revised. He's pointing out, so that people who aren't party insiders can understand, that the rules allow party insiders to dictate how delegates are apportioned. Trump is saying that ordinary people should play a greater role. Should. Trump is not stupid; he's brilliant. Will, for all his vaunted intelligence, can't keep up with him.
- He thinks that Trump is hypocritical or inconsistent for (1) having donated money to politicians of both parties when he was a private citizen while (2) condemning politicians who take money from fatcats. There's no inconsistency. What's appropriate in one role may not be appropriate in another. Consider: Trump has given his children important roles in his company. Does that mean he is committed to giving his children important roles in his presidential administration, or that he will? Of course not. What one does in one's capacity of private citizen has no bearing on what one will or should do in one's capacity of public official. How Will could not notice this is beyond me. I think he is suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome.
George Will will get right with Donald. I don't know when, but he will. Write it down.
