Why Richard Engel’s condemnation of Donald Trump is a big moment

[babylonsister]

Why Richard Engel’s condemnation of Donald Trump is a big moment
By Callum Borchers
December 8 at 12:04 PM


Pundits, tabloids and bloggers have had Donald Trump on blast for quite some time now. But whether the Republican presidential front-runner likes to admit it or not ("absolute scum" was how he described the media during a rally in South Carolina on Monday night), many journalists have been working very hard to remain neutral when covering him.

NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel belongs in that camp, yet even he is shaking his head publicly after Trump's call for the United States to block all Muslims from entering the country.

"This is really not the country that I know," he said on MSNBC on Monday night. He continued:

This is not small ball, actually. This matters. It would be interesting to say, "Oh, this is just fun. This is just more, you know, he's trying to score a few points." But the world watches this. The world sees the leading political candidate from one party making these kind of statements and still doing well and having these rallies. ... Those are going around the world right now, and people realize this person is leading in the polls. That must be what Americans think. I was today with an ambassador from the Middle East. Today. And we were talking exactly about this subject. And he said, "Well, people in our country watch what is going on, and it makes us very concerned." So from the world perspective, it is absolutely an image, an impression, a black spot on our collective foreign policy and our conscience. And it also just feeds into the ISIS [Islamic State] narrative.

Now, to be clear, this wasn't pure opinion from Engel. When he characterized Trump's rhetoric as "a black spot," for instance, he was essentially relaying a sentiment from others — people like the ambassador he cited. That's reporting — or, perhaps, informed analysis — and not your typical talking-head pontificating.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/12/08/why-richard-engels-condemnation-of-donald-trump-is-a-big-moment/?tid=sm_fb

[SleeplessinSoCal]

1. It's not that he's leading so much as sucking all the air out of the country.

Who else gets anything remotely like his airtime - THAT HE GETS FOR FREE!!!

[JDPriestly]

9. Why is the media giving him so much time?

I am being sexist I know, but as a woman, I cannot think of a man less attractive than Donald Trump. His hair is this phony reddish tint. I suspect that he dyes it himself with some kind of cheap cover-up-the-gray stuff. Only his wife knows for sure.

He is really gross. I cannot imagine him being accepted by world leaders, especially I cannot imagine him being accepted by European leaders.

His manner and appearance are enough to cause the entire diplomatic corps of the free world to cozy up to Putin. Really. He is more repugnant than Putin.

I do not understand it.

And then that's not talking about his stances on the issues. He is utterly primitive.

Is he paying the MSM to cover him? Cause I can't think of any other reason for all the coverage.

Repugnant and rude. That's Donald Trump.

He brags like a 7-year-old. Utterly beyond the pale.

And in spite of his supposed degree from Wharton, he isn't very bright. He thinks in utterly simplistic terms. Just not to be believed that he gets so much TV coverage. He is vulgar, primitive, foolish and repulsive.

[leftynyc]

16. He brings the ratings

Millions are watching the debates, millions more the news every time he opens his mouth. The media hasn't been in the business of informing (I'm speaking mostly about cable news) for quite some time now. He makes them dollars, that's why they cover him. It's very simple.

[nruthie]

18. Ditto. He is loathsome.

Everything I detest all rolled up into one disgusting package.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

19. Wasn't his "reality" show on NBC? nt

[SleeplessinSoCal]

20. at first they knew he brought in ratings - which is money for them.

But now neither seems capable of ending a dysfunctional relationship. And as usual, who pays the price? The children. In this case - US.

[90-percent]

2. Richard Engel

Seems to be a consummate professional JOURNALIST to me. And he also seems to cover the entire rest of the planet all by himself for MSNBC!

These hateful ignorant loons are the leaders of the free world? Surely humanity can do better!

-90% Jimmy

[mmonk]

3. Recommended.

[Jerry442]

4. Sadly, anyone who's ever followed civil liberties cases...

...knows that there has always been a big chunk of this country that has no regard for actual rights and freedom, outside of sloganeering.

[gregcrawford]

5. Mr. Engel...

... also speaks fluent Arabic, if I'm not mistaken. He has covered the Middle East for years, and knows how to get to the roots of a complex issue, and to deliver a concise, cogent analysis. He does not just spew the superficial spittle that passes for fact with the low-wattage intellects that follow The Donald like so many bad-tempered bovines.

[Lochloosa]

6. He lived in Cairo for 4 years after college. He is fluent in Egyptian Arabic.

[CTyankee]

11. I respect Engel. He goes there and does his job without any bloviating.

If I had one foreign correspondent to trust with the truth on any interenational story it would be Engel.

I always listen closely to the guy...

[Scarsdale]

7. Banned?

The UK is actively trying to BAN Trump from entering the country. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. They cite his "hate speech" and do not want him to spread his bile over there.

[lonestarnot]

8. GOPeers are the hater party.

[WillyT]

10. K & R !!!

[Rose Siding]

12. Good but did he just not notice when Jeb said only let in Christians?

[cprise]

13. Practically all the press can talk about is Trump... they helped create this monster.

When they obsess about Republicans (and I believe they do this reflexively, because they *identify* more with Republican politicians even if they disagree) ...they bestow on them a public familiarity. There are many people who will vote for what is familiar over all else, even over people with whom they actually agree.

[asjr]

14. It is downright scary how many people agree with

Trump. Those are the ones who are bigots, carry guns everywhere, racists and either want to go back to the 1800s or bring them back.

[Grammy23]

15. It totally baffles me why the major media outlets GIVE Trump

So much free airtime. A couple of days ago Tweety was on and the discussion was about Trump. Shortly after the program began, they cut away from a discussion of Trump to Give him a free platform to spew more hate to a very receptive audience. Instead of talking only to the people who came out for the rally, his audience was increased tremendously by including viewers on MSNBC, CNN and I am sure others. Ironically, when I checked over at Fox he was not on.

I saw Richard Engel on Rachel Maddow last night. My take away from his comments was that he is one man we can believe when he says Trumps' rhetoric is a dangerous thing. He has been abroad and has credible contacts there. He knows what he is talking about from his experience and education. It is truly frightening to hear him say this kind of demagoguery puts us in more danger.

I am watching closely to see what can be done to stop Trump from causing more harm to all of us. There has got to be a way to stop the madness.

[951-Riverside]

17. Right now, the name "Trump" comes up 18 times in on the first page of GD, Sanders 0 and Clinton 0...

He's a popular guy even on DU. The media is only going where the money is. Unfortunately when Trump spews his hate everybody opens their mouth wide and gobbles it up and either says "yum" or "ew" but either way they have consumed his bile.

[iandhr]

21. Engel is a damn good reporter

And it is a important moment. You should check out what Tom Brokaw said last night

[Utopian Leftist]

22. Perhaps the oligarchy has decided

that the only way to control the "revolting" masses is through outright FASCISM???