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The Media’s Miscues on Donald Trump The Media’s Miscues on Donald Trump
(35 minutes later)
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Re “What I Got Wrong About Donald Trump,” by Nate Cohn (The Upshot, May 5):Re “What I Got Wrong About Donald Trump,” by Nate Cohn (The Upshot, May 5):
I am tired of the repeated mea culpas and breast-beating on the part of journalists in general, and The Times in particular, regarding the unlikely rise of Donald Trump. It is not that the pundits guessed wrong about the outcomes of various primary contests.I am tired of the repeated mea culpas and breast-beating on the part of journalists in general, and The Times in particular, regarding the unlikely rise of Donald Trump. It is not that the pundits guessed wrong about the outcomes of various primary contests.
The real deficiency of journalists has been that (1) they failed to take Mr. Trump’s candidacy seriously enough to dig for the truth underlying his most flamboyant statements; and (2) they gave Mr. Trump virtually unlimited access to the print and TV platforms that they control.The real deficiency of journalists has been that (1) they failed to take Mr. Trump’s candidacy seriously enough to dig for the truth underlying his most flamboyant statements; and (2) they gave Mr. Trump virtually unlimited access to the print and TV platforms that they control.
A case in point is the May 6 “news” article about Mr. Trump eating a taco (“Outreach to Hispanics: Taco Bowls”). Oh, please, do your jobs as journalists. In short, you have not served the American people and their government well.A case in point is the May 6 “news” article about Mr. Trump eating a taco (“Outreach to Hispanics: Taco Bowls”). Oh, please, do your jobs as journalists. In short, you have not served the American people and their government well.
ROBERT N. ROSSROBERT N. ROSS
Cambridge, Mass.Cambridge, Mass.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Here’s my upshot. Here’s what should have been on Nate Cohn’s list of what he and others got wrong:Here’s my upshot. Here’s what should have been on Nate Cohn’s list of what he and others got wrong:
For entirely too long working-class people have been dismissed as not smart enough, their passion rooted in racism, love of guns, white male dominance or the need for a beer. As with most people in the United States, for them it really boils down to “it’s the economy, stupid.”For entirely too long working-class people have been dismissed as not smart enough, their passion rooted in racism, love of guns, white male dominance or the need for a beer. As with most people in the United States, for them it really boils down to “it’s the economy, stupid.”
Their motives have been downgraded; they’ve been dismissed and talked over. They’ve noticed that, and they’re fuming now. At election time a few politicians (from both parties) pretend to care, pretend to like pork rinds, pretend to be on the working class’s side — but it’s mostly baloney.Their motives have been downgraded; they’ve been dismissed and talked over. They’ve noticed that, and they’re fuming now. At election time a few politicians (from both parties) pretend to care, pretend to like pork rinds, pretend to be on the working class’s side — but it’s mostly baloney.
I was raised in a working-class union household. I am very lucky to have gotten a good college education and now live in an elite economic bubble, from which I can see both perspectives. For the last 30 years I have been flinching at the disrespect and mistreatment of the working class that I hear and see every day. I have been wondering when they might fight back, and now they are.I was raised in a working-class union household. I am very lucky to have gotten a good college education and now live in an elite economic bubble, from which I can see both perspectives. For the last 30 years I have been flinching at the disrespect and mistreatment of the working class that I hear and see every day. I have been wondering when they might fight back, and now they are.
It’s taken a terrifying form; Donald Trump is just one more in a long line of pretenders. But he’s paying them the respect of saying it simply and mirroring what they feel. Although I would never vote for him, this does make him a more qualified candidate than most.It’s taken a terrifying form; Donald Trump is just one more in a long line of pretenders. But he’s paying them the respect of saying it simply and mirroring what they feel. Although I would never vote for him, this does make him a more qualified candidate than most.
Please stop hearing only elite voices. Please consider that the grievances of the working class come from economic stress, fear for their children and hope for the future. The disrespect I have witnessed is constant, without political boundaries and delivered with shocking ignorance, both in my neighborhood and in your paper.Please stop hearing only elite voices. Please consider that the grievances of the working class come from economic stress, fear for their children and hope for the future. The disrespect I have witnessed is constant, without political boundaries and delivered with shocking ignorance, both in my neighborhood and in your paper.
BARRETT MOOREBARRETT MOORE
Menlo Park, Calif.Menlo Park, Calif.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
A follow-up to Nate Cohn’s insightful essay about what he got wrong about Donald Trump might examine what he and many others of us got wrong about the American electorate. When I was a boy early in F.D.R.’s third term we celebrated a holiday then called I Am an American Day.A follow-up to Nate Cohn’s insightful essay about what he got wrong about Donald Trump might examine what he and many others of us got wrong about the American electorate. When I was a boy early in F.D.R.’s third term we celebrated a holiday then called I Am an American Day.
We had our differences back then, but World War II had made us one people. It should not take a war to do that, but it would be hard to imagine such a holiday today, and almost impossible to say what many Americans share in common beyond citizenship and a reverence for money.We had our differences back then, but World War II had made us one people. It should not take a war to do that, but it would be hard to imagine such a holiday today, and almost impossible to say what many Americans share in common beyond citizenship and a reverence for money.
Donald Trump astutely used our dissonance to gain the Republican nomination, demeaning many of the qualities we claim to value in our elected leadership and also hope to see in our children: decency, honesty, tolerance, respect for others, regard for women.Donald Trump astutely used our dissonance to gain the Republican nomination, demeaning many of the qualities we claim to value in our elected leadership and also hope to see in our children: decency, honesty, tolerance, respect for others, regard for women.
Mr. Trump’s advisers say we’ll see a different Trump after the conventions. Maybe. But his nomination will present an opportunity in this election to decide not only who we want, but also who we are.Mr. Trump’s advisers say we’ll see a different Trump after the conventions. Maybe. But his nomination will present an opportunity in this election to decide not only who we want, but also who we are.
DAVID KERNISDAVID KERNIS
Trumbull, Conn.Trumbull, Conn.
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Nate Cohn says that maybe he underestimated Donald Trump. I say, maybe we overestimated Republican voters.Nate Cohn says that maybe he underestimated Donald Trump. I say, maybe we overestimated Republican voters.
RICHARD LADERRICHARD LADER
New YorkNew York
To the Editor:To the Editor:
Re “The Republican Horse Race Is Over, and Journalism Lost,” by Jim Rutenberg (Mediator column, May 9):Re “The Republican Horse Race Is Over, and Journalism Lost,” by Jim Rutenberg (Mediator column, May 9):
It was refreshing to read Jim Rutenberg’s mea culpa on behalf of the Fourth Estate. Journalism somehow managed to get the Trump phenomenon wrong, wrong, wrong, while writing more and more about Trump, Trump, Trump. It was refreshing to read Mr. Rutenberg’s mea culpa on behalf of the Fourth Estate. Journalism somehow managed to get the Trump phenomenon wrong, wrong, wrong, while writing more and more about Trump, Trump, Trump.
Mr. Rutenberg urges journalists to resist the urge to put “ratings, clicks and ad sales” above, well, good journalism. I hope The Times takes his advice to heart, but I am not optimistic.Mr. Rutenberg urges journalists to resist the urge to put “ratings, clicks and ad sales” above, well, good journalism. I hope The Times takes his advice to heart, but I am not optimistic.
Mr. Rutenberg’s article on the home page of the digital edition was accompanied by four (four!) other stories about Donald Trump. It was wall-to-wall Trump for breakfast. If the Fourth Estate is serious about making amends, a good start would be to stop feeding the monster.Mr. Rutenberg’s article on the home page of the digital edition was accompanied by four (four!) other stories about Donald Trump. It was wall-to-wall Trump for breakfast. If the Fourth Estate is serious about making amends, a good start would be to stop feeding the monster.
MISHA RASOVICHMISHA RASOVICH
Los AngelesLos Angeles
To the Editor:To the Editor:
The first few words of this article gave me hope that it would be a thoughtful analysis of the role of the media in the presidential primaries. After the first powerful three words — “Wrong, wrong, wrong” — I realized that the point of the article was that the media made incorrect predictions. That they did.The first few words of this article gave me hope that it would be a thoughtful analysis of the role of the media in the presidential primaries. After the first powerful three words — “Wrong, wrong, wrong” — I realized that the point of the article was that the media made incorrect predictions. That they did.
But there is a more fundamental wrong to be explored. Jim Rutenberg and the rest of the media seem to think that an important part of their role is to make predictions. In my view, predictions are a powerful tool that influences the outcome of elections and works against what we desire in a democracy.But there is a more fundamental wrong to be explored. Jim Rutenberg and the rest of the media seem to think that an important part of their role is to make predictions. In my view, predictions are a powerful tool that influences the outcome of elections and works against what we desire in a democracy.
The absence of predictions would encourage individuals to vote their consciences. The role of journalists is to draw out from the candidates the truth of their convictions and clarify their implementation plans if they are elected. It is also to confront them when they make misleading or contradictory statements. What is wrong, wrong, wrong is that the media makes predictions.The absence of predictions would encourage individuals to vote their consciences. The role of journalists is to draw out from the candidates the truth of their convictions and clarify their implementation plans if they are elected. It is also to confront them when they make misleading or contradictory statements. What is wrong, wrong, wrong is that the media makes predictions.
HANAN WATSONHANAN WATSON
New YorkNew York