Donald Trump certainly benefits from a double standard. Hillary Clinton is judged basically like a normal major party candidate. And on that score, she comes across as less likable than average and more corrupt than average. Donald Trump is a major party candidate too. But he’s judged by the score we would keep for utter buffoons, pathological narcissists, inveterate racists, and threats to the republic. And on that score, he comes across as one of the more charming and bearable specimens.
These are the abysmally low standards Donald Trump has set for himself, and most of the media has internalized them. The public has probably internalized them as well. Having internalized them, we’ve dulled the effect that damning articles about Trump’s scandals and character would normally have on a campaign.
Consider that Hillary Clinton is being hammered for the opaque and dishonest way her campaign has handled questions of her health. But Trump hasn’t released health records, and when asked to do so he issued a ludicrous doctor’s note alleging that he would be the fittest man ever to take the office. The note was written in the exact tone of personal exaltation that is the dead giveaway of Trump’s dictation. Although he is a notorious teetotaler and germaphobe, Trump is alleged to have been an amphetamine user in Spy Magazine. He is said to love diet soda and fast food. Not exactly the most nutritious diet for a man pushing 70 years of age. The scandal of the doctor’s note died. Now Trump has promised to release “very, very specific numbers” from a physical this week — but, if they’re anything like other figures he’s released, they’re bound to be suspiciously positive and subject to change.
Or take financial corruption.
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