The Context
Following resounding victories in five states on Tuesday --- and a big win in his home state last Tuesday --- Donald Trump pivoted toward the general election with a foreign policy speech. The speech was received with confusion by pundits and commentators, but lauded by Trump supporters like Ann Coulter as a historic.
What's in a Name, Really?
Story after story yesterday on television, radio and print referenced Ted Cruz mistakenly calling a basketball hoop a "ring" instead of a "rim." Audio from one mic sounds like he actually got it right, but either way, Cruz's slip of the tongue pales in comparison to what Trump said during his "historic" foreign policy speech. And it seems to have gone unnoticed.
"Yesterday, in the foreign policy speech --- you know, something that actually matters --- Donald Trump read his teleprompter and said "Tan-zayne-eah," and he was going to help us in "Tan-zayne-eah" instead of "Tanzania." But don't mention that. Because really what we need is a president that knows the difference between a 'hoop' and a 'ring,'" Glenn said Thursday on The Glenn Beck Program.
Tomayto, tomahto.
"Donald Trump might think that the Tasmanian Devil comes from Tan-zayne-eah," Glenn added sarcastically.
All Tapped Out of Logic
Critics of the Republican front-runner won't be surprised Trump's speech was long on rhetoric and short on specifics, rife with contradictions. The contradictory statements even had CNN's Jake Tapper scratching his head.
"I don't fully understand the contradiction that he seems to propose when it comes to going after ISIS even tougher than they're being pursued now, while also not getting involved in another war in the Middle East. That seems to be completely contradictory," Tapper asked a guest on The Lead With Jake Tapper.
In typical Trumpeter fashion, the guest gave his, "Yeah, but Trump!" answer.
"I think the coherence of what he stated and what has been different for probably the last --- at least the last 50 years --- is in one word, and that's winning," the guest said.
Winning is Not a Strategy
Bill Clinton probably wanted to win, both Bush's really liked to win, so it stands to reason they didn't go into a conflict hoping for a loss. Co-host Pat Gray was quick to point out the idiocy of the Trump supporter's comment.
"Has anybody said, 'Hey, let's get into this war and we'll lose big. We'll lose. We'll lose a lot of blood and treasure, and it will be great,'" Pat said.
Glenn agreed.
"That's not a strategy, that's a goal," Glenn said. "It contradicts itself. So how is his strategy going to work?"
Common Sense Bottom Line
Anyone can have the occasional slip of the tongue, and we shouldn't rake them over the coals for it. But knowledge about your subject matter --- especially in a significant foreign policy speech --- is important. More important than incorrectly naming a basketball hoop.
Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:
Featured Image: Using teleprompters, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers a speech about his vision for foreign policy at the Mayflower Hotel April 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. A real estate billionaire and reality television star, Trump beat his GOP challengers by double digits in Tuesday's presidential primaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Deleware, Rhode Island and Connecticut. 'I consider myself the presumptive nominee, absolutely,' Trump told supporters at the Trump Tower following yesterday's wins. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)