Whither Carly?
by digby
Everyone’s asking what happened to Fiorina’s poll numbers. She has tumbled precipitously since her post-debate bump.
The rapid rise and equally rapid fall of Carly Fiorina deserves our attention. Before the most recent debate, she was languishing in the polls with only 4 percent of the vote (CBS, Sept. 9-13). After a smashing performance in the second debate, she soared into second place with 15 percent (CNN, Sept. 17-19). Now the most recent polls have her falling back into the pack with only 6 percent support (CBS, Oct. 4-8).
It’s not a mystery — she’s been exposed as a very big liar. Over and over again. This is usually not something that right wingers care about, but in her case it’s so obvious and so embarrassing even they can’t justify it. The Planned Parenthood lie is the most egregious but she made stuff up about everything, including nonsense talking points about the 6th fleet and missile defense and the extent of her relationship with her “good friend Bibi Netanyahu.”
Some on the right argue that it’s because her failed record at HP has come to light. But that’s also part of the liar image — she claims her tenure was terrific but the facts are in and she was an epic failure. So, it’s really just another part of the same blatant lying phenomenon. Others claim she was felled by bloggers who exposed her as a California Rhino. But that doesn’t explain why the equally Rhinoish Trump continues to dominate.
If I had to guess, the fact that she’s a lying woman does make a difference. These are right wingers, after all. They may be willing to put up with a woman running, maybe even winning. But not if it puts them on the spot. Plenty of men in the race to replace her. And sadly, if the comment sections of right wing blogs are an example of the right’s thinking on the issues, it has a lot to do with her looks. Which is just so … typical. Of course most of those who say that are Trump voters. Because he’s such a looker apparently. Just ask him.
Host Chuck Todd continued to press Trump: “You have a tenancy of disparaging woman on looks. I found 10 instances, sometimes in your books, your Twitter feeds when you went after people like Bette Midler and others. This is what some people find offensive, Mr. Trump, you go to looks. It’s a disparaging thing. It’s something out of ‘Mad Men,’ sir.”
Trump replied, “I will say this. I was attacked by the people that you talk about. I was attacked viciously by those people. I don’t mean a little bit, I mean viciously. When I’m attacked, I fight back, but I was attacked viciously by those women. Of course it’s very hard for them to attack me on looks, because I’m so good looking.
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