It’s hard to get good help, it’s often said. But President Trump has done pretty well so far in this regard. I watched Sean Spicer’s press briefing Tuesday, which was entertaining, informative, and forensically combative.
White House Press Secretary Spicer is smart, articulate, very well-informed, and not about to allow reporters to use his briefings to push their narratives or to diss his boss. No, it’s not a “Muslim Ban” or a “travel ban,” and Spicer is not going to hold still when reporters try to mischaracterize Trump’s immigration executive order, or anything else. The mainstream media, used to being catered to, don’t quite know what to make of this. It’s pleasing to see them foundering.
If there is one slight nit to pick with Spicer it’s that he is sometimes in such a hurry to get his point out that he talks too fast, allowing his words to tumble out in a near-blur. He might be more effective if he would dial his 78 rpm back to 45.
Earlier in the day we learned at the press briefing by the Department of Homeland Security that General, now Secretary, John Kelly is not going to be buffaloed either. (You don’t buffalo Marine Corps, four-star generals.) The media questions on Trump’s immigration order at his briefing were ALL aggressive. Kelly handled them in a competent and unflappable way. He and his assistants were the adults in the room.
So far all the president’s men are looking pretty good. Maybe you CAN get good help.