by Chris Becker
First of all, the importance of the US presidential election to the Australian economy is obviously high and relevant to future macro conditions, in terms of fiscal and monetary policy settings. Thus the relevance of this post.
Secondly, I don’t like the endless reporting about a vile, bigoted serial lying arsehole like Donald Trump which has been the case since the announcement of his ridiculous candidacy, where the media have effectively launched him onto the stage leaving an enormous vacuum of credibility.
But, after a run of bizarre statements – peppered with a handful of truths, but almost no concrete policy measures (except The Wall) – including racially vilifying Mexicans, advocating war crimes against innocent families, continued sexism and disgusting behaviour towards and overt bigotry towards Muslims, Trump may finally have flumped his candidacy.
Last night on on a MSNBC town hall style interview with Chris Matthews, the latter pushed Trump with some admittedly “gotcha” journalism on his anti-abortion position and if women should be punished. From Bloomberg:
“Look, people in certain parts of the Republican Party, conservative Republicans, would say, ‘Yes, it should,’” Trump answered.
“How about you?” Matthews asked.
“I would say it’s a very serious problem and it’s a problem we have to decide on. Are you going to send them to jail?” Trump said.
“I’m asking you,” Matthews said.
“I am pro-life,” Trump said. Asked how a ban would actually work, Trump said, “Well, you go back to a position like they had where they would perhaps go to illegal places but we have to ban it,” Trump said.
Matthews then pressed Trump on whether he believes there should be punishment for abortion if it were illegal.
“There has to be some form of punishment,” Trump said. “For the woman?” Matthews asked. “Yeah,” Trump said, nodding.
Trump said the punishment would “have to be determined.”
Now this has lit a fire under both sides of the debate (which has an unusual level of focus in the US), and with a favourability rating of just 27% with women before this latest gaffe read:bullshit from The Don, its been all stations to the “Damage Control” station in the Trump camp. A reversal statement has quickly followed, “clarifying” his position that the doctor should be punished and the woman is a “victim”, but the damage has been done.
Aside from the fact that the worlds largest developed economy is even having a debate about a fundamental women’s right, enshrined by practically every other developed nation on the planet, this may finally put the first nail of hopefully a truckload into the coffin of a Trump candidacy.
The takeaway for Australian watchers and those concerned about the greater economic climate is at least a legislative deadlock following the election of a President Trump is looking less and less likely, thus reducing the potential for shocks.