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Lawrence O’Donnell: Donald Trump’s Birther Talk Is All About Apprentice Ratings

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Why is Donald Trump so obsessed with the alleged mystery surrounding Barack Obama‘s birth certificate? To hear Lawrence O’Donnell and Jonathan Capehart, its about one thing: Trump’s obsession with the Obama’s legitimacy — as well as his larger dabbling with a still unlikely-seeming presidential run — is about one thing: driving ratings for his show Celebrity Apprentice. Shocker: the strategy appears to be working for what The Last Word calls “NBC’s biggest primetime star.”

Depending on to whom one listens, the controversy surrounding Obama’s birth certificate seems impossibly to be both real and imagined. The media figure who has most recently led the discussion on the side of it being a real controversy is none other than Trump, who has lately and adamantly questioned the validity of Obama’s presidency, calling it perhaps the “greatest scam in history.”

O’Donnell made his point by showing a chart that demonstrated the recently improved ratings of Celebrity Apprentice then suggested “as he gets crazier it goes straight up.” Capehart also noted that, in every appearance in which Trump has made to discuss his presidential run, he has specifically mentioned his reality show, giving credence to the notion that he’s only doing talking about the presidency to boost ratings. But something strange has happened during this so called promotional tour: recent polls indicate that Trump is doing remarkably well in both New Hampshire and Iowa, where in some case he finds himself in second place, just a few points behind leader Mitt Romney.

So even if Trump IS just trying to promote his NBC reality show, his birther rhetoric appears to be resonating with likely GOP primary voters. Cynical? Smart? Or just sad? Maybe all of the above.

Watch the clip below, courtesy of MSNBC:

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  • BeckFinallyDemoted

    So true. If there is one thing we learned from Bristol Palin on Dancing with the Stars it’s that teabaggers will watch a reality show if it’s got a teabagging theme. The Donald realizes that and is reeling them in hook, line and sinker.

    Most people watch television for entertainment, teabagggers watch it for validation.

  • The Lantern of Truth

    BeckFinallyDemoted said:
    teabagggers

    BeckFinallyDemoted said:
    teabaggers

    BeckFinallyDemoted said:
    teabagging

    Idiot .

  • The Lantern of Truth

    Chen Cary said:
    Good news to tell you: Yes , Trust your eyes! it’s really!!! , original , come with international warranty! free shipping ,

    skyfet , nobody wants your junk .

  • http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

    Larry O explaining the ratings game is like Steven Tyler explaining abstinence…

  • http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

    BeckFinallyDemoted said:
    So true. If there is one thing we learned from Bristol Palin on Dancing with the Stars it’s that teabaggers will watch a reality show if it’s got a teabagging theme. The Donald realizes that and is reeling them in hook, line and sinker. Most people watch television for entertainment, teabagggers watch it for validation.

    And what would your dime store psychology tell you about people who constantly use the term te*b#gger?

  • Barack Must Go

    God Bless ” real ” America, the rest of you go follow Obama the imposter over the cliff if you like.

  • Probably NOT wrong

    Well, Hell!
    If Lawrence O’Donnell figured it out, what else needs to
    be said?
    Oh, I know! Really, really smart folks can come on Mediaite and refer to those
    posters leaning right as “Teabaggers”!

    How CUTE!

    And Original!!!

    Did anyone notice, a man replacing the fired Glenn Beck, beat O’Donnell in
    Demos and Total viewers almost 6 to 1?
    Who was that “Masked Man” ???

  • TfT

    Really Colby?

    “Cynical, smart, or just plain sad”? Maybe all???

    How about, maybe none? And “crazy gets viewers”??? If that was true, LOD would be the number one show on cable networks. he is crazier than ever…so crazy that he actually had to be removed from the air once because of his hate fest and craziness….I remember, as I watched it live.

    So perhaps Trump has one simple question: Why had Obama spent millions of dollars to hide his papers? I think it’s a valid question, and one that you folks in the media ignored during his campaign, and now you will protect and defend him at all costs, including your own credibility. No other candidate would ever be given a pass like the passes you guys give hehimself.

    Chris Matthews and David Gregory, both of NBC, are the biggest birthers out there; they are the ones who talk about it most, even more than the Donald.

  • Puter Boi

    This is what interests me about this whole kerfuffle:
    “The Donald” and “The Larry” disagree on this issue, however “The Donald” is not asking why “The Larry” still has his job….suggesting that NBC should fire “The Larry” as “The Larry” has suggested that NBC should do to “The Donald”.
    If every employer fired every employee who disagrees with “The Larry” on any given subject….the unemployment rate would be significantly higher.

  • Judge Mental

    Wait a minute…..I thought it was a race thing. I mean, that’s what Whoopi said. And she should know. O’Donnell, on the other hand, doesn’t really seem to know much about ratings.

  • writer

    Dang! Not only was BFD forced to watch Beck, he was also forced to watch Dancing with the Stars. Someone call 911 and rescue this poor man!

  • Steve_27

    Yeah cause if the Apprentice was taking off the air Trump would be hurting for cash. Jeez. Hey, it may well be but so what anyway? Is the left simultaneously saying that the birth certificate issue is a loser of an issue but is also making Trump more popular? My head spins trying to figure out the mental disease that is liberalism so my apolgies for being confused.

    How about all that other talk from Trump about our country having no respect because we have no leadership? I’m feeling that way more then anything else these days.

  • skyfet

    Sad!

  • Liberal Tormentor

    Git R Dun Donald! You must be doin something right!!

  • skyfet

    How can a ‘well respected’ business man reduce himself to the joke of the town, just because he is hoarding his reality show. Capitalism at wok for ya baby!

  • Liberal Tormentor

    Hey Sky, perhaps he doing it because BO has sent this country careeening toward a cliff and he’s trying to save it. But I see why you’d rather go with Larry’s theory. You libs seem REALLY scared of The Donald.

  • http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

    skyfet said:
    How can a ‘well respected’ business man reduce himself to the joke of the town, just because he is hoarding his reality show. Capitalism at wok for ya baby!

    You are on a media blog ya know?

  • NeoKong

    What the hell would O’Donnell know about ratings…?

  • skyfet

    skoorbekim said:
    You are on a media blog ya know?

    Do you have a problem with Sarah saying Ya? or you just don’t like me sounding like her?

  • http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

    skyfet said:
    Do you have a problem with Sarah saying Ya? or you just don’t like me sounding like her?

    “Ya” was not meant to be a shot at you or Sarah [Palin]…
    I though it flowed better than using “you” twice in on sentence…

  • skyfet

    Liberal Tormentor said:
    Hey Sky, perhaps he doing it because BO has sent this country careeening toward a cliff and he’s trying to save it. But I see why you’d rather go with Larry’s theory. You libs seem REALLY scared of The Donald.

    That is just silly Michelle, if you want to save it from what BO is doing, you aim to defeat his policy, challenge is policies (like Boehner and Cantor have been doing since day 1), run against him in a political arena. If you can’t see what The Donald is doing? then I can’t help ya.
    See he is doing the same thing Murdoch has been dong for years (the Master manipulator), pick a topic or an ideology everyone is avoiding (Fox News (conservative network)), run on it, and take advantage of the resources.
    Before the arrival of Murdoch, everyone was on the same level,Murdoch took advantage of the vacant post (conservative media), and Fox News has never looked back ever since. Likewise, the top runners in the GOP Primary, are not touching that BC issue, trump uses it to his advantage and his TV Show.

    That’s all

  • skyfet

    skoorbekim said:
    “Ya” was not meant to be a shot at you or Sarah [Palin]…
    I though it flowed better than using “you” twice in on sentence…

    Example?

  • http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

    skyfet said:
    Example?

    Seriously?
    It is a choice of dialect…
    “How ya doin’” as opposed to “How are you doing…”

  • Liberal Tormentor

    Hey Sky, he’s challenged him in ALL of those arena’s. The liberal media just focuses on the birther issue because they “think” it will deligitimize him. I don’t think it’s working since his approval #’s are going up and not down. He wasn’t my candidate, but it’s been fun to watch!!

  • skyfet

    skoorbekim said:
    Seriously?
    It is a choice of dialect…
    “How ya doin’” as opposed to “How are you doing…”

    So what is the problem with the way I used it?

  • skyfet

    Liberal Tormentor said:
    Hey Sky, he’s challenged him in ALL of those arena’s. The liberal media just focuses on the birther issue because they “think” it will deligitimize him. I don’t think it’s working since his approval #’s are going up and not down. He wasn’t my candidate, but it’s been fun to watch!!

    Approval in a GOP Primary Mitchelle. Birthers are 47percent of the GOP, and against BO he is 20points behind (Fox News polling). Come on be serious, you don’t really think he believes this. What Policies has he mentioned other than China, Love America, BC and watch his show. lol, come on, you are pulling my legs.

  • George C

    skyfet said:
    So what is the problem with the way I used it?

    aaahhhhhh Capich hence wobbling !

  • Gasket

    Steve_27 said:
    Yeah cause if the Apprentice was taking off the air Trump would be hurting for cash. Jeez. Hey, it may well be but so what anyway? Is the left simultaneously saying that the birth certificate issue is a loser of an issue but is also making Trump more popular? My head spins trying to figure out the mental disease that is liberalism so my apolgies for being confused.

    How about all that other talk from Trump about our country having no respect because we have no leadership? I’m feeling that way more then anything else these days.

    It’s not rocket science, Einstein. Let me break it down for those with pea-brains. The birther issue is a “winner” for the aspiring GOP candidate (in the nomination fight) since it panders to the ever growing, and politically important faction of the conservative teabagger(TM) movement. Remember, 51% (at least) of the GOP primary voters are birthers. That % will be much higher amongst the teabaggers. So, yes, the birtherism Trump is pandering to is a winner for him when it comes to capturing the GOP nomination — it is making him popular with that fringe — and it IS working. He’s trailing only Romney in NH…beating the likes of folks (eg. Pawlenty) who have been campaigning there for months without demagoging THAT issue.

    Now, to the 2nd point. Birtherism IS a loser when it comes to the general election. It is a marginalized concept. It turns off Indies and will not get much if any Democratic support. So, after all, even if he captures the birther vote, it becomes a pyrrhic victory. in a sense since it ends up hurting him in the GE. Was that comprehensible or not too obtuse reasoning for an oaf to follow? Saunter along now….bye..bye.

  • notsofast

    But Barry still won’t release his long-form, Larry and that is a FACT!

  • notsofast

    It’s so funny, the libs want you to take other peoples’ word for it but they can’t get Barry to release the original.

    I can see libs in court arguing to a Judge, “Yes, your honor, the actual original BC exists but we want you to take the word of someone who saw it instead of seeing the original BC.”

    LOL

  • Liberal Tormentor

    Notsofast, personally, I’d rather see his college papers than the long form. That’s what he doesn’t want anyone to see.

  • notsofast

    Liberal Tormentor said:
    Notsofast, personally, I’d rather see his college papers than the long form. That’s what he doesn’t want anyone to see.

    I’d like to see all of his records including his medical records. McCain released 1500 pages of medical records and Barry released a one page summary of his health.

    That is not medical records. What is there medically that he wants to keep secret?

  • bealzebubba

    I hope O’Donnell didn’t take a long time to ‘splain something that all of rational thinkers knew already.

  • THE REAL ROYAL KING

    Liberal Tormentor said:
    Notsofast, personally, I’d rather see his college papers than the long form. That’s what he doesn’t want anyone to see.

    They’d only make you jealous and feel inadequate, Michelle-in-Utah.

  • justanotherconservative

    skyfet said:
    How can a ‘well respected’ business man reduce himself to the joke of the town, just because he is hoarding his reality show. Capitalism at wok for ya baby!

    did you totally sleep during your english classes, asshole?

  • grafxmail7

    HILARIOUS!!!!

    You Rightie Birthers are getting PLAYED!!!

    YOU’RE HELPING OBAMA AND YOU CAN’T HELP YOURSELVES!!!!!

    This whole Birther thing is GREAT!!!!

    HAAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHHAAHAHHAH!!!!

  • THE REAL ROYAL KING

    Liberal Tormentor said:
    Notsofast, personally, I’d rather see his college papers than the long form. That’s what he doesn’t want anyone to see.

    By the way, Michelle-in-Utah, your candlelight vigil in the Plaza at the State AFL-CIO headquarters wasn’t as well intended as we hoped it might be. People are apparently getting burned out praying for you. Nonetheless, the tamales were awesome. My favorite was the applewood chicken picante, but many said the cilantro pork was good as well. The Dos Equis had tiny ice crystals coming out of the tap. Perfect for a sultry Texas Spring night.

  • http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

    Release the college transcripts…
    2.2 GPA?

  • Jaurez

    THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
    They’d only make you jealous and feel inadequate, Michelle-in-Utah.

    Yes, his scores were so high he had to hide them…

  • TerryDo

    That is too funny and also soo stupid but what do you expect from idiots.

    That Trump needs viewers to watch the Apprentice is ludicrous.

    Why would anyone watch the boring Apprentice just because Trump is asking where’s the birth certificate.

    But then again, these buffoons get paid by Soros to use ridicule to try and tear his enemies down, after all their bible is Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, #5 states “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counterattack ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, who then reacts to your advantage.”

    That will not work with Trump because 80% of Americans, some overtly and most covertly would really like to know why Obama cannot produced a legitimate birth certificate.

  • Steve_27

    skyfet said:
    Example?

    Hey snapper head! It’s 27 hours later and you still owe me an answer: “What did you win?”

    You lose all privileges of asking questions till you explain your own moronic chest beating.

  • Anne 1

    THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
    Michelle-in-Utah.

    THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
    By the way, Michelle-in-Utah

    * sigh *

  • Steve_27

    Gasket said:
    It’s not rocket science, Einstein. Let me break it down for those with pea-brains. The birther issue is a “winner” for the aspiring GOP candidate (in the nomination fight) since it panders to the ever growing, and politically important faction of the conservative teabagger(TM) movement. Remember, 51% (at least) of the GOP primary voters are birthers. That % will be much higher amongst the teabaggers. So, yes, the birtherism Trump is pandering to is a winner for him when it comes to capturing the GOP nomination — it is making him popular with that fringe — and it IS working. He’s trailing only Romney in NH…beating the likes of folks (eg. Pawlenty) who have been campaigning there for months without demagoging THAT issue. Now, to the 2nd point. Birtherism IS a loser when it comes to the general election. It is a marginalized concept. It turns off Indies and will not get much if any Democratic support. So, after all, even if he captures the birther vote, it becomes a pyrrhic victory. in a sense since it ends up hurting him in the GE. Was that comprehensible or not too obtuse reasoning for an oaf to follow? Saunter along now….bye..bye.

    Like I said, it may be but so what anyway? To bad you weren’t paying attention, you could have saved yourself a few sentences. And like someone else posted, Trump is reaping him on other issues, it’s just the media focusing on the birth certificate. Drool along.

  • Steve_27

    TerryDo said:
    . Why would anyone watch the boring Apprentice just because Trump is asking where’s the birth certificate. .

    Yes, exactly.

  • Steve_27

    notsofast said:
    I’d like to see all of his records including his medical records. McCain released 1500 pages of medical records and Barry released a one page summary of his health. That is not medical records. What is there medically that he wants to keep secret?

    Well that might add up. John went through hell and BO hasn’t done shit. You know lots of community organizers with long injury list?

  • justanotherconservative

    it’s all about uncovering the fraud known as barack hussein obama.

  • Dem4Ever

    Larry O is losing it. He’s about to crack. And Barry, release your college papers. What exactly were you doing and saying that you are so terrified of us seeing them.

  • CAconservative

    Gasket:

    Good to see you agreeing with the Tea-Party, at least in part. Constitutional requirements are the law, whether you or anyone else thinks differently. This time around people will be asking for a full vetting of this socialist-clown. If you don’t think it’s a pertinent question, then ask yourself why Obimbo has distanced himself so far away from the issue. Why does such a simple matter of producing a legal Birth-Certificate send him and his administration into fits?
    Your absolutely right when you said, this isn’t rocket science but, what is really is, is a matter of law. He was either born on American soil, as a legal citizen, owing NO allegiance to any other country, or he wasn’t. Simple and direct. NO rocket-science needed!

  • dsriley

    If anybody really believed that Trump was serious about running for President, I have a whole bunch of soon to be waterfront property in Palm Beach.

    I live in Palm Beach and we are very familiar with the antic’s of “The Donald”, including his constant lawsuits with the Town. He is a thorn in everyone’s side because of these constant attention grabbing crap he pulls from time to time.

    He is an Entertainer who appeals to the under educated who would watch “The Apprentice” and ” Miss America or Miss USA Beauty Contests”, the two properties he owns.

    The one very surprising segment of Trumps interview with Meredith Veira was his remark regarding Lybia and the Oil. He leaned very far forward and said became very serious saying “his only concern was keeping the Oil.”

    Now that was missed by the media and should have been jumped on, especially with News that Saudia Arabia is going to be developing “Renewable sources for energy.”

    What does that tell Big Oil and Congress in their decisions for cutting spending for research in new resources for renewable energy here in this Country

    It certainly tells me that the G.O.P are so far behind as far as the direction the rest of the World is going. They are hanging onto the Old guard businesses or at least trying to. when those same businesses are going to be obsolete. Look at how they handled the Auto Industry with continuing to build gas eating machines that were obsolete when built. The European Market stole the auto industry right out from under them while they held so strongly to their old and outdated way of thinking.

    Do we really need a Political Party who’s heads are still back in the 70′s? This is why they appear to be so ignorant. They have lost everything during the Bush Administration while trying to take and keep every last dime they could for preservation.

    This is also why they always appear to be in such a state of panic.

  • Rockycomet

    notsofast said:
    What is there medically that he wants to keep secret?

    Birthcertificate and transcript conspiracy isn’t enough. Now he has a medical condition he’s hidding! You can’t be serious! Really?

    I’ll bet you people probably believe we didn’t land on the moon too!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jay-Adler/1420650301 Jay Adler

    We have become a world or reality stars and shows and amateur singers that have flamed out in a matter of days when they were touted as if clutching the Racing Form and needing advice at Santa Anita. There is no more Bob Dylans or Richard Widmarks. Donald Trump has never held political office and is not a politician. The voters rail on politicians all year round but when it comes to President by design, he has to be a super politician. Fooling around trying to get the goods on Obama is the work of someone who does not know politics. Even if they found this bogus birther item, what could they do about it. Trump still would not get the nomination and I don.t think Obama would be any worse for wear. Trump wants to manufacture consumer goods in the United States. His shirt line would go to $200 per.He is volatile sometimes but about the wrong things. I like him, it is almost like he has become a reality star himself, this will not be of any consequence in securing the nomination for 2012.

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