The 'Sweetheart Deal' Game
We were able to watch the GOP messaging machine in action
On Tuesday the Department of Justice announced a plea agreement with Hunter Biden after several years of wall-to-wall investigation of the many accusations against him ranging from his drug use, tax filings, and allegations of corrupt dealings with Ukraine. The Trump-appointed prosecutor in Delaware, U.S. Attorney David Weiss negotiated the deal in recent weeks.
As part of the agreement, Hunter Biden will plead guilty to two tax misdemeanors and struck a deal with prosecutors to resolve a felony gun charge associated with not checking a box on a gun application saying he was using drugs at the time. The DOJ has agreed to recommend a sentence of probation for the two counts of failing to pay taxes in a timely matter for the years 2017 and 2018, of which he has already paid the money he owed and associated fines and fees
The Machine Kicks into Gear
Within minutes the GOP messaging machine was in full swing as Speaker McCarthy marched into the rotunda to declare it a “sweetheart deal” even as nearly every legal expert on Earth said the only reason he was prosecuted at all was because his name was Biden. These cases are rarely pursued criminally at all and a diversion program for the gun charge associated with drug addicts is standard.
I was struck by that term, “sweetheart deal.” It’s not that common a term but man did it flood the world immediately. Everyone from the GOP official account to Matt Gaetz was tweeting it out. Fox News apparatchiks like Kayleigh McCenany were dutifully mouthing the same words over and over
Within hours the media fell right into line from the New York Times, MSNBC, and CNN all pulling out legal experts to dispute that it was a “sweetheart deal.” It took them minutes at a time to dispute those two simple words. That is the power of the GOP machine.
Trump Espionage Case
Two simple words repeated over and over and the entire conversation turns to that framing within minutes. Perhaps the Democrats could learn a lesson or two from that? Did we see the same thing from them when the Trump Espionage Case indictments came out.
After all the Trump Espionage Case is a serious criminal accusation involving our most secret plans and information that was unsecured and possibly shared with foreign nationals while being stored in closets, ballrooms, and bathrooms at a moldy beach club in Florida.
I would love to see the Democratic machine of supporters, elected officials, and spokesman talk more about the Trump Espionage Case directly and repeatedly. Everyone needs to understand how serious the Trump Espionage Case is.
My guest on the podcast this week is Tim Miller, former RNC spokesman, and he lays it out how the machine works but disagrees with me that the Dems aren’t issuing talking points. They are. It’s just that no one will follow them. Interesting point.
In the meantime I will keep pounding the Trump Espionage Case and you can watch my hot take on the topic for the MeidasTouch Network right here.
this is why the Democrats still have a long way to come when it comes to communications. I've watched these "narrative" hand-offs over the years and how the Main Stream Media has allowed this to run roughshod over them without pushing back like they are supposed to do. Which is one of the MANY reasons as to why we are here now. And part of that Fault can also be laid at the feet of the Democrats almost as much as of the Republicans.