In an interview with Greta Susteren on Fox News the other day, Politico reports that Donald Trump had some faaabulous advice for homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages.
Van Susteren asked him how he would approach the millions who are facing foreclosure because they have mortgages that are higher than the value of their homes, and Trump said what he'd "love 'em to do is go see their local banker and negotiate a new deal because frankly if they're smart and if they know how to do it they'll be able to make a gerat deal with the bank."
When she pointed out that the banks are not loaning money, and that they have "no incentive" to be more lenient, he replied, "I think honestly it depends on how you speak to the bank."
Is this not the perfect encapsulation of the Republican attitude? Totally out of touch with reality, blithely ignorant about ordinary people's resources and abilities, and airily dismissive of any claims of difficulty. "If I can do it," The Donald says, "you can do it."
Here's a couple hints, Mr. Trump.
1) Many, if not most people's mortgages aren't held over the long term by their "local bankers" anymore, and that's especially true these days. And gee, you'd think a real estate magnate like you would be aware of that.
But no, on second thought, I guess most of YOUR mortgages are owned locally, by people YOU can make an appointment to walk in and see personally. By having "your girl" call "their girl." Easy as pie! Everybody can do it!
2) Most people aren't "smart" and most people don't "know how to do it." But -- listen up now, this is really important -- that is NOT THEIR FAULT.
Lake Woebegone notwithstanding, not everyone is above average in the intelligence department. And, Donald, dear -- this may come as a shock, but someone has to tell you -- your average mortgage holder hasn't had your level of education, much less your social experience or your finesse in sailing through financial shoals. They wouldn't have a clue about "how to speak to the bank," an ability on which you say everything depends. (And no, just reading your self-congratulatory book The Art of the Deal will not teach them everything they need to know.)
Trump's breezy blindness to what is actually possible in real people's lives is only exceeded by his magical thinking on far wider subjects. All this country needs, The Donald says, is a Cocky Really, Really Confident Fairy Godfather:
When asked how he would restore jobs that have gone overseas through outsourcing to the U.S., Trump said, "Very easily. Just by putting the incentives to have people employ our people. ... Through education and spirit. They have no spirit. They feel defeated. Because there's nobody to lead them. We have no leader in this country."
Trump thinks he's just the guy to wave his magic wand and turn this place around, apparently by strength of character alone.
Character indeed. Why am I suddenly thinking of Arnold Schwarznegger?Updated by Julia Grey at Sun Apr 24, 2011 at 12:29 AM EDT
UPDATE:
Get a load of this painting Trump had made of himself. In a rococo gilded frame like something from Versailles, The Donald is posed as lord of the manor, giving us one of those sidelong, "shrewd" looks of his, with heavenly (pink!) clouds behind his head, and god-like rays of sun beyond his shoulder.
Yet, for all those dignified allusions to divinity, he is inexplicably dressed in tennis whites and showing off his crotch.
I can't stop laughing.
"Love-All," as they say on the court.