Render: Press still doesn't understand Trump's draw

Whenever you see footage of our vaunted prime-time news reporters visiting a combat zone, take careful note of what they wear.

For some reason they seem to believe that one item of clothing that is required to be a real honest to goodness combat correspondent is a shirt with epaulettes.

Even better than that is some sort of bush jacket with the same accessory.

Always conscience of the importance of appearances, reporters feel the need to look the part.

Image is everything to reporters, and that may be why they ambushed First Lady Melania Trump for her choice of footwear when she left the White House for the ride down to flood-damaged Houston.

She chose a pair of Manolo Blahnik stiletto heels for her walk to the helicopter and that sent the chattering class to chattering.

In point of fact, the only shoes in the first lady’s closet may be Manolos and as a professional model she may be the only first lady able to have made the trip without a fashion mishap.

Continuing in the same vein, reporters ridiculed the president when he donated a million dollars to the Hurricane Harvey relief fund.

It wasn’t enough, it was a drop in the bucket, he planned to get it all back on his taxes, he would use it as advertising for all the illegal business he was operating while president.

When the president arrived in Texas, the media wanted to portray him as a comforter in chief, or a consoler in chief, or wanted to grade him on whether or not he could pass some sort of empathy test.

Trump instead served as a cheerleader for the relief effort and when he told the crowd that, “Texas can handle anything” they roared their approval.

Hurricane Harvey victims agreed their opinion of the president changed after they met him with comments like, “I think he’s a wonderful man” and “I found him kind and reassuring.”

Causing further consternation for the press were some people in the crowds yelling, “Fake news” at press vans. Others were holding signs that showed support for the first lady and her high heels. They urged her to continue to wear the stilettos.

After almost nine months in office, the press still doesn’t get the Trump phenomenon. They never will, even after he completes his two terms.

Appearances are everything. If Hillary had tried to wear stilettos down the steps at the White House, she would have injured herself.

Badly.

Rube Render is the Curry County Republican chairman. Contact him at:

[email protected]