SueAnn Porter

Let’s say I am going to a flea market. I see a crystal plate that I like and would like to buy.

 

Me:  Hi there. How much do you want for that plate?

Seller: It’s an antique, and it was my grandmother’s. I can’t let it go for less than $100.

Me: Well, I can appreciate that, but it has a chip in the edge here. I will give you $50 for it.

Seller: That chip is just a speck of dirt. But I can do $90.

Me: I can go as high as $60.

Seller: No, sorry, I can’t let it go for that price.

Me:  Ok, thanks anyway. I don’t want it.

I start to walk away.

Seller: Wait! I can let you have it for $75.

Me: Ok. You have a deal!  Here’s the $75.

Seller: Let me wrap this for you. (Wraps plate in bubble wrap. Hands me the plate.)  Here you go.

Me: Thanks. Have a nice day.

So I walk away with an antique plate, the seller has money in his hand. We are both happy. The deal has been negotiated.

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Now let’s take this exact situation, and give it to the news media.  And just for kicks, let’s put in Trump’s name instead of mine.

 

Trump:  Hi there. How much do you want for that plate?

Seller: It’s an antique, and it was my grandmother’s. I can’t let it go for less than $100.

Trump: Well, I can appreciate that, but it has a chip in the edge here. I will give you $50 for it.

Seller: That chip is just a speck of dirt. But I can do $90.

Trump: I can go as high as $60.

NEWS MEDIA:  HE LIED! HE LIED! He said 50 and now he says 60!

Seller: No, sorry, I can’t let it go for that price.

Trump:  Ok, thanks anyway. I don’t want it.

Trump starts to walk away.

NEWS MEDIA: He lied! He said 60 and now he’s walking away! He’s crazy! He’s insane! He’s not fit for office!

Seller: Wait! I can let you have it for $75.

Trump: Ok. You have a deal!  Here’s the $75.

NEWS MEDIA: Trump caved! He doesn’t have a backbone! He’s wishy-washy! He can’t be trusted! Impeach! Impeach!

Seller: Let me wrap this for you. (Wraps plate in bubble wrap. Hands Trump the plate.)  Here you go.

Trump: Thanks. Have a nice day.

So Trump walks away with an antique plate, and the seller has money in his hand. They are both happy. The deal has been negotiated.

 

I wish people would stop thinking in sound bites. Look at the big picture.