As Twitchy reported, President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night was a hit: a CBS News poll showed that 8 of 10 Americans felt Trump was trying to unite the country, rather than divide it.
8 in 10 Americans who watched Pres. Trump's #SOTU address felt he was trying to unite the country, rather than divide it. Two-thirds said the speech made them feel proud, though just a third said it made them feel safer, CBS News poll finds https://t.co/SRoN9NzmKE pic.twitter.com/bvyG3myhgt
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 31, 2018
So if 80 percent of Americans felt Trump was trying to unite the country, ABC News political analyst Matthew Dowd must have felt the number could have been higher if only the president had accepted his coaching.
I met with the President before this speech and encouraged him to help heal the country and let’s get past the divide. If he asked me to meet with him after this speech i would say “Ok Mr. President that was exactly how not to give a healing speech, let’s try again.”
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) January 31, 2018
We suppose that puts Dowd firmly in the 20 percent who found the speech divisive. We can’t imagine why Trump didn’t ask to meet with him after the speech for an unbiased critique from the proud independent journalist.
Does anyone believe you?!? Are you hallucinating? @matthewjdowd https://t.co/Fi9Pt4iazX
— Sean Kennedy (@SeanKennedyDC) January 31, 2018
We believe him.
This afternoon I asked a dog to perform open heart surgery. https://t.co/KZnbP0ufmo
— 25th Century Girl (@25thcenturygirl) January 31, 2018
For the record, we believe her, too.
I doubt you met with him (except maybe shouting at him from a distance) ahead of time, and I doubt he’s looking for your advice after.
But keep thinking you’re important. https://t.co/QXBfv8FuNC
— Tom Crowe (@TomCrowe) January 31, 2018
As important as you think you are, I don't think he met with you for your advice.
— Randy Rickman (@Randall_Rickman) January 31, 2018
Since you are so smart, why did he meet with me?
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) January 31, 2018
That’s a good question.
I’ll bet he doesn’t ask you to meet. It’s just a hunch…..
— bgsatt (@bgsatterlee) January 31, 2018
He met with a ton of journalists all across the spectrum for lunch today. It was a news story.
— Rob Schrader (@rob_schrader) January 31, 2018
It’s true: Trump had an off-the-record lunch with several news anchors Tuesday, including Chuck Todd, who also gave the president pointers (during the speech, via Twitter) on how to be more bipartisan:
The message tonight would be better received if he practiced what he’s preaching tonight about setting “aside our differences.” He won’t get the bipartisan response he’s looking for without some gesture beyond a few prepared words.
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) January 31, 2018
Funny how important it is for unbiased journalists that a Republican president strive to win over Democrats with his State of the Union speech — as if a crane could have wedged Nancy Pelosi out of her seat Tuesday night — and how critical they were of a speech that poll numbers say made Americans feel proud.
Related:
Chuck Todd gives Trump SOTU pointers on getting that bipartisan response he wants