CNN’s Chris Cillizza is out with a head-scratcher on Michael Avenatti, saying that his “boomlet” and announcement that he’s not running for president somehow means that Dem voters want a candidate just like the porn lawyer in 2020:
The Avenatti boomlet, such as it was, was more proof of something that has become increasingly clear over the past 18 months: In the eyes of the Democratic base, there is no such thing as too far, too low or too mean when it comes to Trump. They believe so deeply that Trump has debased the culture that there is nothing that can be off-limits in the campaign to oust him. Nothing.
Guys, if you’re going to go to the trouble of dragging CNN’s Chris Cillizza and calling out his dopey theory, at least tag him in your tweets. But this is still hilarious nonetheless.
Washington Post’s Dave Weigel:
The "Avenatti boomlet" never amounted to more than 1 percent in any poll of Democrats, nationally or in any state. His friendly reception in Iowa was interesting, but Dems were not asking for him to be a candidate. They're just… Iowans. They're nice! https://t.co/kNPh3Rmv58
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 5, 2018
From NBC News’ Alex Seitz Wald:
Genuinely do not understand how you watch 2018, the implosion of Avenatti, and the rise of warm feels Beto and come away with…this. https://t.co/6AuxqIYEIH pic.twitter.com/jdc1np1YE2
— Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) December 5, 2018
Recommended
Matthew Gertz, Media Matters:
Who could be stupid enough to write something like… [clicks]… ohhhh
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) December 5, 2018
Pollster Matt McDermott:
Knew the author before even clicking. Awful.
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) December 5, 2018
Ryan Grim, The Intercept:
You almost tricked me into responding seriously to this paragraph
— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) December 5, 2018
Axios’ Sam Baker:
Michael Avenatti tapped into the heart and soul of Democrats, which is why he garnered precisely zero support and was forced to "drop out" before there was even a race to drop out of. pic.twitter.com/4UP6aluYzC
— Sam Baker (@sam_baker) December 5, 2018
NBC News’ Benjy Sarlin:
Hmmm, interesting theory you got there pic.twitter.com/eKtCG8enFh
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) December 5, 2018
By the way since I wrote that story on D's not mentioning Trump (and they won 40 seats), every midterm postmortem I've attended has featured D's bragging about how effective this tactic was, from candidates to super PAC directors
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) December 5, 2018
Maybe it won't apply the same way to 2020, when D's have to choose someone to take on Trump directly. It's a different situation. But there is no sign the "base" punished anybody for not being Avenatti-like. Key elements on left AND right of D's are actively hostile to the idea.
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) December 5, 2018
HuffPost’s Ariel Edwards-Levy:
ah, yes, the boomlet
the very little boom pic.twitter.com/bgP1uIb4Jk— Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) December 5, 2018
And evergreen from Obama Bro Jon Favreau:
My God this is dumb
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) December 5, 2018
Wow. We almost feel sorry for him. Almost.
***
Related:
Let them FIGHT! Chris Cillizza and Michael Avenatti get into a SERIOUS pissing match and there’s not enough popcorn https://t.co/tWeYlUy40o
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) December 3, 2018
'Now do Dems'! Chris Cillizza busted for blatantly partisan take on House GOP leadership https://t.co/qnq1cD3CjN
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 14, 2018
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