Yeah, the election deciding the next leader of the free world is important and all, but For the Record pauses a moment this morning to honor Prince. The genre-defying songwriter, showman and greatest guitarist in the world died Thursday at the age of 57.
The influence of his music and the fans it won over can be found seemingly everywhere, including the Wisconsin statehouse.
“Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today. To get through this thing called life,” Gov. Scott Walker tweeted, quoting the late artist’s “Let’s Go Crazy.”
Who’d have thought Donald Trump’s 40-week reign as the most divisive figure in politics would be upended by an abolitionist from the 1800s? It happened this week: Harriet Tubman, the future face of the $20 bill, warranted comment from everyone.
That includes Trump himself, who called it “pure political correctness” during an appearance on NBC’s Today show. He also suggested Tubman instead be placed on the far less prominent $2 bill, an idea Trump surrogate Ben Carson proposed a day earlier.
John Kasich, always happy to play the moderate, praised Tubman after hearing the news.
Speaking of $20 bills: It will take more than 1,800,000 Tubmans to equal the amount of cash Trump has poured into his own campaign. Records show the Donald has invested north of $36 million into his quest for the White House.
Controversy
“I just can’t believe all the things people say.” It’s the opening line from Prince’s 1981 single “Controversy,” but it’s also basically what Ted Cruz said Thursday when he expressed disbelief about Trump’s position on transgender folks using bathrooms.
"He thought that men should be able to go into the girls' bathrooms if they want to," Cruz said. "Grown adult men — strangers— should not be alone in a bathroom with little girls. And that's not conservative. That's not Republican or Democrat. That's basic common sense."
Trump, who incidentally shifted to general election mode this week, took more moderate stance on North Carolina’s new “bathroom law” earlier that day.
“People go — they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate,” Trump said. “There has been so little trouble."
The Future (?)
Hillary Clinton is looking “FORWARD,” to borrow a slogan from her one-time arch-nemesis and now bestest buddy Barack Obama. She trounced Bernie Sanders in New York after Sanders spent more than any candidate on ads in the Empire State. Then a poll came out showing Clinton with a 25-point lead over Sanders in Maryland.
Now, Clinton’s reshaped her message for a general election battle against Trump or Cruz. Clinton slammed both Republicans during a speech in Pennsylvania and didn’t mention Sanders once.
“The biggest problem in this country is there are too many people who are stuck in dead-end jobs or can’t work,” Clinton said in a speech at a University of Pittsburgh campus.
Pennsylvania remains a must-win state if Clinton wants a nomination in her future.
The Morning Papers (More from the campaign trail)
- New ads in Indiana: “Only Ted can beat Donald Cruz Trump. John Kasich can’t do it. The math won’t work.” (USA TODAY)
- "Ted! Get the corned beef” an Indiana man tells Cruz. Ted does not get the corned beef (Indianapolis Star)
- Watchdog group: Candidates, please, stop bribing delegates (USA TODAY)
(Not a) Little Red Corvette
So a former White House gardener who is selling Hillary Clinton’s Little Red Corvette 1986 Oldsmobile put the former secretary of state’s ride up on eBay this week. The highest bid as of last night: $42,877. Still not enough to afford a new Corvette, sadly.
