Charles Krauthammer Calls Donald Trump’s Refusal To Accept The Election Results ‘Political Suicide’

Fox News conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer did not sugar coat what he saw as Trump’s fatal mistake during the third and final presidential debate last night: his refusal to accept in advance the election outcome.

Trump’s remark has probably already gone down as one of the most, if not the most, memorable debate-losing moments ever. Here’s the relevant exchange which occurred after Trump had already avoided promising to accept a loss as moderator Chris Wallace was trying to pin him down. Transcript via Vox:

WALLACE: Sir, there is a tradition in this country, in fact one of the primes of this country is the peaceful transition of power. And that no matter how hard fought a campaign is, that at the end of the campaign, that the loser concedes to the winner. Not saying that you’re necessarily going to be the loser or the winner. But that the loser concedes to the winner, and that the country comes together in part for the good of the country. Are you saying you’re not prepared now to commit to that principle?

TRUMP: What I’m saying is I’ll tell you at the time. I’ll keep you in suspense, okay?

You could almost hear gasps across America. But not on the set of Fox Business. As I previously reported, host Lou Dobbs all but gushed over Trump’s remark.

On the Fox News Channel, however, contributor Charles Krauthammer sang quite a different tune:

KRAUTHAMMER: This was not a gaffe. Where you say something off the cuff and it’s what you think, but its wrong. You know that he’d been coached on this. You know that his vice president said, ‘Of course, we will accept the result’ and his campaign manager, and his daughter and you know that he’s convinced that this is something he wants to take a stand on.

And the calculation: this is political suicide.

We still have a few more weeks before the election. But my money’s with Krauthammer.

Watch it below, from Fox News’ post-debate coverage on October 20, 2016, via DNC Press on Twitter.

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@krauthammer calls Trump's refusal to accept the result of the election "political suicide." #debatenight pic.twitter.com/B9xxhEwxhp
— DNC Press (@dncpress) October 20, 2016

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Showing 10 reactions

commented 2016-10-21 18:48:12 -0400 · Flag

Christ, when you get the odd glimpse of a rational conservative it makes you wonder just how much more effective the Republicans could be if they didn’t pander to the lowest common denominator at every turn. Rabble-rousing will always get you a certain percentage of the voting public, but it’s very rare that this will be enough to carry an election.

The current wave of hotheaded dumbfuckery reminds me so much of the French and Russian revolutions. No sooner do the crazies grab power (with or without justification), but they are slaughtering each other for ‘lack of ideological purity’.

commented 2016-10-21 08:47:43 -0400 · Flag

Well written column by Krauthammer. I can hear the Bernie people now, “See?? I told you so!”. I liked Krauthammer’s line, wikileaks is the camera in the sausage factory.

commented 2016-10-21 01:53:45 -0400 · Flag

FYI, Krauthammer had a column today saying he can’t vote for Trump or Clinton. He said he’ll write in someone but hasn’t decided on the name yet.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/charles-krauthammer-voting-article-1.2838947

commented 2016-10-20 22:27:03 -0400 · Flag

I could see Krauthammer not voting for Trump. He seems like the real deal conservative and not one of the wind up automatons on the payroll. It’s too bad. People like him used to populate conservatism and not the all or nothing brainwashed masses. Now he is the oddball in his own party.

commented 2016-10-20 17:54:50 -0400 · Flag

Trump’s foreign policy answers sound like a book report from a teenager who hasn’t read the book.

commented 2016-10-20 17:46:47 -0400 · Flag

Trump is too used to being a lightning rod to earn the free publicity he craves. He bragged about this during the primaries and it all worked out because his rabid followers are the sorts to gobble up the extremist vomit spewed by right-wing hate radio.

The Donald is a one trick pony unable to pivot in the general election to expand his voter pool to include more rational adults. At least those who aren’t only voting for Trump because they’re dyed in the wool Republicans.

Speaking of which, despite Krauthammer’s criticisms here, isn’t he a member of the latter group who will hold his nose and vote Trump? So is he or is he not on a leash? Hmmmmm… 🤔

commented 2016-10-20 14:31:35 -0400 · Flag

Truman, when Trump told Carl Cameron that Faux was out to get him that might have been too much for Murdoch. Chris Wallace was probably told before the debate to take the kidd gloves off for Trump.

commented 2016-10-20 09:52:15 -0400 · Flag

Chris Wallace gave Orange Donald the right answer. And that arrogant prick refused to say it.

commented 2016-10-20 09:39:15 -0400 · Flag

Trump does not possess the intellect, integrity, grace, class or dignity to occupy the office of president.

commented 2016-10-20 09:38:37 -0400 · Flag

At least Charles Krauthammer seems to be the only Faux employee not on a leash. I agreed with Krauthammer’s opposition for a universal ban on landmines because of his reasoning. And he is right here. Donald Trump is coloring way outside the lines.