Deny (and lie), Obfuscate, and Attack

Post #371, Bob McKnight's Florida Commentary

Gabbard got a perfect Trump score, but maybe committed perjury.

Public Television recently profiled Donald Trump's negotiating mentor, the late attorney Roy M. Cohen. Cohen taught Trump how to use ruthless and untrue tactics to fight opponents in the rough and tumble world of New York real estate development. After inheriting a fortune from his father, Trump managed to grow that into a much smaller fortune and sought out Cohen's counsel for financial survival.

In a nutshell, Cohen's formula was reduced to three words of action:

• Deny (and lie)

• Obfuscate

• Attack

Trump employed that three-point strategy in his business dealings, which is why he is among New York's most litigious businesspeople. He is sued roughly as often as he sues others. He is seen employing the Cohen formula more times than not.

So, when he was elected President again, to no one's surprise, he demanded his subordinates employ the 3-word strategy in dealing with Congress and the media.

Consider the newly appointed Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. A former member of Congress, but largely discounted for ineffectiveness, Gabbard was not a good debater. She needed help when confronted with tough questioning.

Fast forward to last week, when Defense Secretary Hedgepeth convened a conference call at the point of an air attack on the Houthis, Director Gabbard participated in the call.

When asked about the call at a Congressional hearing, Gabbard launched into the Cohen-Trump formula by first saying she couldn't remember what was discussed in the call--deny and lie. The call occurred during the previous week. She was asked where she was at the time of the call, and she went to point two--obfuscate--she couldn't remember where she was. When she completed her interrogation with Congress, saying nothing, she joined the Republicans in criticizing the hearing and attacking the Democrats, of which she was recently one. Bingo, a perfect score with the Cohen-Trump formula.

Trump had to be proud.