More than half the states have voted and the presidential candidates are entering the home stretch of the nominating gantlet. But up to now, they have been ignoring a mighty special interest: events.
Events have a vote, as the terrorist attacks that rocked Brussels reminded us. The bloody strike at the heart of Europe, not far from the headquarters of the European Union and NATO, delivered a powerful punch that could reshape the race for the White House.
In the instant aftermath, there is little doubt that Republicans in general, and Donald Trump in particular, will get a boost. After all, Trump has been the most aggressive of all the surviving candidates, calling for a temporary ban on Muslims, tougher border controls and stepped-up interrogation techniques for enemy detainees. In January, he actually singled out Brussels as a potential problem, calling it a “hellhole†because of the large number of unassimilated Muslims.
He was ridiculed, of course, but events now make him look prophetic while Democrats are stuck defending a failed status quo. Hillary Clinton’s comments yesterday reflected the trap, as she tried to talk tough without actually saying anything that would challenge current White House policies: “Today’s attacks will only strengthen our resolve to stand together as allies and defeat terrorism and radical jihadism around the world.â€
