President Donald Trump's inability to admit failure on a key issue is likely to doom Republicans to a defeat in next year's election, warned a Democratic strategist.
The president addressed the affordability issue Tuesday night in Pennsylvania on his first stop of a planned nationwide tour to reassure Americans he shares their concerns about higher prices, but instead he mocked the topic as a "Democratic hoax," and CNN's John Berman made an offbeat comparison.
"By the way, by and large, prices are not coming down, inflation also not coming down," Berman said. "But you guys are old enough – no you're not, you guys are young. But do you remember 'Happy Days'? Do you remember howmuch trouble the Fonz had sayinghe was sorry? In case you don'tremember, I do have a short clipof it. Listen."
"CNN News Central" producers rolled a clip of Henry Winkler, playing the Fonzie character, struggling to annunciate the word "sorry," repeatedly stuttering and getting hung up on the first syllable, and Third Way co-founder Matt Bennett laughed and agreed with the comparison.
"There was another greatmoment in 'Happy Days' where the Fonz, wearing a leather jacket,jumped over a shark, as we all know," Bennett said. "I think that is what ishappening with Trump and theeconomy. He is completely out tolunch. Not only are priceskilling people now, and the New York Times [columnist] Tom Edsel has a back-of-the-envelope calculation.It's going to cost the averagefamily $2,200, just what we'veseen so far. That's before thepremium spikes hit on Jan. 1 for the Affordable Care Act,which could cost a couple intheir 60s $32,000 a year."
"Imean, this guy is completelynuts if he thinks thataffordability isn't actuallyhurting Americans," Bennett added, "and if hekeeps mocking it, Democrats aregoing to keep winning by giantmargins."