“Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!”
So let me get this straight. On Martin Luther King Day weekend, Donald J. Trump, just six days from his inauguration, thought it’d be wise to feud with one of the most honorable and respected Americans alive.Against a backdrop of widespread concerns about his judgment, the president-elect just made matters far worse.There’s no shortage of angles to a story like this, but perhaps it’s best to package them into a series of questions Team Trump might want to answer:* When Trump says John Lewis is a man of “no action or results,” does he understand the scope of Lewis’ legacy?* When Trump condemns Lewis’ Atlanta congressional district as being “horrible” and “crime-infested,” does he realize that these descriptions in no way reflect reality? Did the president-elect make assumptions about the district because of Lewis’ race?* Can Trump explain why he shows far more respect towards Vladimir Putin than he does John Lewis?* How does Trump feel about his criticism causing a dramatic boost to John Lewis’ book sales?Aside from these relevant details, broader concerns about the president-elect’s temperament, discipline, and capacity for self-control are intensifying. In this case, he heard John Lewis question his presidency’s legitimacy, so he lashed out instinctively and wildly, without any meaningful forethought. It’s become his signature move: Meryl Streep said something critical? Attack. Vanity Fair gave one of his restaurants a bad review? Attack. “Saturday Night Live” hurt his feelings? Attack.He simply can’t help himself. Trump’s ego just cannot handle criticism, no matter how mild or legitimate, so his self-destructive instincts override his judgment. These qualities, which were quite evident ahead of Election Day, appear to be getting worse as Trump’s presidency draws closer.I don’t expect Trump to mature any time soon, but for his sake and ours, I hope that he at least learns to pace himself. The president — every president — is one of the most criticized people on the planet. It’s effectively in the job description. The person in the Oval Office can either accept — and possibly even learn from — the criticisms or he/she can be consumed by detractors.Trump already appears determined to pursue the latter course.In an interview that aired last night, President Obama told “60 Minutes” that having “thick skin helps.” It’s an important point, which Trump appears unable to benefit from.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."