Just use his words

I agree with this opinion from Daily Kos

I agree that this could be an explosively bad area to wade into.

So long as Melania's status is not the central point of attack, I don't see the harm in asking questions and getting whatever public documentation is available.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Treat your body like a machine. Your mind like a castle.[/center][/font][hr]

But given the fact that Trump has based his platform demonizing the people that commit the same acts that she is being accused of committing herself makes it fair game -- but only on this issue.

but this is about her husband's hypocrisy and that is a legitimate concern.

Hillary/Kaine would not and should not say anything. The pol investigators and super PAC will do all the work. Plagiarism, now this...is not something the RW would back away from. There are thousands of legal immigrants that Melania riled up against undocumented immigrants. This story does not have to go away because of fear of the RW lashing back. If the show were on the other foot believe me 24/7 it would be in the news cycle.

Nothing should be made of it until the evidence is in. If the allegations turn out to be true...let it rip!
Hillary and Kaine can always take the high road when the subject comes up and pivot to jobs and security or something else.

I feel this is a legitimate issue because it is yet another example of Trump's outrageous hypocrisy. I would not, however, recommend pursuing it just because the right would. Why on earth would we want to emulate republicans?

This is probably why Trump okayed publishing of the nude photos of Melania.

I mean, Ds would just be dissing Melania. It has to be brought up in the right way, like as a zinger when Trump mentions immigration, maybe. Not a permanent campaign issue

I don't think it damages him at all it just diverts from his own asinine statements and actions.

and I think THEY should be the ones that expose if there is anything to expose. I doubt Hillary/Kaine will nor should they speak of this. Let's continue to talk the issues.

should say, "We have people on the ground and they can't believe what they're finding."

All kidding aside, I agree, Hillary's campaign should stay away from this story.

...than we would anyone else's.

She should be given as much consideration as we would afford anyone with problems with their immigrant status.

What we need to 'press' is Donald Trump's policy pronouncements. Highlighting Melania's particular issues would certainly be fair and helpful, so long as there is nothing of the sort of demonizing or denigrating that we see often toward people affected by these concerns.

The only problem I have with this story is that it potentially paints Trump as a hypocrite. And duh, we already know that.

Just more gaming the system like the crook he really is. And proof that he surrounds himself with like-minded people. And it goes way deep. Even married one, too, apparently.

and since it involves racy photos and broken marriages, the media will be on this like white on rice

tRump's supporters are going to have to swallow a huge pile of hypocrite crow to go along with his daily servings of bullshit

What does need to be attacked is a US policy which discriminates against black and brown people, while whites and Europeans are given a free pass. People who are white, i.e. Canadians and Europeans, can come here, stay as long as they like, seek employment and nobody questions their status or right to be here. Nobody raids their houses. Brown and black people, a different set of rules apply.

Wealthy people have always been able to enter this country and stay as long as they want and even obtain citizenship if they have enough wealth, and now we learn that people with 'exceptional talents', i.e. in Melania's case defined as being beautiful, get to go to the head of the line. As Trump would say, either we have a system that works for everyone, or we don't.

If she lied or abused her status it still has legal effect. Just ask the hundreds of people who've been scooped up in the ICE raids who've been here for just as long as she has. If she fraudulently obtained her first green card, or abused her visa status, the fraud still attaches to her no matter her present situation.

It may also be that her immigration status was arranged or "improved" to suit marrying Mr. Trump, perhaps through those in his employ, or someone who may have owed him favors, or may have been seeking favors. The man who ran an agency she modeled for claims he put them together but has been quite vague about her status while or before she worked for him.

It goes to the heart of the issue of Trump's credibility that his wife may have perpetrated the immigration shuffle and cannot tell a true story about it, nor can anyone else in their circle. The dubious stories of her past are fodder for the News, not the HRC campaign.

Among other things the more shameful truth that attaches to Trump and his coterie the more it slimes those who so enthusiastically have endorsed him and his "policies" and attitudes, especially down ticket GOP candidates.

He's collapsing just fine, without dragging her into the mix.

that he delivered to Ivana Trump, according to her sworn testimony

When I heard she's 46, I began to worry. She's fast approaching her sell-by date. His pattern seems to be to toss 'em away when they get too old, and get himself a nice (younger) new one. (Although I don't know what sent Tiffany Trump's mom, Marla Maples, packing. But she got thrown away, too.)

I think that because she got pregnant Marla managed to publicly pressure him into marriage at a time when he was giving interviews saying he didn't want to get married or enter into committed, exclusive relationships of any kind. He married Marla only because she was pregnant, and she had to sign an ironclad prenup before he would marry her.

Unlike Ivana's $25 million divorce settlement, Marla got only $2 million, and if she violates nondisclosure or makes any disparaging remarks about him, she will be sued for violating the terms of the contract. At one point after he announced his candidacy she hinted at something negative in an interview, but then was apparently reminded by his lawyers that she could be sued, and immediately walked it back and began to publicly support his candidacy.

I think his asnger over being pressured into marriage by her pregnancy led to genuine vindictiveness against her and "her" child, so he cheated throughout their short marriage and never had much of anything to do with Tiffany. His lack of interest in Tiffany couldn't be more glaring.

And what she wants/will do for America and Americans...

Corporate media is not covering that but only regurgitating same old talking points while giving T-rump cover.

The Clinton TV advertisements talk about how bad Trump is - negative advertising but warranted once in a while.

Or they are the touchy-feely ads but don't tell what Clinton will do for America and Americans.

I would like to see advertisements that tell Americans what she will do to progress America and *all* Americans lives and livelihood. In other words, advertisements that tell of Clinton's plans and policies - the 'why should people vote for me' type of ads.

Get it?

Have you not noticed?

She has a reputation for being a wonk and too "in the weeds" even, so I'm not sure to what you could be referring.

I wonder why.

Dear Goddess! Where have you been?

Your criticism is heartbreaking. Please listen more to what she has said and not to what the pundit's spew.

Univision and Jorge Ramos can handle this too

It further underscores the racism of Trump's anti-immigrant stance. If European, it's "paperwork issues." If Latino, you're an "illegal."

Last edited Sat Aug 6, 2016, 05:16 PM - Edit history (1)

I doubt she had any choice in Trump's decision to run for president. Also I don't think Melania has attacked anyone.

There are like 1000 different (and better) issues to go after Trump. In my eyes, this is a minor one issue. Also it could backfire, if we aggressively focus on it.

Saw a Trump supporter interviewed. He didn't care, but was still talking about Obama's birth certificate.

there are still idiots who bring up Obama's birth certificate, as if there's even a question about it.
why don't they just cut to the chase and admit they can't stand the idea of a black president?

A sign of what he really thinks.
As long as it's to the advantage of dipshit donnie it's okay. He just doesn't want it brought up.

that she is also part of the larger lie that is Donald Trump's public image.

How she came to be a citizen and his wife matters for the simple reason that they have chosen to repeat the lies about it publicly. It matters because she seems to have bent the immigration rules and law he has said he is inflexible about.

The very sanctimonious GOP has as standard bearer a liar, a thief, a scoundrel and just possibly a criminal, and it now appears he may be married to an illegal immigrant.

The chickens have come home to roost and they brought the in-laws with them!

Just posted this elsewhere, but here it is again:

Hillary is winning by taking the high road. Hillary is fighting against the idea that she's petty, vindictive, and will say or do anything to be president. Hillary's favorables are still under water. Nothing -- nothing -- about going after a candidate's spouse over some minor visa violation 20 years ago helps her, or us. Absolutely nothing. Let the media do what it likes, but Hillary and her surrogates need to leave this the hell alone.

Attack him on.

we are not her and we are not her surrogates

or in interviews, which I am sure she will be.

The campaign does not need to be proactive re Melania, because there are so many other, better issues. But she absolutely should be ready to respond to BS.

Beautiful people. This will go nowhere when they interview her and she cries for the camera's.
People will just feel sorry for her. There are so many real threats that Trump presents why go there?? I personally do not care. I care more about Trump and Putin, Trump and his racism, his lies about you name it.

white immigrants.

so, i dont really think this story has any legs

Beautiful white Slovenian models don't count.

of right-wing hypocrisy first thing in the morning???

Posting about it in echo chambers?

What's the plan?

There are a number of left-leaning journalists I email regularly with info.

You'll be amazed at how much email they read.

Also, organizations like Media Matters are great allies.

What are you doing to help Hillary get elected and defeat Donald Trump?

All the rebups I know are shaking their heads in disgust. I'm not going to get in their way.

Thanks for playing.

I'll do my part to stop Donald.

You can sit on your couch.

...keep it classy.

I'll not be waving anything in the face of repubs who are recoiling. Not necessary. Possibly counter productive.

However, I would expect some on the media, may just do something. After all, it's suicidal to piss off your press corps, which he has done.

Nope. Not needed, let the chips fall where they may on this, I am uncomfortable attacking ANYBODY based on their immigration status - this sets a BAD precedent. Please, there's plenty on Trump and this one is splitting hairs IMO.

That's Rush Limbaugh territory.

If we think it's wrong for them to do it, then it's wrong for us.

he needs to have himself an extra large can of STFU before complaining about how Birther Melania is treated.

the typical political wife.

He's attacking Hillary's marriage to Bill.

If Crazy Donald helped Birther Melania commit immigration fraud, that is news.

I care about his dangerous ideas, his lack of self-control, and the emotional instability that makes him unfit for office.

....which forgives all sins according to the walking, small fuckstick's supporters.

Melanie's father was a member of the communist party. The communists had many agents in the west seduce and marry well-placed westerners. I read about a Russian agent in the Washington D.C. area, named "phillip" married to another Russian spy named "elizabeth" who seduced and then married the secretary ("martha&quot to the fib counter intelligence chief. Trump had been saying he planned to run for president before a "model's agent" introduced him to "Melania." That "model's agent" specialised in beautiful women from behind the iron curtain. He probably was planting communist "models" to be agents for Russian foreign intelligence. What important western male could resist someone like "Melania"? Not me! Consistent with this we learn this week that "Melania" was already married when she met Donald (Trump's lawyer said she was previously married on the Larry King show ten years ago.) BUt "Melania" told Donald she had never married. Same story "Phillip" told "Martha."

It seems like a distraction from more important issues.Time would be better spent focusing on Trump and his plans for his presidency.

Avoid this story. Focus on Trump.

A couple of days ago I was criticized for observing that it certainly appeared that Melania Knauss was an illegal immigrant. The point being made was that, well, she's here now, family, American citizenship, etc.

Well, I for one am happy that the story is remaining the public eye (at least I hope it is - the DU eye and the public eye are not necessarily the same thing).

Well, it looks like someone needs to send a team of private investigators to Hawaii to. . . whoops, lost my place there. Someone needs to send a team of investigators to Slovenia. . . whoops again. Someone needs to claim that they are sending a team of investigators to Slovenia.

Oh, and is it only me, or has Melania disappeared since her plagiarism at the RNC? Has anyone seen her? For that matter, has anyone interviewed that mysterious ex-dancer?

It's weird that she's just disappeared from the news. That story is fishy.

I'm still not convinced she's a real person...or if she was a real person, I'm not convinced that she's still alive.

The Trump campaign is PRAYING Team Hillary will target Mrs. Trump.

Can already see the tear laden prime time interview and ads calling Hillary's commitment to women.

The thing that's interesting to me is that she was Donald's number one girlfriend since 1999. But they say she entered this marriage in 2001. Marriage and divorce records are public records. This should be verified or debunked pretty quickly.

That would have been very soon after a 2001 marriage to someone else.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/many-questions-and-few-answers-about-how-melania-trump-immigrated-to-the-us/2016/08/04/0c13cc1a-5a3f-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html

They are racists. Period.

...should steer clear of this story. Other groups can find answers. People have figured out the Donald/Melania relationship. Also, if Trump has enough energy for a fourth trade-in, she'll have an ea$y life.

there's plenty wrong without Trump without risking backlash for harping on a minor travesty.

Dems won't have to do a thing. JMHO

This needs to be handled CAREFULLY as the rethugs, with their complete lack of shame, will start chanting "see, even Clinton's people admit immigration IZZZZ bad!" They will use whatever ammo we give against Hispanics , Asians, and anyone else.

On the other hand, we can focus on HIM, like "Don, do you want the same people telling you to build that wall to come after your wife?"

is that she married Trump in 2001 in a small courthouse ceremony, but decided to do a big public event later. If that's the case, the records would show it and this issue would be over. If marriage certificates are public, someone should be able to figure this out.

No one but the parties involved or their attorneys can get access to NY Marriage records (unless marriage was over 50 yrs ago)

so nothing prevents someone from saying they are married to get benefits, but not actually being married?