Latest Stunt From "The Donald"
At first, it may seem kind of noble. Donald Trump recently learned that his Miss USA winner, Tara Conner was living the fast life in New York City. Miss Conner was spotted "smooching" the Miss Teen USA pagent winner, had reportedly been drinking underage and allegedly tested positive, once, for cocaine. The 1st charge is kind of hot by many american male's (and some female) standards, the 2nd is something that most normal teens experience and the 3rd, while serious, isn't backed by any long term use evidence or vidence of any addiction.
But that doesn't stop Donald Trump, who ordered the girl into rehab to preserve her status as Miss USA. Again, at ist, it seemed kind of noble, but only at 1st. A closer look makes it look kind of exploitave.
Trump today insisted the "girl wouldn't deny she was an alchoholic." She did, saying she wouldn't consider herself one. Trump said he was "a big believer in 2nd chances."
Huh?
Anyone who has seen "The Apprentice" for more than 10 minutes knows that Trump more often than not can't wait to throw someone out on the street over a minor misstep or failure. Trump even fired a guy once because the young contestant did such a good job on a task and his team liked him so much that the apprentice wannabee turned down Trump's offer of immunity. Trump immediately took offense to the boy's confidence and made him that week's victim of his now cliche phrase, "you're fired!" "Second chances" aren't exactly at the top of Donald's most commonly known charachteristics.
So why would Trump give Miss Conner a 2nd chance? The answer is simple, ratings.
When was the last time that anyone was talking about either the Miss USA pagent or the Donald's "business" reality show? Odds are, not in a long time. The former, is owned by Mr Trump and NBC respectively, and has slid in the ratings over the years heavily. A little controversy and his beauty pagent is in the news for the 1st time since Vanessa Williams showed us her other side in the pages of Penthouse. "Rehabbing" his current representative should be not only a PR feather in Trump's cap but might actually create some buzz for the next pagent.
Same for The Apprentice. The last few seasons have seen ratings slowly slide to where the show is probably "on the bubble" for renewal next season. This controversy might serve as some pre-season hype since no one actually wants to hype the show itself like it was before it's inaugural season.
Will it work? Who knows? Trump has done more with less in the past and one should never underestimate his ability to cleverly and indirectly promote his ventures. "Cross marketing" has become a Trump trademark. And this is most likely his latest venture in using one thing to promote other things that have Trump's signature on them.
But using alchoholism to promote both the Miss USA pagent and The Apprentice is kind of low, even for Trump.
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