The porn star with the real name Stephanie Clifford "swatted Mr. Trump with a rolled-up network newsmagazine," says James Poniewozik. She was direct and conversational. She had playful one-liners. She told a story. "But most important — most, dare I say it, Trumpian — she was unapologetic," says Poniewozik. He adds: "Ms. Clifford owned her story and her life. Yes, she’s stripped and had sex on camera for a living, a 'legitimate — and legal, I’d like to point out — career.' Yes, she’s gotten job offers from her publicity: 'Tell me one person who would turn down a job offer making more than they’ve been making.' That should sound familiar. Running for president, Mr. Trump jiu-jitsued facts that would have ended other candidacies into selling points. Did he give money to candidates he later attacked? That meant he knew how to work the system, and thus could fix it. Did he avoid paying income taxes? 'That makes me smart.' His brazenness was the brazenness of reality TV, the argument of a finalist in a Survivor tribal council who tells the jury to hate the game, not the player. Just so, Ms. Clifford has used unshamability and quick-draw ripostes as a force field."
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TOPICS: 60 Minutes, CBS, Anderson Cooper, Donald Trump, Mark Burnett, Michael Avenatti, Paris Hilton, Stormy Daniels, CBS News, Ratings, Trump Presidency