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Cuban Clarifies Comments

Cuban Clarifies Comments

Mark Cuban may be a whiz when it comes to tech investments, start-ups, and managing the Dallas Mavericks, but his recent foray into politics is proving to be a misfire. Despite Cuban’s vocal support for Vice President Kamala Harris, his stance on core Democratic policies has often been contradictory, as he opposes several key agenda items, such as capital gains tax hikes and removing the legislative filibuster. Yet, Cuban’s endorsement of Harris has put him front and center in the political arena, where his latest comments have stirred up a storm—and not the kind he might have hoped for.

During an appearance on The View, Cuban attempted to take a swipe at former President Donald Trump by suggesting that “no strong, intelligent, independent women” support him. This sweeping remark immediately caused a backlash, with many interpreting it as an insult to the millions of women who do support Trump.

Cuban’s words fueled a narrative that Democrats look down on half the country, compounding a perception problem that’s been growing within the party. Not only did Cuban’s comments cause a public relations headache for Harris’s campaign in the critical days before the election, but they also coincided with President Joe Biden’s recent controversial comment referring to Trump supporters as “garbage.” Biden’s remark, which went viral, drew fierce criticism and seemed to drown out any positive coverage Harris might have hoped to gain as she rallied voters in D.C.

In an effort to dial down the fallout, Cuban took to social media to clarify his remarks. He explained, “This is what I said during a conversation about why Nikki Haley was not active in his campaign.” His original comments, he argued, were aimed at Trump’s apparent reluctance to surround himself with women who might challenge him publicly, specifically pointing to Haley’s criticism of Trump on issues like reproductive rights and his treatment of women. Cuban insisted, “I know many strong, intelligent women voting for Trump. Including in my extended family. I’m certainly not saying female voters are not smart, strong and intelligent.” He also acknowledged that Trump has indeed worked with several high-profile women, such as Elaine Chao, Ivanka Trump, and Kellyanne Conway.

However, Cuban’s clarification didn’t have the effect he might have hoped for. Critics quickly pointed out that his follow-up comments essentially reinforced his initial assertion, and the damage was already done. Conservative commentators and social media users were quick to pounce, with some accusing Cuban of “doubling down” on his original insult. Greg Price, a conservative commentator, summed it up, saying, “‘Let me clarify something,’ I did in fact call all of you women around Donald Trump weak and dumb.” Meanwhile, OutKick host Tomi Lahren pointed out the futility of Cuban’s backpedaling: “The clarification is … exactly the same as the initial statement, Mark.”

This PR debacle underscores a common misstep in modern politics—casting broad, dismissive generalizations about the opposing side’s supporters can backfire spectacularly. By trying to paint Trump as a man who can’t handle “strong, independent women,” Cuban inadvertently insulted a vast swath of the electorate. Even worse, his attempted clarification came across as a reluctant acknowledgment that Trump’s circle does include strong women, which undermined his original argument without repairing the damage.

The timing of this controversy couldn’t be worse for Democrats, as Biden’s own “garbage” comment lingers in the air, stoking resentment among voters who feel demeaned by the rhetoric coming from prominent Democratic voices. Cuban’s misstep only compounds this sentiment, giving Trump’s supporters more ammunition to claim that they are being dismissed and insulted by the political elite.

Written by Mark Stevens - November 3, 2024