Trump kills the messenger: but it's still the same message

A FEW years ago, I served as a press secretary for a US lawmaker, and as he introduced me to my new assignment, the guy who held the position before me revealed the first rule of the job: Whatever you do, make sure that journalists never - but never! - talk about you.

The ideal press secretary blends into the background. He or she tends to be the professional but unassuming type. They look respectful without looking too sexy on television. Their names never show up in the gossip pages of newspapers while the name of their boss dominates the headlines on the front pages, hopefully with flattering headlines.

And after they leave office, very few people would recall their name. But if he or she were good in their job, everyone would be evoking the name of the person they worked for. Spicer who? President Trump!