Judge Judy has some advice for Donald Trump: tone it down.
It's significant as Judy's plain speak is her hallmark, and it's what keeps her fans tuning in--- but it's also what's made Trump a winner in the polls.
"Donald is way out there", she says.
Judge Judy Sheindlin is not one to beat around the bush. For her, political correctness is unproductive.
Directness is also what Judy's looking for in a president. Back in May, I asked her what she wanted to see this
election. Her answer:
"Wouldn't you like to hear what the candidates who are running for president have to say legitimately about how they feel about issues? Rather than being politically correct and hearing the same old hogwash that we've heard for the last 30 years?"
Fast forward 6 months and Donald Trump is at the head of the GOP pack.
Judy asked for candor, Trump delivered. So what's her take?
"I think that if he really wants to be considered as a real candidate, he has to start to temper some of that rhetoric, because while the truthfulness and the candor and the directness of his speeches was appealing for a period of time, in order to be considered pres -- to me, and I'm crazy about Donald. In order to be presidential there has to be a measure in the way you present your argument," she said.
To Judy, Trump's winning streak is a measure of the American people.
"They were hungry for plain speak. And Donald is plain speak."
She says there's something to be said for that, but when it comes to leading a country, diplomacy is important.
"I'm looking for somebody who not only the citizens of this country can say is a true leader, but the citizens of the world. The president of the United States is the leader of the free world. We have to be able to, the world has to be able to rely on his or her word to feel that they have a good moral compass."
She’s never shy making a ruling, but don’t expect Judy to predict who will become the next president.
"Polls are beginning to shift a little bit. I don't know what the next 6 months are going to bring, but I think its more the responsibility of citizens in this country to keep themselves abreast of reality and what's going on around them. Otherwise in the famous words of Ed Koch, you get what you deserve," she said.
Judge Judy had a lot more to say, and in our exclusive one-on-one interview, she answered some of our viewers questions.
Coming up next week, we've got her answers in the final installment of this three-part series.
