Julian Zelizer : The Trump administration is considering a plan to allow the Pentagon and other agencies to use private contractors for certain jobs, including those that require security clearances, according to people familiar with the matter. He says gaffes tend to drive a lot of media coverage of politicians . Vast majority of gaffes do n't have a significant lasting impact , he says . Zelizer : When Sen. George Allen of Virginia in 2006 used the racial slur a `` macaca '' while someone was taping him , some said it instantly tanked his candidacy . When gaffes do matter , it 's because they reinforce perceptions of candidate 's flaws .
Julian Zelizer : The Trump administration is considering a plan to allow the Pentagon and other agencies to use private contractors for certain jobs, including those that require security clearances, according to people familiar with the matter. He says gaffes tend to drive a lot of media coverage of politicians . Vast majority of gaffes do n't have a significant lasting impact , he says . Zelizer : When gaffes do matter , it 's because they reinforce perceptions of candidate 's flaws .