Trump the Unhinged

Commentary Magazine ^ | February 16, 2016 | Peter Wehner

[EveningStar]

In Saturday's Republican debate, Donald Trump, in discussing the Iraq war, accused President George W. Bush and his administration of lying to get the United States into the Iraq war.

"You call it whatever you want. I wanna tell you. They lied," according to Trump. "They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none. And they knew there were none. There were no weapons of mass destruction."

That charge itself is a lie or, at minimum, a libel, and quite an extraordinary one at that...

Whether or not Mr. Trump wins the Republican nomination, I don't know. But here's what I do know: Republicans and conservatives who support Trump or still refuse to speak out against him are failing their responsibility at a key political and moral moment. They are also inviting the disfigurement and destruction of their party.

Donald Trump is a menace unlike any we have seen.

---

Peter Wehner is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Previously he worked in the administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush.

[ManHunter]

Unhinged or not, “He’s gonna build a wall!”

[digger48]

I knew I should have invested in whatever company makes those donut pillows you sit on.

No matter where this election takes us, there’s gonna be a lot of butt-hurt in the coming months.

And if Hillary or Bernie get elected, we’re ALL gonna need one from getting *&^#%$ in the &^$

[lormand]

• In 1999, Trump said he had joined the Reform Party because Republicans are “just too crazy” right.
• In 2000, he said: “I hate the concept of guns.”
• In 2004: “I identify more as a Democrat.”
• In 2007: Told Wolf Blitzer on CNN’s “The Situation Room” that Hillary Clinton was the most qualified to make a nuclear deal with Iran.
• In 2008: Said he was “impressed” with Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and supported the idea of impeaching then President George W. Bush.
• “I’m going to take care of everybody,” Trump said in September 2015 on CBS’ 60 minutes. When asked how he would pay for it, he responded that “the government’s going to take care of it.”
• He thinks affirmative action is okay
• He would fund Planned Parenthood except for abortion. (This is current federal policy, though Trump doesn't seem to know it.)
• He supports a progressive income tax. He does not favor a flat tax.
• He doesn't want to cut Social Security or Medicare.
• He's in favor of a ban on assault weapons.
• He invited Bill and Hillary Clinton to his wedding.
• He doesn't "fully" believe in supply-side economics.
• He hates the Iran deal, but he wouldn't abrogate it after taking office.

  Abortion

  Then: On "Meet The Press" in 1999, Trump said he was "very pro-choice." "I hate the concept of abortion," he said. "I hate it. I hate everything it stands for. ... but I just believe in choice."

  Now: In an interview with Bloomberg Politics in January, Trump said, "I'm pro-life and I have been pro-life." He said he believed there should be exceptions in cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother.

  Guns

  Then: In Trump's 200 book "The America We Deserve," he wrote that he "generally" opposed gun control but supported an assault weapons ban and a longer waiting period to purchase a firearm.

  Now: At the 2015 NRA-ILA Leadership Forum, Trump said if he became president, "the 2nd Amendment will be totally protected." He told the Web site Ammoland he does "not support expanding background checks" and said current background checks "don't work."

  Healthcare

  Then: In an interview with Larry King in 1999, Trump said he was "very liberal when it comes to health care" and that he believes in "universal healthcare." Now: During his announcement, he called Obamacare "a disaster called the big lie" and said the deductibles were so high they were "virtually useless."

  Hillary Clinton

  Then: Either Trump or his son donated to Clinton in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007, he invited her to his 2005 wedding in Florida, where she sat front row, and he's donated at least $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation. He also said in an appearance on the Howard Stern show in the mid-2000s that she was a fantastic senator.

  Now: On NBC on Wednesday, he called Clinton "the worst secretary of state in the history of our nation" and said she would be "a terrible president."

  Party affiliation

  Then: Trump changed his party from Republican to Independent Party in 1999, and switched again to Democrat in 2001.

  Now: Has been a registered Republican since 2009.

  There are also some flips which haven't necessarily been from left to right.

  Jeb Bush

  Then: In Trump's 2000 book "The America We Deserve," he called Bush "a good man," "bright, tough and principled," and "exactly the kind of political leader this country needs now and will very much need in the future."

  Now: On Fox News's "On The Record" this week, he called Bush "pathetic" for his support of Common Core, said his immigration views were "baby stuff."

[WENDLE]

Why is anyone that tells the truth unhinged?

[Balding_Eagle]

“Donald Trump is a menace unlike any we have seen. “

+++

Trump isn’t Reagan, but the similarities in the responses to both is erie.

[Mr. K]

If I was running they would be calling me pretty damn unhinged too, at what has happened to this country

I don’t blame him

I’m still voting for him

[goldstategop]

The Iraq War was a disaster.

Any one who claims otherwise is neither intellectually nor morally honest.

Iraq today is an Iranian satrapy. We should have known better than to pursue the liberal project of nation-building.

Especially when we can barely solve our own domestic problems.

[Balding_Eagle]

I’m not sure you’re having the success with that screed as you hoped for.

Maybe try it in all caps?

[TornadoAlley3]

Destroy the party!

[20yearsofinternet]

Come have a seat with me and we shall await the impending collapse of Trump's support.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Orderly! Take Manhunter back to the psych ward:

[EveningStar]

Destroy the party!

Fine. Replace it with what?

[ManHunter]

You’re right and I’m terribly sorry. Donald only tells the truth; everyone else is a LIAR!

He’s never supported abortion; never supported gun control of any type; never supported universal health care; never said “Hillary would make a great president or vice president”; never said Obama was a “superstar”; never used illegal aliens to do construction on one of his hotels, thus avoiding union labor and contributions to union pension funds (required by law); has never had a relationship with any organized crime figures; has never taken a liberal position on anything; has not changed party affiliation at least five times; and has NEVER told a lie in his life.

And if you say otherwise, he’ll sue you!

Sounds like the guy I want in the White House... /s

[JBW1949]

Be completely honest.....

Do you still view everything today the same way you viewed things 15 to 20 years ago?

[frankenMonkey]

[EveningStar]

The Iraq War was a disaster.

Perhaps, but do you think GWB lied to get us into it?

[TornadoAlley3]

People who do what they say they will do. Listen to voters, not donors.

[WENDLE]

I understand how frustrated you must Mrs. Bush. Take this and go lay down a while. Try to sleep. Jeb! will be fine selling cars.

[867V309]

They are also inviting the disfigurement and destruction of their party.

Nope. Lying GOPe party regulars already did that.