Trump names health care and education, security, as the top functions of the federal government

American Thinker ^ | 03/30/2016 | Thomas Lifson

[SeekAndFind]

In a moment that seemed to stun even moderator Anderson Cooper, Donald Trump named federal involvement in education and health care as top functions of the federal government, along with national security, at the Milwaukee candidates forum in Milwaukee last night. Apparently unaware that conservatives believe that a federal role in education is unjustified, and that many, including Ted Cruz, want to abolish the Department of Education, and that federal involvement in health care is anathema to his party’s base, Trump spoke of both as among the top three priorities for the feds.

Putting on his surprised face, Cooper attempted to give Trump a chance to address his base. Shoshana Weissmann of the Weekly Standard describes the debacle:

Anderson Cooper tried to clarify. "So in terms of federal government role, you're saying security, but you also say health care and education should be provided by the federal government?"

Trump replied, "yeah, those are two of the things. Yeah, sure. there are obviously many things, housing, providing great neighborhoods—"

Anderson, confused by Trump's response, asked, "aren't you against the federal government's involvement in education? Don't you want it to devolve to states?"

"I want it to go to state. Absolutely," said Trump, entirely flip-flopping on what he said moments earlier.

Cooper replied, "that's not part of what the federal government's—"

Trump interjected, "the federal government, but the concept of the country is the concept that we have to have education within the country and have to get rid of common core and it should be brought to the state level."

Cooper added, "and federal health care run by the federal government?"

Trump said, "health care. We need health care for our people.

[Da Coyote]

Forgot destroying liberals.

They are cancer, and must be greated as such.

[blowfish]

The guy flat-out has no clue what he’s talking about. His mouth just emits plausible words and hopes they make sense to someone somewhere.

[Gaffer]

On the other side of the spectrum, where do “talking in Tongue,” “Snake Handling - anointed by God,” and “We all God’s chillum just wanting a better life for the whole world right here in Amerika” fall?

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Healthcare?! What the heck Someone want to tell me how this is a hallmark of conservatism?

[Durbin]

Trump on healthcare.
“The government can lead it, but it should be privately done”

Can someone tell me exactly what the hell that means?

[livius]

Agreed. The really frightening thing, however, is that none of his fans seem to expect him to make sense or even care that he doesn’t.

[SunshinesStormySummerSon]

Okay, Trump’s words, just his own personal statements. Not the media’s interpretation, not anyone else’s spin....Surely I’m not the only conservative that finds these priorities troubling in the GOP front runner.

[ilgipper]

Well, this is where I migrated away from Trump. First, because he’s a wildcard I am afraid to bet on between now and November, as well as once he has power. The second is that he has a very, very thin grasp on the issues and definitely does not have close to an understanding on conservatism, federal vs local, or limited government. If he’s the candidate, I am in, but I am not too confident. The only refuge I have is that his campaign platforms are pretty solid, so if they are used as a general pathway on policy, we could potentially make some progress.

[Ohioan]

Trump has already made clear that his approach to education as President, will be to eliminate the Federal role, by eliminating the department, and stopping the meddling in local control. This is just another effort to mislead by ignoring a fuller context.

Again, Trump: Metaphor For American Conservatism.

[calico_thompson]

Hey Trumpster Trolls - what say you?

[Hostage]

*** Trump’s Healthcare Plan:

https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/healthcare-reform

First Item: Repeal Obamacare

*** Trump’s Education Initiatives:

Get rid of Common Core
Return educational control to local level

*** Trump’s Security Goal

Make the military so strong, so powerful, that no enemy would dare think of attacking us, and use the military only if absolutely necessary.

[chae]

See post #4 for an example of the Trump supporters response to this story.

[Bayou Dittohead]

Pathetic response to a substantive concern. Amazed at the antichristian bigotry that exists on the “right”. I expect it from liberals.

[CapitalistCrusader]

I was not happy with the way Trump answered that one. He definitely did not articulate the positions that he's taken on health care and education very well.

I'm still going to vote for him because I don't expect him to be perfect. I expect him to nuke the UniParty.

Cruz has proven to me that he a the UniParty candidate who just doesn't know the UniParty is going to throw him under the bus.

[SubMareener]

After Donald J. Trump finishes doing all the “liberal” things he has promised: build the wall, deport illegals and Syrian invaders, cancel Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders, roll back twenty years of intrusive government regulations, prosecute Hillary and her crew, release the secret 28 pages from the 9/11 report, negotiate prescription drug purchases, repeal and replace Obamacare, simplify the Tax code, repatriate $2.5 trillion in off-shore profits, stop the IRS from abridging the free speech of Christian Churches, reform the libel laws to remove the “public figure” distinctions, defund Planned Parenthood until the stop doing abortions, cleaning up the mess that is the VA, cutting waste, fraud and abuse where ever it is found, canceling Common Core and returning control of education to the States, end the assault on the Second Amendment, audit the Federal Reserve System, investigate the harmful additives in Vaccines and the coverup of studies at the CDC, and destroy the culture of Political Correctness, then we can talk about all those “conservative” issues some people want to address.

Note that undoing the Federal involvement in healthcare and education is one of his big priorities. So a “common sense conservative” would say the getting the federal government out of healthcare and education were a pretty big priority. However, “true conservatives” would rather continue to say that “the Federal Government shouldn’t be in healthcare or education”, while acquiescing to the gradual takeover of both by said Federal Government.

[John Valentine]

...and hopes they make sense to someone somewhere.

Given his indefatigable minions in abundance here on Free Republic, his nonsense blabber seems to make sense to fair number of people who by virtue of being members of a pro-Consititution community ought to know better.

[SeekAndFind]

I read Post #4 and I don;t know what the heck the poster is driving at ...

[SunshinesStormySummerSon]

And he might pick a true conservative for his running mate. And he might actually appoint and follow the advice of conservatives in his administration. He might; I’m certainly not convinced that he will based on his record over the past 50 years, but he might.

[blowfish]

You honestly believe he's going to do these things? Given his shallowness of thought and understanding he displays on a daily basis?

I admire your optimism, I guess.