Will Kelo Decision Finally Sink Donald Trump?

PJ Media ^ | 11/05/2015 | Michael Walsh

[Freemeorkillme]

Donald Trump’s high standing in the polls is attributable entirely to the fact that he’s not a Washington insider, not part of the racket, and despite his wealth really might actually give a damn about the Little Guy. So why is he saying things like this?

Donald Trump on Wednesday defended government property seizures as a “necessary thing,” even when it means involuntarily taking property from a private owner to transfer it to another business. Trump was speaking to reporters outside the capital statehouse moments before formally filing his candidacy for the February primary, and the Washington Examiner pressed him on his record of using eminent domain laws to expand his casino empire.

“Property rights are a big issue in New Hampshire,” the Examiner noted. “In Atlantic City you used eminent domain laws aggressively to expand your casino.”

Trump interjected by calling this a “stupid question” before launching into a defense of eminent domain. ”I am all for private property rights,” Trump said. “There’s nobody who wants property taken away less than I do, believe me. I would lose a lot of money if my property were taken away. But when you’re building a road, when you’re building a highway, when you’re building whatever it is you’re building from a municipal standpoint, you may need a corner of a piece of property.” As he said this, he pinched his fingers together to demonstrate the smallness of the property.

The abstract reasoning may be sound — although in the Supreme Court’s disgraceful Kelo decision it certainly was not — but the optics are terrible. It smacks of Romneyism, a cluelessness about how ordinary people live their lives.

[Freemeorkillme]

I disagree that it came off smacking of Romneyism. It just seems to me that it came off a bit flip, as is Trump's was of explaining things at times. The eminent domain is a concern of mine, as well, I might add, particularly given the Kelo decision.

What do you think, TrumpFRs and non-TrumpFRs alike?

[SaveFerris]

THIS WILL DO IT FOR SURE!!

PREPARE FOR THE RISE OF JEB!!

Oh, and Lindsey Graham. And Rick Perry.

[skeeter]

On this issue I definitely differ with Trump.

[miss marmelstein]

I’m not sure that as president he can do much about eminent domain one way or the other. Unless, of course, he knocks down the White House to put up a casino.

[eartick]

Showing that Trump has always has been and always will be for his business and big government.

We, the American Citizen, are just in the way for power people.

[SaveFerris]

Actually, I agree with you, too.

[Forgotten Amendments]

Nobody cares. Conservatism is dead. Most FReepers are as socialist as Obama and too dumb to know it. It's all personalities and hero worship.

[TexasCruzin]

How many thousands of other things were going to sink Trump? The number of GOP pundits with egg on their face is too numerous to count. Most have since back tracked.

[mbarker12474]

Unless I missed something, Trump was not talking about Kelo.

He was talking about eminent domain more generally, yes? No?

[Cold Heat]

If Kelo was going to hurt him, it would have happened early on...

So no....

I don’t think it will.

[Dr. Sivana]

Trump makes no distinction between a public policy (roads, bridges) and one that hands over the land to a third party (Pfizer).

[Graybeard58]

This isn’t exactly a news flash, it’s been discussed for a long time, if it was going to sink him, his poll numbers would never have gotten as high as they are.

[gdani]

If Planned Parenthood, Kim Davis, amnesty, donating to Democrats & the Clinton Foundation, universal health care, and everything else didn’t sink him, why would this?

[BigEdLB]

Yes Trump is sinking...sinking...good bye...LOL

[Biggirl]

Nope also.

[rrrod]

Only Trump can sink Trump

[Kickass Conservative]

Deja Vu all over again.

Is this the fifteenth time this has been discussed here?

Time for some new crisis to take down Trump.
This one is a bit stale.

[Red Steel]

PJ Media are losers.

[DoughtyOne]

Those who think Trump really screwed up here, please have the courage of your convictions and refrain from utilizing any entity that used eminent domain as part of it’s process.

[HarleyLady27]

Well this is it for Trump....#200,0015.00 times /s

If anyone knows about Kelo or eminent domain it is Trump, he has dealt with it, and everybody is fine...the United States Freeway System dealt with it; and the Keystone Oil is dealing with it; when you build a big arena for basketball, football, hockey, you deal with it; if you build a large mall, you deal with it; if you build office buildings, you deal with it....

If you don't like the law, go to your House Representatives and have them change the law....

But don't use this as a Trump tool, to down him, because all these other people use it also....