Posted on 11/22/2015 1:17:49 PM PST by RoosterRedux
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Sunday he is open to running for president as an independent if he concludes Republicans are not treating him "fairly."
He made his comments on ABC's "This Week" when asked about a Wall Street Journal story first published online Friday that reported an effort by Republican establishment figures to unite to knock Mr. Trump out of the race. The group plans a "guerrilla campaign" backed by secret donors to "defeat and destroy" the celebrity businessman’s candidacy, the Journal reported.
The notion of an independent Trump bid worries some Republicans, who fear he would siphon votes from the GOP nominee and help elect a Democrat.
Asked if he would reconsider his promise not to run as an independent, Mr. Trump didn't give a direct answer.
"Well, we'll see what happens," he said. "It will be very interesting. But I'm leading every poll by a lot. It's not even a little bit anymore, it's a lot."
Asked again if he was open to an independent run, he repeated, "Well, I'm going to have to see what happens. I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly. You know, when I did this, I said I have to be treated fairly. If I'm treated fairly, I'm fine. All I want to do is a level playing field."
Mr. Trump also said he would bring back use of waterboarding, the controversial interrogation technique that simulates drowning and that is considered torture by many. President Barack Obama barred waterboarding and other harsh techniques at the start of his presidency.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
This is a message to Liz Mair, Kasich, and their guerilla campaign donors.
Ping
Can’t blame him for raising this issue again. The Republican Party needs to get its house in order else risk rightly breaking the party and losing the election.
Yeah.
I hear you, Mr. Trump, and I can’t disagree.
The GOP is a real slithering snake, totally unworthy of any trust whatsoever.
Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but I could see it.
Exactly!
I really think the GOPe won't mind losing in that result as they remain in control of the party for the longterm. Most of their big money people win with either Democrat or Republican in office so they might not really care in the end.
I’d like to see Trump release ads against this so-called Super PAC, informing everyone exactly who they are working for, and who is donating to them. He should definitely fight fire with fire.
CNN is also moderating the next republican debate. He should inform them that he will not take part until CNN admits on tv that they manipulated their reporting of his comments regarding Muslims and databases, and apologize for having done so. He should require that they run this admission and apology every 30 minutes between now and the time of the debate.
Agree....I think it’s a clear message to ALL of them AND the RNC/GOPee....don’t pull your typical dirty tricks.
Trump hits back....harder!
Yes, it probably is and IF the GOPE gets Rubio ( or another such ) as the nominee ( which I doubt....we’ll ALL vote for Trump as an Indie and the GOP will be DEAD !
Well, it’s a sneaky LLC, so I don’t think the donors have to be disclosed.
Looks to me like this is along the same lines as the muslim registry.
Trump didn’t bring it up, the reporter did.
Personally, I think Trump will stay in as a Republican, and choose Cruz as a running mate, and win in a landslide. But I see the Independent option as equally promising.
Why? All a third party would accomplish is election of the Democrat -- the Hildebeest.
Third parties are folly.
Laura Meckler has the intellect of a sieve and the honesty of a scorpion.
Trump never said this in the interview and wasn’t even obtuse or oblique in his answer...
All I’ve heard in the last two days is how the secretive GOP bigs are banding together to get rid of Trump.
If they have long knives out for him, why should he play their game?
GOP establishment is horse crap.
No matter who the Republican candidate would be, a third party Trump means hello President Hillary.
Well then, I hope the GOP treats Trump with respect.
Okay, how is Trump expecting the GOPe to treat him unfairly?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.