Trump: Actually, I May Break My Pledge Not To Go Third Party

Townhall.com ^ | November 23, 2015 | Guy Benson

[Kaslin]

Hey, remember this?

The Pledge #MakeAmericaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/5OVWdxgLn9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2015

After routinely flirting with a third-party run, Donald Trump signed an unambiguously-worded pledge in early September, vowing ;forego a third-party presidential bid if he fails to secure the Republican presidential nomination. Having committed his word,Trump averred that he had "no intention" of reconsidering the promise: "I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge," he said, calling the pledge "total." Now he's mad about some opponents and outside groups announcing plans to attack him, so the thin-skinned and erratic Republican frontrunner is once again changing his tune. Surprise:

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump would not rule out making a run for president as an independent despite signing a pledge over the summer saying he would support the eventual GOP nominee instead of running a third-party bid. "I'm going to have to see what happens. I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly," Trump said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" when asked about a new guerrilla effort by operatives within the Republican Party to derail Trump's candidacy.

But not to worry, conservatives. He'll be totally reliable on all the issues on which he's completely reversed himself in order to pander to you -- from tax increases, to abortion, to gun control, to government-run healthcare (which he still praises), to immigration rhetoric and policy, etc. His longstanding alignment with the Democratic Party and financial support for Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid shouldn't concern you either. Nor should his ongoing left-wing talking points on "fairness," the Koch brothers, "blame Bush," and expanding the federal bureaucracy. And neither should his abysmally low (34/61) favorability rating among the general electorate, much worse than even his dear friend and benefactor Hillary's terrible numbers. He'll never abandon you in pursuit of his own self-serving interests, or for attention. Incidentally, Trump was given yet another opportunity on Sunday to clear up the "media smear" regarding his allegedly nonexistent support for a national registry of Muslims -- including citizens. He took another pass, declining to answer the question asked of him, keeping things nice and hazy:

Here's the full Trump quote, which seems to be about Syrian refugees, not Muslim citizens. pic.twitter.com/jtnE3Xkk5L Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) November 22, 2015

This is more evidence supporting my suspicion that he's deliberately obfuscating. His supporters who insist this is a made-up media hit job can point to his responses focusing on refugees, while other supporters who like the idea of this unconstitutional scheme won't find a denial in there. And then there's this:

GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump is doubling down on comments that thousands of people in parts of New Jersey with large Arab populations cheered on 9/11. Trump said at a rally on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. that he watched as the World Trade Center "came tumbling down." "And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down," he added. "Thousands of people were cheering." ABC "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos asked Trump on Sunday if he misspoke, noting that "police say that didn't happen and all those rumors have been on the Internet for some time." "It did happen. I saw it, " Trump said. "It was on television. I saw it ... George, it did happen," Trump persisted.

He did not see it, and it was not on television. In fairness to Trump, I distinctly remember hearing rumors about crowds of Muslims in parts of New Jersey openly celebrating on 9/11, but no credible corroborating evidence ever emerged, and local police have strongly refuted the claim. He may have been thinking of this footage showing Palestinians dancing in the streets of Gaza. Conflation is often how false memories form. What's inexcusable, but not surprising, is Trump's reckless, fact-free double-down. But cults of personality will justify and excuse virtually anything. Which helps explain why this vile man still has an approval rating in the low 40's:

Obama: GOP doing the terrorists' work for them; WATCH: https://t.co/bgQyLsQJ2p pic.twitter.com/mMSezkW2UF The Hill (@thehill) November 22, 2015

[sparklite2]

Maybe the RNC won’t fund attacks directly, but stand
mute as the various PACs do it. If their hands look
clean, Trump can’t say they don’t support him. They’ll even dish out funds; they have to. The more I think about
it, the RNC has to go with the nominee. Anything else
is unthinkable.

[teletech]

The GOPe hates Trump because they can’t control him. The rest of the GOP candidates, with the exception of Cruz, sound pre-recorded. Trump connects with pissed-off America and NOTHING the GOPe can do will change that perception.

[timestax]

[Springfield Reformer]

No, Perot was a big factor. I remember. I had relatives who voted for him. They had no political compass. All they knew for certain was they didn’t like any of those low-life career politicians. They just wanted a fresh start. It didn’t matter that mathematically Perot wasn’t going to win. They wanted to have their say and Perot was their way to do it. Tragically short-sighted.

Peace,

SR

[datricker]

Hey Guy I am still voting for Trump.

we see you talking but we know the crowd you are in so now we do not care to listen read to you George Will types.

Very excited to vote for Trump and so are many people I noticed.

[grey_whiskers]

Guy Benson, Hugh Hewitt's butt boy, doesn't like Trump. Gee I'm shocked.

You mean Hugh Hewitt swings both ways?

BTW, that's the problem with the GOPe. Allowing homosexuals and other ideological enemies in under the guise of a "big tent" allows the SJWs to shout down any conservatives from getting the official party apparatus behind them.

And it all operates by lies and smears and innuendo and stabs in the back.

[AmericanExceptionalist]

IMO it's perfectly acceptable for Trump to try to destroy the GOP while running to be its nominee....

That sounds downright nihilistic.

And barbaric...

[Cold Heat]

If Trump goes third party, Hillary, would win.

And yes, she would have plenty of electoral votes.

If Trump really wanted to go third party, he would have done so initially. I think he’s floating that out there to keep the Bush camp in a quandary.

It’s been pointed out by a number of people that the GOP would rather see a demorat win the WH, if it appears like Trump or Cruz, for that matter would win the nomination.

It would be a scorched earth political move, but they are certainly capable of trying to do it.

[JoSixChip]

No, Perot was a big factor. I remember. I had relatives who voted for him. They had no political compass. All they knew for certain was they didn’t like any of those low-life career politicians. They just wanted a fresh start. It didn’t matter that mathematically Perot wasn’t going to win. They wanted to have their say and Perot was their way to do it. Tragically short-sighted.

I think I like your relatives more then I like you. At least they had the guts to act against what they new was wong, and an understanding of what career politicians are. My point is that cruz is no different then bush, who was no differnt then mccain, romney, clinton, hitlery or obomba. They all do what the paymaster wants them to do. It's time for a change, ether git on board or get out of the way. Because it is going to happen with or with out you.

[TexasTransplant]

Planted Lies by MSM

GOPe, GOPE getting desparate... lots of “K” Street money at stake, they need their shills Jeb or Rubio (and they are just as invested in Hillary)

MSM IS DEAD they just don’t know it “The Donald” is killing them, we need to follow through with the coup de grace

Quit watching, write, boycott and be vocal ...
Stupid Black Lives Matter, the 1% rs, Jesse Jackson are all MSM creations, MSM needs to be EXPOSED.

TEXAS

[crosdaddy]

Are you including FOX?

[Lumper20]

What some may not recall is Perot had some 60% plus before he decided to pull back over what he said was/were threats to his family. He was not actively running anymore from what I recall, yet; he still got some 15-18% thereby giving Clinton the win.

[tallyhoe]

Actually if Trump Runs as Third Party Hillary will be the next President!!!!

[TexasTransplant]

Trump is Exposing and Beating the living Dog Crap out of the MSM
GOPe, GOPE, the BLM and 1% crowd are being exposed and crushed

JOIN IN AND STOMP SOME

History is written by the Victors, WIN or Run away and be Silent forever, if you choose to lose RUN! if you don’t want to be stomped on.

I am fed up with Appeasers and Moderates, JOIN or RUN AWAY we have crossed the line.

[free_life]

Let’s see who to support the lying stinking sellout Rhino party or Donald (I’m going to build a wall and deport all the illegals) Trump.....hmmmm that’s a tough one?

[TexasTransplant]

YES

[calisurfer]

In order to take Trump down the media is now painting Trump as a racist. I think he will be bombarded with the racist tag from here on out. Will it take him down...it may, but Trump is a fighter, if anyone can survive or rise above the media BS Trump can. We’ll see.

[maine-iac7]

So why was it with Bill Clinton that Trump had a meeting re his running?

I’ve long suspicioned he’s another “Perot” - who was the shill to allow Bill to get elect4ed - with less than 50% of the vote.

Worked for them once - and the public swallowed it - why not again.

But forgetting all that - who need another person in the WH that goes back on his word the minute he suspicions things have a possibility of not going his way?

[GilGil]

The difference with Perot is that Trump is waging a world class campaign. Perot torpedoed his campaign twice in a ridiculous way.

[ScottinVA]

No.. He won’t. Any idea this wouldn’t set up an easy win for Hillary is folly. If Trump goes 3rd party, she wins in a walk. The libs will vote for her no matter what.