Posted on 02/13/2016 10:23:41 AM PST by NKP_Vet
"Trump bankrolled politicians to steamroll the little guy, a pattern of sleaze stretching back decades. Worse? Trump still supports eminent domain today."
Who knew such a wonky topic would find its way into political attacks in the Republican presidential race? An ad released this week by Ted Cruz's presidential campaign lodged a renewed attack on Donald Trump's support for eminent domain and alleged use of the government's powers for private gain, to bully an elderly woman out of her home.
There are two problematic aspects of this ad: the misleading headlines that accompany the narration and the cherry-picked footage of Trump's answers that misrepresent the context of his statements. We took a look at these two elements, the context of the ad and the actual sources of the quotes and footage the ad used.
The Facts
The case
In 1994, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, a government agency, attempted to seize an elderly widow's home. The agency tried to invoke "eminent domain," which refers to the government's right to acquire private property for public use.
The house was located near the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. The agency wanted to turn the house and two other properties over to the Trump Organization. Trump had planned to landscape the area and build a new parking lot, with a waiting area for limousines.
The woman, Vera Coking, was in her 70s and had lived in her home for 37 years. She refused to give it up. Then, a four-year court battle ensued.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Saw a Bush Ad here saying the same thing about Trump.
I’m in CA, so I have no idea why the Ad played here, but it was on a Cable Network.
They had an Ice Sculpture of Trump falling to pieces while a voiceover was listing the allegations.
Cruz merely wanted to know what it felt like to be at a Trump rally.
Sigh. Just more continuation of Cruz’s descent into the pit of slime.
I used to REALLY like this guy a few months ago, buying into his carefully cultivated image of the brilliant Harvard grad, super debater, hard-core CONSERVATIVE, protector of the little people, stand-up-to-the-evil-forces-of-the-world, Texas good-guy.
But no more. This election has exposed Cruz as just another REALLY nasty, lying politician.
Would I vote for him if he gets the nomination? Yes, sadly, I will; Cruz is still better than McCain or Romney, whom I sadly voted for as well. But I will not be voting with any real enthusiasm, just as was the case with McCain or Romney.
Talk about misleading. Steal should be attempting to purchase at quadruple value.
The government steals widows property all the time for such silly things as non payment of taxes, no one seems to care.
This report came out at about the time the property was sold:
http://6abc.com/news/home-of-ac-resident-who-challenged-trump-sold/184080/
The video at the link has a brief interview with a local resident who claims that Coking was holding out for $4 million for the property, a price Trump wasn’t willing to pay.
If she said that, she was lying. She was defended pro bono by the Institute for Justice.
It’s not “wonky” when they come to you wanting to take your house when you don’t want to sell!
For this being a great big nothing that actually increases Trump’s support, he sure seems upset by the ad. I watched part of his rally last night and he was yelling Eminent Domain over and over just like the kids in the commercial. Wouldn’t it be wiser for him to ignore it? It’s possible many of the people in his Florida audience hadn’t even seen the ad.
Correct. Trump convinced the government agency that the lady's home should be bulldozed and had them take her to court so they could bulldoze her home, using eminent domain.
The lady fought them in court and Trump lost because it was not a proper use of eminent domain.
So the ad is accurate.
She didn’t want the offer so the big guy and state tried to bully the old widow.
It is what it is.
If you are fine with the rich connected taking property from an unwilling American citizen that is on you.
Whether the Compost is biased against Cruz over Trump is irrelevant to this case. I personally believe they hate anyone who is a Republican, period.
Are the facts listed in the Article untrue? If so, tell everyone where the Article is wrong. The Redevelopment Agency is the deciding factor here, not Trump. He was just the guy ponying up the Cash to try and buy the Property.
I’m a Cruz guy and I don’t care for Falsehoods being sold as fact from anyone. Jeb is trying the same tactic saying the poor old Woman was kicked out her Tenement by the Evil Trump guy, a complete LIE.
Federal land is increasingly restricted. As state land it would be open, especially for private development. Private ownership beats government ownership every day but Sunday.
I was involved in NJ with anti-eminent domain concerns. There are public interest law firms who fought on behalf of victims of eminent domain (Long Branch, NJ being a famous example) that worked pro bono. The 80s and 90s were a high time for this kind of stuff. I wonder why she didn’t get them involved. She should have cut her losses early. The only way to fight this, generally, is when it’s entire neighborhoods under assault.
You get a big fat F in reading comprehension.
The ad is not accurate. Sorry, it is not. Cruz is a liar.
The ruling was that the commission was not specific enough about the reason for the taking. By that time things were going south in Atlantic City, and they didn’t refile.
The ad strongly suggests that Trump actually bulldozed the house. If you want to see that as accurate, then no one can help you. At this point all I can say is: Do Not Take the Mark of the Beast on your forehead or right hand!
I think when the state formed the Casino Redevelopment board, finally getting rid of rooming houses was probably high on their list to try to turn Atlantic City around.
I haven't been to AC for about 10 years, but I can tell you that it was better then than it was 40 years ago.
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