Trump's New Right-Hand Man Accuses Cruz Campaign of 'Gestapo Tactics'

NBC News ^ | 04/10/2016 | SHAWNA THOMAS and ALI VITALI

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In his first Sunday show interview since taking on an expanded role in Donald Trump's campaign, Paul Manafort was quick to raise questions about the tactics Sen. Ted Cruz' campaign is using to secure delegates.

After being asked whether threatening delegates is fair game in the hunt for the 1237 required to secure the republican nomination, Manafort responded, "It's not my style, and it's not Donald Trump's style … But it is Ted Cruz's style." He then called the Cruz campaign's methods "Gestapo tactics, scorched-earth tactics."

"We're going to be filing several protests because reality is, you know, they are not playing by the rules," Manafort said.

But Manafort, who has advised republican presidential campaigns going back to Pres. Gerald Ford, would not outline the rules he is playing by either. When pressed on whether paying for a delegate's golf membership or trip to the convention was in the realm possibility he answered, "Well, there's the law, and then there's ethics, and then there's getting votes. I'm not going to get into what tactics are used."

[odawg]

That guy worked for Reagan.

“Until he doesn’t anymore”

Isn’t that so profound. Well, since there are so many reversals out there for you to choose from, cite some of the main ones that Trump has reversed, I mean, the ones Trump has mentioned in every speech since last June.

[Larry Lucido]

I hate when people steal delegates.

[Neu Pragmatist]

You Trump bashers and Cruz-bots need to get your lies straight ...the other half of your team is saying that Stone did that ...which is it ?

[USNBandit]

Publishing room numbers is Bolshevik tactics. Let’s keep our hyperbole straight.......

[dynoman]

No. But Cruz actually did that.

Bo Dollars (@Zagowski) tweeted at 4:45 PM on Wed, Apr 06, 2016:
@mitchellvii I’m a delegate in MI for Trump and just got a call from the Cruz campaign from a blocked number trying to convince me to switch
(https://twitter.com/Zagowski/status/717845811246313473?s=09)

Bo Dollars (@Zagowski) tweeted at 4:58 PM on Wed, Apr 06, 2016:
@mwirth525 @mitchellvii asked if I’d be supporting Cruz, I said no my district supported Trump and she said you can support Cruz. I said I
(https://twitter.com/Zagowski/status/717848954214424576?s=09)

Bo Dollars (@Zagowski) tweeted at 4:59 PM on Wed, Apr 06, 2016:
@mwirth525 @mitchellvii had no interest in subverting voters and they went on to say how Cruz is the only one who can yada yada, I hung up
(https://twitter.com/Zagowski/status/717849162503557120?s=09)

[Dark Knight]

He is the guy Trump should have hired at the beginning. He will use the tactics Cruz has been using all along. That is the hilarious thing...Trump will be using the same tactics he has been calling unfair/stealing/immoral. It is what a competent manager should have done on the outset.

DK

[dynoman]

Trump is paying with his own money! Not the elitists money.

Cruz told the Colorado crowd earlier that it’s easy to talk about making America great again — “you can even print that on a baseball cap” — but that the more important question is which candidate understands “the principles and values that made America great in the first place.”

Does that mean getting in bed with and wildly fornicating and fluffing every establishment elitist he can get close to?

Wow he makes me sick. To think I bought his book “A Time For Truth”. I actually believed he was “the only principled candidate in the race”. He proved how stupid I was to believe him. Six months ago no one would have believed Cruz would be where he is right now - in bed with the GOP elite.

I’d like a refund on the book.

[buckalfa]

"Gestapo Tactics is an apt descriptor."

It is a shame the GOPe has not put in one half the effort in stopping Obama as they have in trying to stop Trump.

[DesertRhino]

“After being asked whether threatening delegates is fair game in the hunt for the 1237 “

I’ve heard of bribing and rewarding tactic. What is the threatening?

[GilGil]

Here I the full interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw4P6W8ddiA

[Jane Long]

LOL...cRuz surrogate Beck calls Trump supporters Brown shirts....

.....Trump’s new guy comes out punching - calling out the underhanded methods cRuz is using to grab delegates....since he can’t get the actual votes.

Bwahahaha.

[Jane Long]

I see you’ve been corrected, by several, on your fib.

Good.

[xp38]

Scorched earth was what the Soviets did as they retreated against the Nazi war machine. Now I’m confused which totalitarian we are comparing. :)

[DesertRhino]

“It is a shame the GOPe....”

I’m almost ready to stop using that term. It’s pretty clear that the GOP is exactly what we call the GOPe.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Says those with New York values.

[lodi90]

I figured, when I heard him use the term “Gestapo tactics,” that this would be the soundbite of choice for many follow-on news reports.

---

Yeah, you can take it to the bank that Cruz will take this and go off an a hysterical rant about Trump tomorrow. It’s pretty much all he does these days.

[dynoman]

Scorched earth is saying you will not vote for Cruz or Trump if your choice is not the nominee.

It might be even supporting Cruz if you consider what Jim said here;

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3418598/posts?page=62#62

[buckalfa]

Good point. I do not know if the nation could survive eight more years of Democrat rule, but the risk might be worth it if the GOP in fact dies in 2016 and a Conservative party rises.

[jjotto]

Stone. In an interview with Stefan Molyneux on Freedomain Radio. It’s on youtube.

[dynoman]

See 25, Cruz actually did it.