Trump Doesn’t Represent the Conservative Base

National Review ^ | December 11, 2015 | Jonah Goldberg

[SeaHawkFan]

He represents the conservative base better than anyone not named Ted Cruz.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. after the actions I saw on Bret Baier’s TV program yesterday, what Jonah is saying is going along with the same pattern.

That’s what’s making me suspicious.

[jmaroneps37]

Shut up you snot nosed little jerk. You don’t represent me.

[Jim Robinson]

I’m part of the conservative base. And I’m loving everything he’s said so far. Too bad other candidates aren’t proposing similar ideas.

[moehoward]

Jonah is a nice guy, he’s a smart nerdy type, he’s friendly on Twitter too. Stopped following him when his Trump Derangement surfaced.

[EternalVigilance]

I’m certainly no fan of this writer, or his publication, but nonetheless, it’s quite a spectacle watching the rank and file of the Republican Party jump out of the unprincipled GOP establishment frying pan into the unprincipled Donald Trump fire.

[roamer_1]

According to polls, Trump draws heavily from more secular Republicans who are more likely to describe themselves as 'liberal' or 'moderate' than 'conservative' or 'very conservative.' Ted Cruz draws more exclusively from the traditional base. And I would argue that his 'very conservative' followers aren't supporting Trump because he's a conservative but because he's a walking, talking thumb in the eyes of 'elites' in the media and both parties.

I think this is precisely right - Which is why the 'Trump/Cruz 2016' isn't going to work, not any better than McCain/Palin did.

If Cruz exits, I don't think Trump will inherit his voters... 'Trump/Cruz' will lose for that exact reason. However, if Trump exits, I think Cruz would inherit the lion's share - And for the first time since Reagan, there would actually be a Conservative in the White House.

Trump is a stalking horse to take the air away from Conservatives - It's what happens every time. If you want to find the Conservative, look at who the media ignores. Too bad so many are so blinded by them... But that's what propaganda does.

[woofie]

Yea I heard Dr Krauthamer on Special Report when he talked about the Ham/ Bacon sandwich test ....I want a Trump adherent say what is he going to do when an obvious Muslim tells us he is Episcopalian?

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Wrong as usual. I get so tired of this crap.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

There goes Jonah pissing and moaning again. The peasants are revolting!

[Future Snake Eater]

Exactly. Even if Trump is a disaster, at least we have the added bonus of burning down the GOPe’s house.

[Hawthorn]

>> what if Trumps negatives are so high that Hillary wins and we have a left-wing Supreme Court for life <<

A room of 12 year olds throwing spitballs couldn’t care less.

(See post no. 33.)

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Romney would have been President now if he had not been a mormon. Some Christians simply could not pull the handle for a mormon even though they hated the moslem usurper.

[BlackElk]

Romney MIGHT have been POTUS now if he had not been the unprincipled greedypig leftist that is and always has been and always will be Willard Mitt Romney, Obozo's brother by another mother.

There was absolutely no point in electing a pro-abort, gun grabbing, leftist judge appointing, evirowhacko, spoiled child of privilege POS shit, etc., etc., etc., like Romney and his Mormonism is entirely irrelevant.

As a Catholic, I disagree with the remarkable beliefs of Mormons but I also disagree with many beliefs of Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists, Congregationalists, Unitarians, and adherents of any faith not my own. That does not stop me from voting for candidates of other religions. In fact, I have gladly done so all my life so long as they were genuinely conservative. Isn't that the standard?

[woofie]

there is indeed nothing left to lose.

You will notice it when its gone

[Dutch Boy]

Has Trump ever claimed he was conservative? I don’t remember ever hearing that from Trump himself.

[x]

He does have a point. Much of Trump's support is moderate, maybe even liberal (for Republicans), and so is his background.

But non-Evangelical conservatives have often been more willing to support a less conservative candidate, rather than the choice of religious conservatives.

Even Jonah's done that sometimes. Evangelicals and other religious conservatives may return the favor.

Any candidate too closely associated with one kind of conservatism (religious, economic, national security) loses some conservative votes to a more moderate candidate who's less tied to one particular faction.

If you're a Cruz fan, you may think that Cruz is conservative in all ways and therefore should be the favorite of all conservatives. But not all conservatives feel that way (which is why some of them aren't voting for Cruz).

Regional concerns also play a role. Trump has a nation-wide appeal (at least among Republicans). Other candidates are less popular outside their own regions.

[BobL]

“Trump Doesn’t Represent the Conservative Base”

EXACTLY. That’s why he needs Cruz on the ticket. Good call here.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Jonah Goldberg??? Isn’t he the fat guy from the movie “Moneyball”? /s