Posted on 04/23/2016 5:20:04 AM PDT by Kaslin
Despite his big win in New York on Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has had a pretty bad week. But will it matter? It should -- and just might.
During an NBC "Today" show town hall Thursday, the host read a question from Twitter concerning Trump's views on LGBT issues and how he plans to be inclusive as president. "Speak about North Carolina bathroom law in particular."
Trump responded: "I had a feeling that question was going to come up, I will tell you. Well, look, North Carolina did something that was very strong, and they're paying a big price, and there's a lot of problems. ... North Carolina, what they're going through, with all of the business that's leaving and all of the strife -- and that's on both sides -- you leave it the way it is. There have been very few complaints the way it is. People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble."
In response to a follow-up question, Trump said he would not support putting new bathrooms in Trump Tower. "I think that would be discriminatory in a certain way."
These politically correct answers from the alleged king of political incorrectness have to be music to the ears of Democrats -- not only those far left enough to agree with Trump's view but all others because they know this will alienate Trump from the tons of Republican voters who recognize such lunacy. Perhaps Trump should have been more forthcoming about his true New York liberal values.
Before you buy into Trump's inevitable walk-back of this disaster, remember how he began his answer: that he had anticipated the question. I'm not sure whether that should be more damning than if his answer had been purely spontaneous, revealing his true feelings apart from political calculation, but it's greatly troubling either way.
Trump says he is concerned about the strife and "the economic punishment (North Carolina is) taking." But it seems he also sees the issue from the perspective of adult men who want to use little girls' bathrooms. Has he even considered this from the perspective of the parents of these girls and all other sane people who don't feel comfortable sharing bathrooms with people of the opposite gender?
Who thinks like this, other than a candidate pandering to new constituencies? Who actually believes that prohibiting grown men from using little girls' bathrooms is discriminatory against the transgender community rather than against the 99 percent of people who have always had the comfort of going to public restrooms without the fear that people of the opposite gender could invade their privacy? Isn't protecting public safety one of government's chief duties?
It will be interesting to see how Trump's infinitely forgiving fans explain this one away or whether they'll even bother to try. I get it; all they think about is unfair trade and "the wall," so maybe they'll explain why Trump wants to tear down public bathroom walls.
Also on Thursday, Trump said he would support raising taxes on the rich, which should concern all economic conservatives who support reducing taxes across the board to stimulate robust economic growth. It should also concern Trump's defenders who believed he was standing by the tax plan posted on his website, which includes a cut to the top rate, from 39.6 percent to 25 percent.
Those convinced that Trump has few ideological moorings and an inclination toward liberal positions are vindicated -- again. No matter what written plans Trump has proposed for use in his campaign, his instincts are to support the liberal position on many issues. And for those who buy that he's made a strong conversion from his previous liberal ways, you should know that there has apparently been no change in Trump's views about taxes since 1991, when he testified as a Democratic expert witness and described Ronald Reagan's tax cuts as "catastrophic."
Those who still believe in the sincerity of Trump's conversion to conservatism should be aware of the other bombshell that exploded this week in Camp Trump, which may be the most troubling of all.
In a private meeting aimed at reassuring concerned GOP leaders about Trump's positions and electability in a general election, Trump's "chief lieutenants" reportedly told them that Trump has been "projecting an image" up to this point in the primary season and "the part that he's been playing is evolving" in a way that will make him more palatable to general election voters. How utterly comforting.
Trump's new campaign guru, Paul Manafort, reportedly told Republican National Committee members that Trump has two personalities -- a private one and another one when he's onstage. "When he's out on the stage, when he's talking about the kinds of things he's talking about on the stump, he's projecting an image that's for that purpose. You'll start to see more depth of the person, the real person. You'll see a real different guy."
So his own campaign chief just comes right out and says Trump has been playing a role -- pretending to be someone he's not? This is just incredible stuff, folks.
For the life of me, I don't understand how Trump's most ardent supporters can feel comfortable relying on his always-shifting promises -- even on immigration. Those who still feel comfortable about his candidacy baffle me.
Yes, Trump won his liberal home state resoundingly, but looking back, this could be one of his worst weeks of the campaign.
Geez. When are these naval pondering analists going to stop plunging into the toilet?
I think the week after the Wisconsin race was worse than this past week. Trump has so far been able to weather the events.
More wishful thinking. The reality is, Trump will win all 5 primaries on Tuesday, and like a boulder rolling down hill, he’ll crush everything in his way after that.
Yeah, Trump is basically socially liberal and he has misled such as with his touchback amnesty plan.
But Cruz worked for the Iran deal, TPA, and amnesty-pleasing Gang of Eight provisions.
Neither is perfect. They are both the best we have, and the safest by far is to see Trump get in on a first ballot, rather than opening it up to a Cruz/GOPe latter ballot fight.
Oh, I also think that Trump is more electable than Cruz at this point, because he’ll put more states into play and, yes, his social “moderation” will turn off fewer of the swing and female voters needed in some purple states.
Yeah, Trump keeps having these “bad weeks” and marches toward the nomination.
I like Dave, and he’s been a big supporter of my books, but he’s so wrong on Trump. No, Trump did not have a “bad week.” The polling indicates he had a very, very good week and it was St. Ted who had a terrible week.
To the contrary, this was the best week of the campaign. Trump has established himself as the presumptive nominee after the much better than expected showing in NY and now he’s headed towards five primaries on Tuesday where he has double digit leads. His main challenger was in third place in NY and fading fast.
Maybe David Limbaugh should start engaging in honest journalism.
Nonsense sells, I guess.
Actually, we all thought Wisconsin was a bad week-—but it turns out it wasn’t. Trump has gained steadily in every major poll after Wisconsin. Cruz has fallen in every poll. The news of Colorado coming after Wisconsin overshadowed everything.
I think now that was a major turning point in the campaign. Ted could have come out and said “I agree with Donald that the outcome in Colorado was not optimal, and I have faith that a real election process would produce the same result. So, along with Donald, I call on the Colorado GOP to provide some means of allowing Coloradans to vote prior to the convention and the will of the voters be done.”
Now, would this happen? OF COURSE NOT. But it would have allowed St. Ted to get on the right side of the issue, without any real loss of delegates.
But nooooo. St. Ted had to greedily cling to his meaningless delegates and lose the issue.
My thoughts (as a Trump supporter):
Abortion for rape: Non-issue. If a woman is raped, she has the Supreme Court right to have an abortion (no different than any other way of conceiving). This issue certainly tells people where a person’s heart is, but it still will never have a policy impact.
Increased taxes on the rich: Depends on one’s definition of rich. Trump, at least in the past, was talking about taxing his multi-millionaire hedge-fund neighbors that are using carried interest to scam the system. While many here oppose increasing taxes on anyone, for any reason (even to make roads driveable), I personally have NO SYMPATHY for this bunch, as they gave us the 2008 crash and NOT ONE OF THEM has been held accountable. Now if Trump is moving down the pay scale with higher taxes, then I’ll start paying attention.
Bathroom Law: He blew it. But even so, if this election is handed to Hillary because of Trump’s position on the bathroom law, then we deserve the country that we get.
The TDS is strong with this guy. Cruz is cratering in all the polls (the last poll that had Cruz ahead anywhere was April 4 in WI) and is set to lose all the upcoming primaries. Even LIVs are coming to realize that a vote for Cruz is a vote for a contested convention, which the vast majority don’t want.
Trump says something stupid in response to a gotcha question, walks it back a few hours later with the correct answer, which also, incidentally, his opponent’s exact position, and that’s a bad week?
Cruz would kill for Trump’s “bad” week.
If this was a bad week for Trump, I’d hate to see St. Cruz after he had a good week. Total roadkill.
Seriously, the desperation is reaching a fever pitch. Next week should be fun....
Yes, lets elect Cruz because he can do what about the bathroom issue?
I honestly don’t think Trump’s plan is “touchback amnesty.” If I did, I wouldn’t support him. His “great big beautiful door” always has the phrase “legally” attached, and if you look at the process, once you’re out, you can’t come back in if you broke any laws.
Well, guess what? That eliminates all who were here illegally.
I think he knows this. I spent some time with Sen. Sessions two weeks ago. There is no doubt in his mind that Trump does not intend any “touchback amnesty.” Coming in “legally” reassures all those deported who have been fooled by the rhetoric that they are NOT here ILLEGALLY.
OK, now I feel like I’m reading the Onion. You people have nothing to do but worship Lying Ted all day long and post nonsense.
Fortunately, I have a life so I’ll check back on your nonsense later. Just wanted to remind you to take your meds.. You forgot again!!
It depends on what the meaning of "weathering" is, to mis-quote another liberal Democrat. The seeds of doubt are obviously planted, and they have more than six months to sprout before the general election.
I, for one, have no clue how Trump might govern as president. He has spoken many words that cause me concern. These include "45% import tariff", "expedite return of illegals", "raise taxes on the rich", "change platform on abortion", etc. Those words strike fear in the hearts of principled conservatives. Will he govern that way? Or, even worse, will his opponent use those words against him in the campaign, causing him to lose?
Dear David: I’m happy to read that you and Ted remain fixated on toilets. It’s one of many reasons for the Cruz Collapse.
There is a solution for your overwrought and ridiculously self important tale of woe.
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