Posted on 11/15/2015 4:13:36 PM PST by SamAdams76
There was some discussion on another thread regarding the fact that Donald Trump should not be trusted as our Republican nominee due to the fact that he donated a substantial amount of money to Democrats over the years.
This is a valid concern, especially as it is becoming more likely that Trump will be the nominee. And as a Donald Trump supporter, it concerns me as well. So I thought I'd put the facts out there and throw this open to discussion.
Trump himself has been asked about this and his responses can be distilled as follows: In his line of work, which in large part entails building and acquiring properties in New York City, which is mostly controlled by Democrats, it was necessary for Trump to donate to both parties, especially to Democrats, in order to get business done. Further, Trump goes on to say that this is why he is self-financing his own campaign, as he does not want to be beholden to campaign contributors as they have been beholden to him over the years. This is something that Trump hopes to change should he get into office.
Many here will probably not buy that and they will state that Donald Trump should not be our nominee because he cannot be trusted, having supported Democrats in the past. Others here will state that the past is the past, that Ronald Reagan himself was once a Democrat and that this did not stop him from being one of the greatest conservative presidents in our history.
So can Trump be trusted as Reagan was?
To use football parlance, I decided to go to the tape. Below is a chart showing Donald Trump's political contributions each year since 1989. Up until 2010, it appears that Trump gave more or less equally to both parties and in some years, clearly gave more to the Democrats. However since 2010, not only has Trump only given to Republicans but his donations have greatly accelerated.
During the 2011-2014 period, Trump donated nearly $500,000 to Republicans while giving zero to Democrats. This appears to be more donations that the total Trump gave during the 1989-2010 period (21 years).
Now granted, that might not sit will with some folks here either as folks like Mitt Romney and John Boehner representee Republicans during that time.
This all said, we must consider the future of the Republican party and conservatives in general. Are we looking to win the hearts and minds of those who once voted for or donated to Democrats? Or we willing to forgive those who may have supported GOPe in the past such as Romney or McCain? Or do we need to turn our backs on them because they are not pure and cannot be trusted? If we take the latter course, the conservatives may be doomed to minority status, I fear.
Speaking for myself as a Trump supporter, I concede that Ted Cruz is the superior conservative in this race. But I'm not convinced that Cruz can win the nomination and then the general. I would love to be proven wrong on that and I would happily support Cruz should he get the nomination. But as of right now, I believe Trump is the best chance we have to keep a GOPe lightweight like Jebbie Bush or Marco Rubio from getting the nomination and then winning decisively next November against the Democrat.
Below is the graph of Trump donations to both Democrats and Republicans since 1989. I'm looking at recent history and giving Trump the benefit of the doubt. But I'm interested in the opinions of others.
Welcome to the reality that is America under the Chicago machine. In many Rat areas, that is LITERALLY the only way to get anything done - there is no choice.
Acceptable losses. there comes a time when you have to say ‘We tries. They chose liberal governance” and walk away. Because by staying ‘GOP” we give the GOP our headcount/numbers to leverage. If we give them any power, they will use it against us. Rinse Peabrain is not America’s or our friend.
No games. Just destroy them. People like those you speak of will either fall in line, good...or actively fight on the side of liberalism, bad.
Either way we win.
Hey you just described the majority of us around here with that time line.
One of the main reasons I like Trump is that he is TOUGH. He is not PC! And he will be tough like the generals he loves so well. The world needs his toughness and non-pc talk.
I am a people person; worked with disadvantaged and am in tune to people’s cues. Trump is sincere. I see a man who does love and care for people. He just has a knack and a desire for making deals. I don’t, but I sure can see that we need his talent right now, in this time of history.
He offends me at times ie attacking “enemies”. But that is what u do in war; that is what u do in making deals. You have to be tough.
I like Cruz too; but I think Trump is best for our country right now.
By the way, nobody seems to mind supporting candidates who are clearly being bribed by the donors. Look at Ben Carson, Cruz's and all the rest of the GOP's donors, and then people wonder why Cruz thought the last straw for fast track was McConnel and the Ex-IM bank, but not that Fast Track was giving Obama power to negotiate a deal without Congress and to pass a treaty-- which every corporation wants-- with a simple up-down vote. Cruz even voted against an amendment that would have made fast track better; it would have given Congress veto power over any attempt by China to join TPP. Even according to the advocates of TPP in the first place, TPP is supposed to be a way to counteract China!
So Trump gets hit for controlling politicians, but nobody seems upset that their candidate is controlled by the Cheap Labor Cabal or the Globalists.
Trump gave to the people in power because they were for sale. It’s what businessmen do...
How many times does Trump have to explain this?
I trust the person giving the bribes before I trust those taking them, which is every politician.
The closer I look at trump, the more I like president Cruz!
Here is an article covering Trump and his families donations.
I didn’t look at all the numbers posted above compared to this article.
The above numbers are probably correct.
But I don’t think you included these donations...
supposedly Trump has in the recent past has given $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation and in 2010 gave $50,000 to Bill Clinton and Rahm Emmanuel for Emmauel’s mayoral election in Chicago.
Trump truly love this country that’s I need to know
I sometimes wonder if people even listen to him. He admitted it in almost every speech.
I don’t care. He did those as a smart, apolitical businessman. That was then, this is now.
Rich people often contribute to both parties. Looks like he saw the problem with Obama. That gives him even more credibilty as one who will turn this country around and keep it safe.
Keep in mind that in his early years, he was doing lots of development in NYC and Atlantic City, places where you have to kiss the rings of the Democrat establishment if you want to get your permits, waivers, and other paperwork to happen.
$100,000 to Clinton Founfation
$50,000 to Bill Clinton and Rahm Emmauel’s mayoral election in 2010.
This is great news... It means he’ll get plenty of votes from the left and democrats...even though not one from people like yourself...
Thank you for posting... I like the guy even more now...
Actually I’m supporting him.
The GOPe is hoping, but not praying, that Cruz is not the candidate because he knows how to beat them. He won his senate seat in Texas against all odds. The GOPe was not happy. But we sure are happy!
He also won 9 cases before the Supreme court where he convinced at least two liberal justices that his argument was sound. That is not an easy thing to accomplish.
So, I would be inclined to think that his chances are about as good as Ronald Reagan in 1980.
The more I look at Cruz the more I’m grateful I support Trump 100%....
But this is still a half a** backwards way of looking at things.
How much has Hillary received from the Wall Street folks?
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