Posted on 01/18/2016 4:29:32 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Pointing to the effects of "horrible" super-PACs, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Sunday said America needs to come up with a solution to keep big money out of politics.
"Well, I think you need it, because I think PACs are a horrible thing," Trump said on CNN's "State of the Union" when asked if he would pursue campaign finance reform.
The billionaire businessman, who said he is self-financing his campaign, said the wall separating super-PACs and candidates running for public office is illusory.
"First of all, everyone's dealing with their PAC. You know, it's supposed to be like this secret thing. They're all dealing with it," he said.
Trump pointed to a pair of simultaneous rallies for Republican primary candidate Jeb Bush, one hosted by his campaign and the other by a pro-Bush super-PAC.
"Bush had an event where he had an event for his whatever and an event for his PAC, right? For his campaign. The ballrooms were right next to each other and the events were simultaneous," he said. "You tell me they're not dealing with each other?"
He said candidates become "psychologically" beholden to their big-money donors, which may influence them to disregard the public interest.
"Yes, yes, oh yeah. I mean, look, psychologically yes. That's the way it is," he said when asked if politicians are swayed by their benefactors.
"Somebody gives them money, not anything wrong, just psychologically when they go to that person, they're going to do it," he added. "They owe them. And by the way, they may therefore vote negatively toward the country."
"That's not going to happen with me."
one example doesn’t make the case. And he wasn’t great President because he was wealthy, nor would he ever ever ever support the notion that only the wealthy can serve.
Another central va epic failure.
I love it when a lo fo thinks they're making a great point, only to find out that they've stepped in it. First, rich people in politics is not a problem.....BUT ONLY RICH people in politics is a HUGE problem. Duh. Caught you with your panties down on that one. You didn't even realize you had to pervert the opposite opinion to make your point did you? Of course you didn't.
Second, if rich people in office is not a problem, then certainly rich people involved as non office holders is okay too. Again, you simply painted yourself into a logic corner there and didn't realize it.
For your protection, I'll quit slicing and dicing your post now. I could go on....
“Does he have the slightest notion of what he is saying, or is he just (again) chasing a cheap applause line?”
I think you nailed it.
Why not? Liberals are generally in favor of the First Amendment abridgments of basic rights comprising campaign finance “reform.” And it sure is a great idea for liberal billionaires who want to run for office: it reduces the competition dramatically.
Billionaires for President! Oligarchy forever!
Now, let me get my tongue out of my cheek.
And which way does your boy fly?
First headline that came up when I Googled the LAWYER Cruz.
“As a Lawyer, Ted Cruz Defended Huge Jury Awards. As a Politician, He Opposed Them.”
Go ahead tear apart everyone reading FR all you are doing is pissing everyone off!
I said: Rich people in politics doesn't seem like a problem to me.
You said: First, rich people in politics is not a problem
And then you went on to put a lot of words in my mouth and to say that I was "stepping in it" and "painting myself into a logic corner".
Just to repeat: My ENTIRE post was "Rich people in politics doesn't seem like a problem to me."
Eleven words. There is no logic corner. And I stepped in nothing.
“I really like Kelo but don’t like Citizen’s United. I also accept Obergefell and Roe.
But I’m a conservative, trust me.”
We should flush this one out - it’s an important point. I totally agree with Citizens United - totally. On the other hand it has the unintended consequences of massive PAC donors that own the candidates with a wink and a nod - a separate PAC that isn’t really separate - like Newt and Adelson. You got any answers?
Because they might get audited by the IRS if they allow their names to be public, like what happened to 11 out of 12 large, public Romney donors.
Citizens United was great but it created a new problem - super PAC owned candidates. We going to discuss that or we going to crap on Trump?
Trump wanted us to bail out the banks because he walked with 900 million of their money.....
Smells like TDS to me - what in the world are you talking about? Are you confusing Trump with the Awesome deal Buffet made with the Goldman bailout?
Yes, vote for the conservative.
The true Trump - the solution to our problems? More government regulations.
We need term limits. Trump might be the guy to push for that.
NO, but what you are too infantile to admit is that there is a LOT of common ground between Buffet and Trump’s big statism.
I was making a rhetorical point - and I apologize for not making it simple enough.
no here’s the deal: in context, for you to say you have no problem with rich people in politics - you obviously assumed that there were people who have a problem with that. Otherwise, there’s no reason for you to post that.
Context is good. Learn it. You didn’t post your 11 words in a vacuum. You inserted your 11 words into a context that apparently escaped you.
If campaign spending is limited, that empowers ‘Big Bucks Media’. That simple. Media is always a kind of ‘campaign ad’. Impossible to regulate in any fair way.
[If a Trump strategist is reading this ... I have a much better suggestion which I will post next.]
I have been inclined to support Trump, but on this issue?
I HOPE HE FAILS!
Looking forward to Cruz AND Rubio responding.
Worried about how Jeb might use this.
“Yep, and about 90% of them are so drunk with fan girl crushes they have no idea they’re way out on the left edge.”
Boom, baby. Truth.
I can hear it right now - “Donald’s gonna pay for my gas and my mortgage!”
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