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Rank and File Republicans Tell Party Elites: We’re Sticking With Donald Trump
New York Times ^ | MARCH 4, 2016

Posted on 03/05/2016 7:41:31 AM PST by VitacoreVision

From Michigan to Louisiana to California on Friday, rank-and-file Republicans expressed mystification, dismissal and contempt regarding the instructions that their party's most high-profile leaders were urgently handing down to them: Reject and defeat Donald J. Trump.

Their angry reactions, in the 24 hours since Mitt Romney and John McCain urged millions of voters to cooperate in a grand strategy to undermine Mr. Trump's candidacy, have captured the seemingly inexorable force of a movement that still puzzles the Republican elite and now threatens to unravel the party they hold dear.

In interviews, even lifelong Republicans who cast a ballot for Mr. Romney four years ago rebelled against his message and plan. "I personally am disgusted by it -- I think it's disgraceful," said Lola Butler, 71, a retiree from Mandeville, La., who voted for Mr. Romney in 2012. "You're telling me who to vote for and who not to vote for? Please."

"There's nothing short of Trump shooting my daughter in the street and my grandchildren -- there is nothing and nobody that's going to dissuade me from voting for Trump," Ms. Butler said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Alabama; US: Alaska; US: Arizona; US: California; US: Colorado; US: Connecticut; US: Florida; US: Georgia; US: Hawaii; US: Idaho; US: Illinois; US: Kansas; US: Kentucky; US: Louisiana; US: Maine; US: Maryland; US: Massachusetts; US: Michigan; US: Minnesota; US: Mississippi; US: Missouri; US: Nebraska; US: Nevada; US: New Hampshire; US: New Mexico; US: New York; US: North Carolina; US: North Dakota; US: Ohio; US: Oklahoma; US: Oregon; US: Pennsylvania; US: South Carolina; US: South Dakota; US: Texas; US: Utah; US: Vermont; US: Virginia; US: Washington; US: Wisconsin; US: Wyoming
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To: Boomer

The fact that it took an insurgent threat aginst the elite GOP establishment to get Romney fired-up tells you all you need to know about who they see as the enemy.


21 posted on 03/05/2016 7:56:02 AM PST by bigbob ("Victorious warriors win first and then go to war" Sun Tzu.)
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To: ArtDodger

This is do or die. Trump is the only hope at this point.
He is the only person running who can start to undo what has been done to the country in the last 8 years. Trump has been a success in business, now he will be a success in government. This election is extremely important for the future of this country.


22 posted on 03/05/2016 7:56:16 AM PST by FreedBird
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To: irishjuggler
Well, I have a hunch you can rule out "CW". 😊
23 posted on 03/05/2016 7:56:44 AM PST by Tucker39 (Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
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To: John W

You have it backwards.

Trump did not vote for TPA or the Corker bill.


24 posted on 03/05/2016 7:56:47 AM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Know Islam, No peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: John W

Cruz was never the change agent.


25 posted on 03/05/2016 7:57:11 AM PST by Lopeover (2016 Election is about allegiance to the United States)
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To: grania

Romney’s anti-Trump push will have the opposite effect. More like a get out the Trump vote campaign.


26 posted on 03/05/2016 7:57:28 AM PST by RoosterRedux (When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction. - Mark Twain)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Cruz can’t win across the country!

Let’s face it: if he won NH, nobody would talking about Trump today.


27 posted on 03/05/2016 7:57:34 AM PST by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: mtrott

If they were working class dems and independents only he wouldn’t win, I’m very conservative and Trump is The Man.

I say we must burn down the republican party to save it for “We the People” as Sarah said, “Trump is the first wave of the attack”


28 posted on 03/05/2016 7:57:49 AM PST by stockpirate (GOPe wants to defeat it's own voters....UNLEASH THE TRUMPIAN!!!)
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To: DIRTYSECRET
Cruz is the best since Reagan.

Please!!! The best Canadian Presidential candidate for sure.

29 posted on 03/05/2016 7:59:06 AM PST by Stentor (Oh Teddy Cruz, Canadian that you be. O Teddy Cruz, we stand on guard for thee.)
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To: VitacoreVision

We see McCain and Romney’s track record. They love to preach to everyone, but they do little to change things. It is a lot of hot air. They should stop it; the voters will sort this mess out. The media should not pick another President. The establishment should not pick another President.


30 posted on 03/05/2016 7:59:18 AM PST by FreedBird
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To: VitacoreVision

Heading makes it seem like all rank and file republicans. Should have said rank and file Trump supporting republicans.

Rank and file. “I’m a leader. I’ve always been a leader. I’ve never had any problem leading people. If I say do it, they’re gonna do it. That’s what leadership is all about.” – Donald J. Trump

Bwahahahaha.


31 posted on 03/05/2016 7:59:51 AM PST by huldah1776 ( Vote Pro-life! Allow God to bless America before He avenges the death of the innocent.)
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To: VitacoreVision

It’s really not that complicated. For decades, the GOP rank & file have been screaming: “Fix This!!”. In response, the Party elites and elected officials have (for the most part) responded with platitudes and excuses for inaction. The people who are nominated often seem to be extremely poor candidates who lack the backbone to fight (Dole, McCain, and Romney).

The people are both sick of it and (by now) wise to it. Which is why a shiny, prepackaged candidate like Rubio is going nowhere. Or why an “experienced, adult-in-the-room” like Kasich gets ignored. People want a Bull-in -the-China-Shop to break the Party down and rebuild it into something that is actually RESPONSIVE to their concerns.

For better or worse, Trump is that person and his rise is the result of decades of GOP complacency toward its base.


32 posted on 03/05/2016 8:03:54 AM PST by rbg81 (Truth is stranger than fiction)
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To: goldstategop

You are right about NH. Cruz is much too conservative. America is a liberal nation. In fact, it has the reputation of being the great satan, projects itself as being immoral, sells immorality and abominations, so why expect anything else?

Those satanic footholds of the past have lead to the cliff into the bottomless pit where the leader of lies will soon emerge.


33 posted on 03/05/2016 8:04:40 AM PST by huldah1776 ( Vote Pro-life! Allow God to bless America before He avenges the death of the innocent.)
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To: VitacoreVision

After winning nomination, Trump ought to thank Romney and McCain. While he could have won it eventually anyway, the two have hastened the decision.


34 posted on 03/05/2016 8:05:36 AM PST by nightlight7
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To: VitacoreVision

It’s almost a certainty that ROMNEY is playing the “beard” for Paul Ryan, who is the cutsey kid from Leave It to Beaver, but is Open Borders and North American Union all the way.

Beware of Paul Ryan. One of the Three Young Guns, Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy and Paul Ryan.

Two down and Ryan “to go”.


35 posted on 03/05/2016 8:06:39 AM PST by RitaOK ( VIVA CRISTO REY / Public education is the farm team for more Marxists coming)
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To: Boomer; onyx
If only Mittens had a backbone when he ran for Prez...Myth did exactly what his lord and master of the GOPe open border thugs ordered him to.

However, Dr. Trump may help some with the lack of a backbone.


36 posted on 03/05/2016 8:08:14 AM PST by Grampa Dave (, Voting to elect Trump as president is the only known cure for chronic TDS!)
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To: VitacoreVision

All hail President Clinton.


37 posted on 03/05/2016 8:08:28 AM PST by 22202NOVA (Tagline Removed By Popular Demand)
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To: John W
My fear is Donald popped in to protect the status quo from Cruz.

Without Trump it would be Jeb, Rubio or Kasich heading for the nomination. Cruz was never going to overcome his Huckabee problem: Only appealing to a narrow evangelical base.

38 posted on 03/05/2016 8:10:02 AM PST by MaxFlint
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To: ifinnegan

If you were them, wouldn’t you be loving it? Remember the debate rule? When your opponent is self-destructing, stay out of the way.


39 posted on 03/05/2016 8:10:54 AM PST by 22202NOVA (Tagline Removed By Popular Demand)
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To: 20yearsofinternet

The peasants are revolting.


40 posted on 03/05/2016 8:11:16 AM PST by gasport (Live and Let Live)
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