I haven’t read the book, but I heard of how much Priebus and Sean Spicer at the RNC were doing for Trump while they were doing it. That’s why I didn’t really like hearing all the unqualified bad mouthing of Priebus during and after the election. I’m not totally sure that Trump would have gotten elected without them, as he made an agreement very early on in the general campaign that they would be responsible for almost his entire ground game (and he’d raise money for them in return).
Whenever I used to hear leftists mocking Trump for having no ground game, I used to think, “Boy, are they going to be in for a surprise.” And when I heard Republicans complain that the RNC wasn’t behind him because they weren’t spending money on ads for him, I likewise used to shake my head that they didn’t know the details about Trump’s public (but under-publicized) agreement with the RNC. It was Trump who made the decisions about advertising.
Priebus, who was determined to learn from what Obama did to win, spent four years making sure that the Republicans built up a data operation far beyond anything we’ve ever had before, and once Trump was the nominee he devoted much of that operation enthusiastically to trying to get Trump elected. Trump, of course, knew that, and it’s one of the reasons he was the only person Trump called up to the microphone during his victory speech and why he was rewarded with such a powerful job.
Of course, Priebus has some legitimate GOP establishment tarnish, so we do need to keep an eye on him I think, but I don’t doubt his loyalty to Trump.
That’s exactly how Wead describes Priebus’ role in the Trump victory. It really changed my perception of Priebus. He was in the trenches and bucking the entire GOPe establishment at the same time. He’s made of much sterner stuff than I’d ever imagined.
Look, I’m always for giving credit where credit is due, but there is simply too much water under the bridge for me to buy into the idea Priebus is now a stellar Conservative.
What did Priebus do to stop Obama from doing anything at all? Point me to a series of statements or a book or anything that trashing Obama for who he was.
Where did the GOPe idea come from? It came from the GOP leaders in the East (or some refer to it as the Executives) of the party and their antics over the years.
Who are those leaders? In 2016, they were Rince Priebus, Paul Ryan, and Mitch McConnell.
When a candidate last year was winning the Republican Caucuses, at whose direction and control was that taking place? It was the GOPe.
Rience Priebus was elbow deep in that. Otherwise it wouldn’t have been talking place. He controlled the purse strings and the party leaders.
Trump had a massive ground game. His rallies were getting 10-25,000 attendees. He could announce a new rally a couple of days ahead, and fill the venue with thousands still outside.
Who was helping him do that? NOBODY!!!!
All of a sudden Rience is getting credit for the ground game, and even Ted Cruz’ supporters try to state he is also responsible for the Trump win.
N O T . B U Y I N G . A N Y . O F . T H A T !
Hogwash!
Trump, Kelly Ann Conway, and his other workers and supporters did the heavy lifting.
McConnell, Ryan, Priebus..., were not Trump’s biggest supporters, didn’t not win anything for him, and are suspect of being the same old people they always were, right now! Right this very minute.
Trump didn’t back off his original promise with regard to health care on a whim. He was sold a bill of goods, by two insiders or former insiders. He was told a clean repeal would never pass, and he went for it.
I don’t care what you read, but what you just laid out for me is as counter to what Ryan and Priebus had been doing for years. Priebus didn’t all of a sudden get religion on Trump. He’s a closet Lefty. He’ll always be a closet Lefty.
I don’t trust the man any further than I can drop kick him.
I hear folks talking about Ryan’s plan as if it’s solid. I hear folks talking up Priebus. Folks, who were our adversaries within the party, if these two were on our side?
Never standing up to Obama, and almost always standing up against us, there is not chance in hell these two are now solid Conservatives.
B. S.