Trump: If RNC isn’t “fair” to me, I’ll run as an independent;

Hot Air.com ^ | July 23, 2015 | ED MORRISEY

[Kaslin]

After a few days of vacation, I wondered whether the Donald Trump phenomenon would have burnt itself out somewhat, as it did four years ago in a summer fizzle. Instead, Trump’s polling has strengthened nearly to the same level as in the spring of 2011 among Republican primary voters. So why is Trump picking this time to threaten to leave the GOP? The Hill’s exclusive interview with the mogul this morning includes a demand for fairness from the RNC from Trump, with an explicit warning that Trump may consider a third-party run:

“The RNC has not been supportive. They were always supportive when I was a contributor. I was their fair-haired boy,” the business mogul told The Hill in a 40-minute interview from his Manhattan office at Trump Tower on Wednesday. “The RNC has been, I think, very foolish.”

Pressed on whether he would run as a third-party candidate if he fails to clinch the GOP nomination, Trump said that “so many people want me to, if I don’t win.”

“I’ll have to see how I’m being treated by the Republicans,” Trump said. “Absolutely, if they’re not fair, that would be a factor.”

Two aspects of this strike me as strange. First, it seems a tad bit whiny for a multibillionaire who publicly backed Hillary Clinton for VP seven years ago to complain that the RNC may be unfair to him. Isn’t this the same man who claims to be fearless because he’s not beholden to anyone? And what precisely would “unfairness” look like, anyway? No one’s talking about locking Trump out of the debates — at least not yet.

Trump extends the umbrella to other Republicans as well, which seems to suggest that he doesn’t want to face any tough criticism, even as he’s ripping them repeatedly from the campaign trail. That looks a bit thin-skinned, again rather surprising from a man whose selling point is his toughness and bluntness.

Second, this also looks a bit premature. Trump waited a while four years ago to start pressing the third-party run button, which ended up pressuring Republicans to come kiss the ring — most notably Mitt Romney, who took a lot of flak for it in the media due to Trump’s focus on birtherism. Trump’s ascending in the polls among Republican voters now, not descending, so why choose this moment to threaten to make their path to defeating Hillary Clinton more difficult? It’s true that some frustrated GOP voters have sympathy for a party schism, but in the past those impulses have coalesced around figures like Sarah Palin, who had a lifetime of solid conservative credentials — not someone who was backing Democrats until seven years ago, pushing Canadian-style health care reform, and demurring on action regarding late-term abortions.

Finally, one has to wonder just how seriously to take this. The threat’s not entirely an empty one, but it would take more dedication than Trump has shown thus far. His second-quarter fundraising numbers came to less than $2 million, all but $93,000 of it from his own pocket. The Republican and Democratic nominees will get on the ballots in the states because the state parties already have the infrastructure to manage that process. Ross Perot had to spend a ton of money — some his, much of it from donors — to replicate that as an independent, and so far Trump hasn’t put the time or money into the organization necessary to run a campaign within the GOP, let alone outside of the two-party system.

Trump’s most likely pulling the media’s chain and giving it a juicy narrative just for the sake of its juiciness. That’s a pretty good description of the whole Trump 2016 phenomenon, just as it was of the Trump 2012 phenomenon.

Update: Speaking of chain-pulling, here’s what Trump said about this literally the day before this interview while speaking with Dana Loesch (via Matthew Newman):

I spoke with 2016 contender Donald Trump today on my Blaze television program and asked him about sharing Lindsey Graham’s cell phone number with the public, the Planned Parenthood controversy, same sex marriage, what he would do to fix the VA, and whether he intends to run third party — which he flatly denied. Said Trump:

“I will only ever run as a Republican.”

Er … yeah.

[sasportas]

The fact that you are so bent on a third party, and apparently not for Repubs like Ted Cruz, or Walker, proven conservatives, speaks volumes. Like I said, liberaltarians are not conservatives, and have been against the Repubs and for third party all along. No surprise there.

[Yaelle]

We were going to have Hillary anyway. The base is not going to vote GOPe. Period.

[jjsheridan5]

The fact that you are so bent on a third party, and apparently not for Repubs like Ted Cruz, or Walker, proven conservatives, speaks volumes. Like I said, liberaltarians are not conservatives, and have been against the Repubs and for third party all along. No surprise there.

The fact that you posted this shows rather convincingly that you don't read what you respond to. No surprise there.

Nothing I wrote implied that I am "bent on a third party". Rather, I refuse to blindly parrot the Rovian-like conventional wisdom that 3rd party candidacies cannot win, and inevitably lead to a Democratic victory -- since the evidence is exactly the opposite. If you must know, Cruz is my first choice. Walker would probably be my second, at least under ordinary circumstances. But these are not ordinary times, and I, like many conservatives, have come to the conclusion that we need someone with the Patton-like qualities of Trump in order to annihilate the fetid swamp called DC, before conservatism has any chance whatsoever.

You seem to stand for doing the same thing again and again, while pretending that it is doing some kind of good. But it isn't. The Republican primary process is a hopelessly unlevel playing surface, tilted overwhelmingly in favor of the establishment's selected candidate. Even potentially great candidates like Cruz have little chance. The establishment learned very well from their mistakes in letting Reagan slip through the cracks. They won't let it happen again.

Forget all of the arguments about ideology, and the arguments about who takes better positions on the issues, since they simply don't matter. You, as a conservative voter, have two choices: President Hillary!, or President Trump. There is no 3rd choice. Bush would get annihilated in the general. The top-tier conservatives cannot get past Florida, barring a miracle (I would love to be wrong on this, but I think the mechanics of the Republican primary process are designed specifically to prevent a candidate like Cruz, or Walker). Trump, on the other hand, is not only capable of getting past Florida, he is teetering on the edge of being the favorite. And if the Republican party resort to their usual tricks, and force Trump's hand, then Trump has more than a puncher's chance of winning a 3-way with Hillary! and Jeb!

So, your choice: President Hillary!, or President Trump.

[sasportas]

This from someone who wants Cruz to run 2nd fiddle to Trump. This tips your hand, were you a conservative you would be pulling for Cruz all along, not Trump, as number one on a third party ticket. All we have from Trump are a bunch of words, with Cruz we have a proven track record of his conservatism. If you were a true conservative you would be pulling for Cruz...or Walker.

I really wonder what people like you are doing on a conservative site like FR. Pulling for somebody questionable whether he even is conservative. If you were a true conservative you would be pulling for the most conservative option.

With the survival of the nation at stake, it is no time to play third party games, with a conservative as 2nd fiddle. In VP position, which everybody knows is a non-entity.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

the pro amnesty Washington DC loving Republican establishment has been crapping on Ted Cruz too since he has been in the Senate.. the same people are doing it to Trump since he jumped in that’s why Cruz defends him

[jjsheridan5]

This from someone who wants Cruz to run 2nd fiddle to Trump

There you go again. I never stated a desire for Cruz to run as VP. I asked you a question based on that scenario, because I believe it is a distinct possibility. I notice that you never answered the question.

With the survival of the nation at stake, it is no time to play third party games, with a conservative as 2nd fiddle.

With the survival of the nation at stake, it is no time to be unrealistic and naive. A conservative will not win the primary. It cannot happen. So while I want to support Cruz immensely (Walker to a lesser degree), I also recognize that his candidacy is too much of a long shot given the stakes. You are free to play the lottery as you see fit. But don't simultaneously pretend that it is a sound financial decision. Absent Trump, Bush has a 95% chance of winning the nomination. And Hillary has a 95% chance of beating Bush. Those numbers may not be exact, but they aren't off by very much.

By all means, play your games of ignoring political reality, and snappy word-play like "liberaltarian". But, somewhere in the back of your head, you know it is true, that Trump is the only alternative to President Hillary.

[GilGil]

Trump has taken charge of this election. He is now in a position to raise the ante and create some serious damage.

He is basically saying give me what I want or me and millions of Americans will make sure you win nothing. Trump will make it look like the Republican establishment is willfully sabotaging the election. I bet this is what Trump has had to do over his entire career to win in business and he is now raising the ante to see if the Republicans will call his bet and raise even further and higher. This is the only way to flush out the players from the wannabes.

Trump is not just in control now, he is raising the stakes really big. Just when the Republicans thought they had him figured out, he has thrown in a new ingredient where we are talking about trillion dollar stakes.

Trump is now telling the world to decide who is with him and who is against him because the game is suddenly getting very very serious. Trump is all instincts and timing. Wow!

[Texas Songwriter]

Trump did NOT say what the headlines say he said.

[sasportas]

Live, die, sink, or swim, I always pull for the most conservative candidate. If other conservatives would do the same, and not be swayed by Rove-like “political reality,” which seems to be of most consideration to you. we would win the day. I say, pull for the truth, let the chips fall where they may.

Have a good day, Sheridan.

[Kaslin]

The reason why Bush41 lost in 1992 was the “No New Taxes” that he had promised, but was forced by the rats to renege on it. I remember it very well

[Kaslin]

Well instead of jumping to conclusions because some rag says this or that, why don’t we just wait and see what happens.

[Kaslin]

I didn’t think so.

[free_life]

The anti-Trump morons want Jeb or Hilliary to win, they are not conservatives, just Jeb-trolls.

[Kaslin]

I just went to the source that is at the beginning of the article (not HotAir.com) but The Hill and there is a video of two reporters who talk to each other, and one claims to have had an interview with Trump in which he said if the GOP is not nice to him that he will go Third Party. I thought surely there is a transcript of the interview but I am unable to find it. So I wonder

[mtntop3]

Folks would do well to remember, or to learn if they're uninformed or deliberately uninformed, that Ross Perot was a huge supporter of the U. S. military and of bringing the nation's POWS home—and he actively participated in bringing them home.

Contrast this with Trump's blatant denigration of, yes, all American POWs—and in effect all their families and all those who have served or will serve in the U. S. military.

Trump ceased to be an electable candidate at that moment, whether for President or dog catcher, and whether third or whatever party. This factor is being pathologically ignored by all who seek to make reality somehow conform to their wishes and illusions.

[Mr Rogers]

“This is beginning of primary season. Freepers can support any candidate of their choice, but hopefully it is not a liberal republican. You will not find any anti-anybody posts from me. I try to stay positive about candidate of my choice.”

Thank you and I apologize for the tone of my post. I’d vote for Trump if the choice is him or Bush, and I’d vote for almost anyone over the Democrat, regardless of who they nominate...but maybe not if Jeb wins the GOP primary. I can’t stand that SOB. Wish he’d run as Hillary’s vice...

[Texas Songwriter]

I think Trump demurred and said, “I am ahead in the polls. Why would I talk about a third party. He did bitch about the way he was being treated by the RNC.

[samtheman]

The reason why Bush41 lost in 1992 was the “No New Taxes” that he had promised, but was forced by the rats to renege on it. I remember it very well

---

Yup. You are right.

[samtheman]

The reason why Bush41 lost in 1992 was the “No New Taxes” that he had promised, but was forced by the rats to renege on it. I remember it very well

---

The Bush Family is the reigning dynasty of bone-head RINOism.

I know why Reagan chose Bush in 1980, he felt he had to. But what a blunder, in retrospect.

[Zeneta]

For what it’s worth.

Liberals and Islamic terrorist have a history of being able to do something conservatives have utterly failed at.

That is;

Plan ahead.

We see and react to the hear and now, and most of the voices that see their plans being laid are discounted or find their way to sites like this.

Now. What Trump has done is nothing short of genius.

What he is saying to the RNC is “You either get behind me, or I’ll ruin your chances at the Presidency.

And he can do it.

But, when you consider his recent support for Hillary, 2008, I can’t help to think that this is all by design.

I like what Trump has brought to the debate.

I like that he has attacked the media and has raised some real concerns that we conservatives have.

I’m still finding it difficult to trust him.