Trump: Actually, I May Break My Pledge Not To Go Third Party

Townhall.com ^ | November 23, 2015 | Guy Benson

[Kaslin]

Hey, remember this?

The Pledge #MakeAmericaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/5OVWdxgLn9 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2015

After routinely flirting with a third-party run, Donald Trump signed an unambiguously-worded pledge in early September, vowing ;forego a third-party presidential bid if he fails to secure the Republican presidential nomination. Having committed his word,Trump averred that he had "no intention" of reconsidering the promise: "I see no circumstances under which I would tear up that pledge," he said, calling the pledge "total." Now he's mad about some opponents and outside groups announcing plans to attack him, so the thin-skinned and erratic Republican frontrunner is once again changing his tune. Surprise:

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump would not rule out making a run for president as an independent despite signing a pledge over the summer saying he would support the eventual GOP nominee instead of running a third-party bid. "I'm going to have to see what happens. I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly," Trump said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" when asked about a new guerrilla effort by operatives within the Republican Party to derail Trump's candidacy.

But not to worry, conservatives. He'll be totally reliable on all the issues on which he's completely reversed himself in order to pander to you -- from tax increases, to abortion, to gun control, to government-run healthcare (which he still praises), to immigration rhetoric and policy, etc. His longstanding alignment with the Democratic Party and financial support for Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid shouldn't concern you either. Nor should his ongoing left-wing talking points on "fairness," the Koch brothers, "blame Bush," and expanding the federal bureaucracy. And neither should his abysmally low (34/61) favorability rating among the general electorate, much worse than even his dear friend and benefactor Hillary's terrible numbers. He'll never abandon you in pursuit of his own self-serving interests, or for attention. Incidentally, Trump was given yet another opportunity on Sunday to clear up the "media smear" regarding his allegedly nonexistent support for a national registry of Muslims -- including citizens. He took another pass, declining to answer the question asked of him, keeping things nice and hazy:

Here's the full Trump quote, which seems to be about Syrian refugees, not Muslim citizens. pic.twitter.com/jtnE3Xkk5L Jimmy (@JimmyPrinceton) November 22, 2015

This is more evidence supporting my suspicion that he's deliberately obfuscating. His supporters who insist this is a made-up media hit job can point to his responses focusing on refugees, while other supporters who like the idea of this unconstitutional scheme won't find a denial in there. And then there's this:

GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump is doubling down on comments that thousands of people in parts of New Jersey with large Arab populations cheered on 9/11. Trump said at a rally on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. that he watched as the World Trade Center "came tumbling down." "And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down," he added. "Thousands of people were cheering." ABC "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos asked Trump on Sunday if he misspoke, noting that "police say that didn't happen and all those rumors have been on the Internet for some time." "It did happen. I saw it, " Trump said. "It was on television. I saw it ... George, it did happen," Trump persisted.

He did not see it, and it was not on television. In fairness to Trump, I distinctly remember hearing rumors about crowds of Muslims in parts of New Jersey openly celebrating on 9/11, but no credible corroborating evidence ever emerged, and local police have strongly refuted the claim. He may have been thinking of this footage showing Palestinians dancing in the streets of Gaza. Conflation is often how false memories form. What's inexcusable, but not surprising, is Trump's reckless, fact-free double-down. But cults of personality will justify and excuse virtually anything. Which helps explain why this vile man still has an approval rating in the low 40's:

Obama: GOP doing the terrorists' work for them; WATCH: https://t.co/bgQyLsQJ2p pic.twitter.com/mMSezkW2UF The Hill (@thehill) November 22, 2015

[Bobalu]

IMO, the GOPee has decided that the only way to place a RINO like Jeb into the white house is to goad Trump into a 3rd party run.

If Trump runs 3rd party then none of the three candidates will get enough electoral votes to win outright.

The election will go to the house where the selection will be for the RINO even if Trump got the most electoral votes.

Trump needs to continue running for the republican nomination but if they start this war on him he should hit back 10x.

He can both run for the repub nomination and at the same time wage a war against the GOPee. Equate them to the dems.. indeed he should say they represent a single political entity. Dem/GOPee

IMO it’s perfectly acceptable for Trump to try to destroy the GOP while running to be its nominee.... the people will understand what he is doing.

Trump should do NO MORE DEBATES until the general!

He should appear on another network at the same time as the debate and make wisecracks aimed at the GOPee.

[taterjay]

Biden remembers the 1929 Wall Street Crash footage from television.

[odawg]

Muslims celebrated in my hometown during 9/11.

[digger48]

I guess Guy didn’t have the time to do a search and come up with the WaPo article that Trump read tonight in Ohio.

[Caipirabob]

Trump is bound by the deadlines for registration as a presidential candidate to get on the ballot for each state. So anything goes until the deadlines come and go, if they haven’t already passed.

Either way, this year we string GOPe up for good. The Republicans are finished as a RINO party, they have lost their base forever.

[heshtesh]

Well guess i’ll have to find a new second choice,since there is no longer a second choice i guess it’s Cruz or nothing!

[vette6387]

More crap from Townhall! I guess they are part of “Trump Card!” Shamful!

[sparklite2]

” thin-skinned and erratic “

I seem to remember the proviso for signing the pact was that he get fair treatment. Being the subject of RNC or GOP PAC attacks is not fair treatment.

[ladyjane]

The RNC is so desperate I am concerned about Trump’s safety.

[gaijin]

Actually, I will vote for hims with even GREATER relish..!

[Hostage]

In 2010, Independents comprised 24% of the electorate.

In 2014, Independents comprised 42% of the electorate.

That is not an accident.

Trump/Cruz can win whatever path is taken.

[sparklite2]

“If Trump runs 3rd party then none of the three candidates will get enough electoral votes to win outright.”

Nope, the Dems would win the election after each of the other two parties voting base is cut in half.

[Cementjungle]

Good, he doesn’t owe the GOP anything.

[EveningStar]

Muslims celebrated in my hometown during 9/11.

Details, please.

[G Larry]

That’s one way FReepers can get Hillary elected.

[detch]

Shades of ross Perot.

He handed the 1992 election to Bill Clinton.

It’s hard not to imagine he knew it would happen that way.

[Maine Mariner]

If Trump runs as a third party candidate, the Republican comes in third. I would not be confident he could defeat Hillary. Hillary goes into November, 2016 race with 38 to 40% of the vote.

[econjack]

Yet another attempt by a blogger to try and push things around. Read his “article” again. Do you think he’s a “reporter” or someone with an agenda? I know what I think.

[Lurkinanloomin]

You’re not the only one. The Cheap Labor Express will do anything to keep us from electing Trump.