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

[SE Mom]

If Trump runs as an independent, Hillary will win the presidency.

I don’t know if he’s just dropping a little threat, or if he’s serious. We’ll see.

[UCANSEE2]

IIRC, he said he would stick with the Republican Party as long as it stuck with him (treated him the same as the other candidates).

I have read that the other Republican candidates and the media have plans to “take him out” at the next debate.

Like Iran , like the Democrat Party, the Republicans are planning on violating the terms of the agreement.

[WENDLE]

We will write him in by the tens of millions!! The gope shall not steal this nomination or elections — WE HATE THEM!!

[Lumper20]

Agree.

[UnChained]

If Trump goes 3rd party then he will guaranty Hillary the White house. There was once another billionaire whose main role in history was making Hillary’s husband president.

As I recall it, Bill Clinton wouldn’t have been elected without Perot’s 3rd party run.

[detch]

Perhaps you are too young to remember, or have a lapse in memory.

Clinton 43.0%
Bush 37.5%
Perot 18.9%

I don’t think one Perot vote would have Ever gone to Clinton.

[JoSixChip]

Trump is a Dem, posing to the right of us conservatives in order to do the 2016 equivalent of Ross Perot.

Go back to you mom's basement and disconnect the internet. You are a pawn of the GOPE.

[null and void]

It would be appropriate to wait until the people elect him as the GOP party nominee, then dump the GOPe!

[UCANSEE2]

I find it hard to believe Trump is not aware the same would happen again.

Would it? This is a different time than 1992.

Hard to believe it would not happen (and Trump would still be elected) ????

Sure, but who believed a black unknown community organizer(commie front man) with a middle name of HUSSEIN could be elected as President ??????

[ripnbang]

Thinned Skinned? My God, after Trump agreed to sign the pledge, now some loser (Kasich) is going to take one for the GOPe team and partner up w/ two more losers’ campaigns (Bush and Rubio) to pile on and try to take out the front runner when together the three candidates don’t equal half of Trump’s numbers in the polls? They all suck so bad, who the hell will vote for them? I don’t blame Trump one bit, however I’d rather see him beat them at their own game and double down and declare war on them and the Dems. He will prevail and will have single handily change the future of the GOP.

[laplata]

That’s one way FReepers can get Hillary elected.

---

Sorry, there aren’t that many FReepers.

[MNDude]

http://m.townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson

Here is a link to the other articles that Guy Benson has written. it looks like he has article after article talking about how Trump is about to fade in the polls....What a dork.

[JoSixChip]

As I recall it, Bill Clinton wouldn't have been elected without Perot's 3rd party run.

That is because you believe what ever the msm tells you to believe. Bush is why clinton was elected POTUS.

[ifinnegan]

“That’s mindless BS! Bush is why clinton was elected.”

Naw. It was because of Perot that we got Clinton.

But I don’t think anything about a Trump is analogous or comparable to Perot.

[sparklite2]

Reporter? Probably not.

Guy Benson is Townhall.com’s Political Editor. Follow him on Twitter @guypbenson. He is co-authors with Mary Katharine Ham for their new book End of Discussion: How the Left’s Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters, and Makes America Less Free (and Fun).

[Lumper20]

You obviously are anti Trump. This author is queer,

[SunkenCiv]

When that ridiculous demand was made from, hmm, Virginia I think, and one other state, Trump's response should have been, "you first". Now there's the self-described Republican John Kasich's Super PAC raising money to attack Trump, and the GOProud-associated Liz Mair's new PAC which is being organized to keep Republicans from voting at all.

[JoSixChip]

Perhaps you are too young to remember, or have a lapse in memory.

perhaps you are too senile to remember "Read my lips".

[heshtesh]

If Trump goes 3rd party then he will guaranty Hillary the White house. There was once another billionaire whose main role in history was making Hillary’s husband president.

As I recall it, Bill Clinton wouldn’t have been elected without Perot’s 3rd party run.

You remember correctly!

Those who don’t remember are nothing more than willfully ignorant!!

[DesertRhino]

If the GOP itself is putting their thumb on the scales and trying to knock him out, he SHOULD run third party. They are going too far, starting with their initial attempt to prevent him from being in the debates.