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

[JoSixChip]

Hopefully you will feel differently when Mister Trump announces indy, third party

Oh, I'm on the Trump train. Short of a better option coming along, that will not change. I am no longer a republican, nor am I beholden to the likes of a politician owned by big money.

[fishtank]

If Bush was the third term of Reagan (he wasn’t), then Perot wouldn’t have been an option.

You’re wrong,,, even Rush said Bush would have lost with no Perot.

[Maine Mariner]

I am not as optimistic as you are on those numbers.
The Rats, the Rat media and the GOPe will do all in their power to prevent Trump from getting elected. I hope you are right and I am wrong.

[JoSixChip]

and he's getting ready for the general election, with Ted Cruz as his running mate.

I've got a lot of problems with Cruz's voting record, but I would vote for that ticket. Not that my one vote will matter, but my voice may.

[DoughtyOne]

This (my) post touches on this subject.

The first part gives a few details and has links to information that covers most of the bases.

It describes Trump’s promise, the GOPe’s assurance, and Liz Mair’s new effort to put campaign’s together against trump.

If I were Trump, I’d be thinking third party too.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3364097/posts?page=211#211

[Hostage]

Apples and Ornages. Perot and Trump are not comparable.

Perot took only a portion of blue collar GOP conservatives.

Trump takes much much more from many demographics by a wide margin.

Trump does not split the vote. He takes the vote.

[JoSixChip]

He didn't owe the GOP diddley squat and neither do we.

Amen brother. In fact they owe me.

[Hostage]

The Rats, Media and GOPe have already done plenty and they have had their asses handed to them. Trump’s people know how to play rough and dirty even more than the others.

They will wish they never took him on.

[sitetest]

In that trump is a liberal, he’d probably pull more from the dammocraps, anyway.

[laplata]

Perot had nowhere near the charisma and attraction of Donald Trump.

The two are not comparable.

Your analysis (pitiful) FAILS.

---

No, I am right. I said Perot beat Bush. I am not comparing Trump and Perot at all. Your response is a pitiful one because you are reading something into nothing.

Sorry but you need to read something more closely before you make a pitiful remark.

[calisurfer]

Is it necessary to title the thread using a lie. Trump has never been quoted as saying he would change his mind and run third party. Keep it real.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Given the way he has been treated, he has every right to do it. If we have a good candidate, I hope he doesn’t. If we get a Bush or a Kasich, I hope he does. Even Rubio, I hope he does.

[Hostage]

True but he would have won in 96 or some other scumbag from the rat party.

Perot is not comparable to Trump. Trump will not split the vote, he will take the vote.

[Hostage]

You joined the red herring of Trump splitting the vote as Perot did in 92. You’re not bullshitting anyone.

[DoughtyOne]

When you consider Perot was polling in excess of 30% at one point, it gets real interesting.

Take 5.5% off those other two guys and look at how close it was up until he wigged out.

He was still climbing at that point too.

[hinckley buzzard]

Guy Benson, Hugh Hewitt's butt boy, doesn't like Trump. Gee I'm shocked.

[JoSixChip]

Half of that would have swung the election to Bush.

Truth is, taking Iraq out of the equation, bush did not deserve a single conservative vote.

[heshtesh]

Oh, I’m on the Trump train. Short of a better option coming along, that will not change. I am no longer a republican, nor am I beholden to the likes of a politician owned by big money.

I really like it when i see this kind of logic on display.

I’m sure when Zuckerburg announces his candidacy in the future you’ll be all excited to support him because he’s self funded!!:)

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

They demanded loyalty from Trump but are not giving it back. Frankly I think that is a breach of contract on their part. It was not an actual contract, but it was a breach of the agreement. They can’t have it both ways.

[Hugin]

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

No, that's the lie Bushies tell each other to justify their failure. The polls prove otherwise. When Perot was out of the race Clinton was ahead. When he reentered he took two voters from Clinton for every one from Bush. Clinton's lead shrank. If Perot had stayed out Clinton would have won with a majority rather than a plurality.