Donald Trump’s transparent, misguided questioning of Ted Cruz’s religion

Washington Post ^ | January 2, 2016 | Janell Ross

[Isara]

...

This is precisely what Donald Trump, national GOP front-runner but second place in Iowa, told an Iowa crowd this week while stumping for votes.

Just remember this -- you gotta remember, in all fairness, to the best of my knowledge, not too many evangelicals come out of Cuba, okay? Just remember that ... just remember.

...We will not dedicate time, space or energy to parsing those words in ways that might offer some alternative meaning than the one most evident and likely, which would be this: Donald Trump thought it would advance his political aims if voters in Iowa were reminded that Ted Cruz is a Cuban (technically half-Cuban) and/or cast doubt on whether Cruz is a true evangelical.

This comes from the the ever-useful section of campaign play books that say tell voters why your competition is "not like us."

...

First, Donald Trump's knowledge of the Cuban religious diaspora is, apparently, limited and outdated.

In Cuba right now, Protestant and Protestant Evangelical churches are experiencing rapid membership growth. In the United States, Latino-Americans with ancestral and direct links to many different Latin American countries, including Cuba, are driving some of the only growth in many Protestant denominations. Latino evangelicals represent the fastest-growing religious group in the United States. Some are Cuban-American evangelicals.

To be clear, the majority of American Latinos are Catholic. But the share who are Catholic slid from 67 percent in 2006 to 59 percent in 2013....

...

Finally, Ted Cruz is a self-identified evangelical and the son of an evangelical -- and many would say extremely conservative -- Cuban-American pastor. We have no more reason or authority to doubt that than Donald Trump's declarations that he is a life-long practicing Christian, even if he cannot name a Bible verse. That is between Trump and his God.

...

[CatherineofAragon]

One of them used a Scripture verse to make a dirty joke:

152

[Wilhelm Tell]

Exactly. Trump knows most Evangelicals distance themselves from just about anything remotely Catholic. That branch of Protestantism has its origins with people who wanted to purge Christianity of as many Roman Catholic practices as possible. So Trump is saying, “Cruze might not really be one of us - most of those people [Cubans] are Roman Catholic. How can you be sure Cruze isn’t a closet Catholic?” So Trump is paintting Cruz as a foreigner, in a sense.

I think Trump underestimates Evangelicals. I think most of them would happily accept a conservative Catholic president. And Cruze is about as Catholic as the Baptist church downtown, anyway. But Trump thought he could score points by making a jab at Catholics and insinuating that Cruze is really one of “those people.” I think someone who is really thinking long-term would not be dividing Protestants and Catholics like that.

[onedoug]

...equivalates?...

Even Presbyterians say "Our Father...."

[SC_Pete]

The Washington Post defending Cruz against Trump. Says it all.

[Lisbon1940]

To the Best of My Knowledge is a show on NPR. In All Fairness is not.

[Wilhelm Tell]

The darn spell checker keeps replacing Cruz with Cruze and I didn’t notice.

[Iscool]

All the “good works” in the world does not save a man. And if Trump can’t see that, well too bad for him.

Could be God's not done with Trump yet...

One thing we know is that Trump has a real burden for the Christians who are being slaughtered in the Mid-East...Something the other Candidates don't seem to be concerned with...And it appears no one will be stronger than Trump in supporting Israel...

Perhaps God is working on him right before our eyes...

[Lopeover]

Written by a friend on FB:

We the people would like to finish 2015 by letting the World know that Donald J. Trump had nothing to do with any of this.
Trump did not steal your money.
Trump did not raise your taxes.
Trump did not quadruple the price of food.
Trump is not stirring a race war.
Trump did not leave any US soldiers in Benghazi to be slaughtered and desecrated by Muslims.
Trump did not send the US Navy to fight for Syrian Al-Qaeda.
Trump did not arm ISIS and systematically exterminate Christians throughout the Middle East.
Trump did not betray Israel.
Trump did not provide financing and technology to Irans nuclear weapons program.
Trump did not give our military secrets to China.
Trump did not remove our nuclear missile shield in Poland at the behest of Russia.
Trump did not shrivel our military, and betray our veterans.
Trump did not cripple our economy.
Trump did not increase our debt to 20 trillion dollars.
Trump did not ruin our credit, twice.
Trump did not double African American unemployment.
Trump did not increase welfare to a record level for eight years.
Trump did not sign a law making it legal to execute, and imprison Americans.
Trump did not set free all of terrorists in Guantanamo bay

Dave F.

[ripnbang]

We’re not electing Kasich....I hope. Good...maybe Sander’s supporters will switch to Trump. He’s getting all other demographics’ support. The more the merrier.

[Iscool]

Trump thinks “going through the motions” equivalates to being a Protestant. It does not. If he understood the Gospel, he would be asking for forgiveness everyday like all believers in Christ do.

So what??? Trump doesn't have to be a Christian for God to use him...Ask God to give you the opportunity to tell Trump the truth...

[Isara]

Trump supported TARP, auto bailout and Porkulus bill, i.e., Trump is for big government and big businesses.

And, of course, he is for Renewable Fuel Standard (ethanol mandate), so governement can pick winners and losers.

Trump's Record on Free-market Issue: (from the Conservative Review)

Trump has a terrible record on free market issues. The only bright spot is the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing, but this glimmer is countermanded by his repeated support for bailing out Wall Street and the auto industry, and increased stimulus spending. Of particular concern is Trump's belief that the government can use eminent domain powers to seize private property in the name of private economic development. This comes as no surprise, given his support for using eminent domain to profit his own company.

Trump supported the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of London, allowing public authorities to seize private land for economic development by private investors; Trump said, “I happen to agree with [the decision] 100 percent.” (National Review)  This is no surprise given Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain in his own line of work. (Institute for Justice)

Trump supported President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, saying: “The word stimulus is probably not used in its fullest…you know, certain of the things that were given weren't really stimulus. They were pork, as we call it, or they were gifts to certain people. But overall, I think he's [President Obama] doing very well. You do need stimulus and you do have to keep the banks alive.” (CNN) 

Trump supported TARP, saying, "You had to do something to shore up the banks, because ... you would have had a run on every bank." (CNN) 

Trump supported the 2008 auto bailout, saying, “I think the government should stand behind them 100 percent. You cannot lose the auto companies. They’re great. They make wonderful products.” He also said that the federal government could “easily save the companies.” (Daily Caller) 

Trump criticized the Federal Reserve’s intervention in the debt market, saying quantitative easing creates “phony numbers” that mislead the marketplace and “will not ultimately benefit the economy. The dollar will go down in value and inflation will start rearing its ugly head.” (CNBC) 

Donald Trump has a history of using eminent domain to complete business deals. Multiple times Trump has supported the use of government agencies to take possession of homes and businesses for use in his private business plans. Eminent domain seizures are reserved only for public use of property rather than abuse by the government taking property from one individual and giving to another. (Washington Post) 

Donald Trump has sought and received crony capitalist tax breaks for his commercial properties in New York. These tax breaks, and even an abatement, force the property taxes of other property owners to rise at the expense of the connected. Special treatment for one business or industry over another with the tax code conflicts with free market principles. (National Review) 

In 2009, Trump supported Barack Obama's call for limits on the pay of executives. (CNN)

[mac_truck]

[Iscool]

Yeah, because everybody knows Baptists are not evangelical. /s

In my experience Baptists do not identify with evangelicals...

[deport]

He was questioning Ted’s father’s religion, and they are mostly Catholic in Cuba...

*************

Remember that Rafael B supposedly got religious after leaving Rafael E and his mom
up in Canada and had returned to Houston. Supposedly he attended some church got touched
and went back to Canada and his family. After returning to the US, getting his 2nd divorce,
he sometime decided it was time to get invovled with pastoring, even though he’s never
held a pastor position in a church structure.

[CatherineofAragon]

"I am concerned about Trump. I’m concerned that the venues he holds his rallies can’t accommodate all the people that want to see him. :)"

Another Large Crowd For Romney

Obama Panic Over Romney Crowd Sizes

Massive Mitt Romney Rally Romney Draws Massive Crowd

Behemoth Crowd To See Romney In PA

Romney Draws Massive Crowd

Romney Packs Red Rocks

Stunning Pics: Romney Rallies Massive Crowds

[Colonel_Flagg]

The level of willing, conscious disconnect of some Donald Trump supporters here is really amazing.

It’s more than clear that their guy is no friend of conservatives or conservatism and is taking a open-hand slap at the best Constitutional conservative Christian candidate the Republican Party has fielded in God only knows how long.

But since people tend to double down when they’re caught out, they just whistle past the graveyard.

[CatherineofAragon]

"Most protestants would object to being referred to as ‘evangelical’, btw."

Really? Why?

[Colonel_Flagg]

This is NOT AN ISSUE! Trump NEVER criticized Cruz’s religion....and he was RIGHT.

He clearly questioned Cruz's religion. Don't kid yourself any more than you already do by supporting this guy.

[libbylu]

———Many of Trump supporters on FR agree with Trump. Just get on any Cruz thread and you will see.-——
They have even started “doubting” Cruz’s Christianity here.
Trumpees defense and excusing of all Trump is not only sickening it shows to me a cult following, devoid of reason.

[CatherineofAragon]

Why would I?

that’s what Trump is-—demonstrably.

Have you proof that Cruz is the “Christian Taliban” for talking about his faith? Will you even try to lend credence to such a blatantly leftwing attack?