Posted on 03/03/2016 6:02:11 AM PST by Enlightened1
Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is charging into the increasingly divisive White House race with a verbal lashing of Donald Trump and a plea for fellow Republicans to shun the front-runner for the good of country and party.
Romney is branding the billionaire businessman as "a phony, a fraud" whose "promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University," according to a speech Romney planned to give at the University of Utah on Thursday morning. The Associated Press obtained excerpts of his remarks in advance.
Trump, in turn, dismissed Romney as "a stiff" who "didn't know what he was doing" as the party's candidate in 2012 and blew a chance to beat President Barack Obama. "People are energized by what I'm saying" in the campaign and turning out in remarkable numbers to vote, Trump told NBC's "Today."
In ratcheting up the rhetoric, Romney cast his lot with a growing chorus of anxious Republican leaders -- people many Trump supporters view as establishment figures -- in trying to slow the New York real estate mogul's momentum.
"Here's what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud," the former Massachusetts governor said, according to the early excerpts.
But it was unclear what impact his words would have with voters deeply frustrated by their party's leaders. Trump questioned whether the party rank and file would listen to "a failed candidate" for whom "nobody came out to vote."
Romney has been chipping away at Trump in recent days, but the speech Thursday was certain to be his most forceful statement yet.
Panicked GOP leaders say they still have options for preventing Trump from winning the GOP nomination -- just not many good ones.
(Excerpt) Read more at bigstory.ap.org ...
Plan A Jeb Failed
Plan B Rubio Imploded
Plan C Romney
Romney calling Trump a phony? That’s rich...
L
Is Robot Romney malfunctioning?
Do we have any experts in robotics that can diagnose him?
WHY IS ROMNEY helping Trump!!!!!! I am listening to the radio in Missouri and more people are calling in saying they were on the fence for Cruz/Trump and now they are Trump. All because of GOPe attacks.
IMO, anyone who refers to “illegal immigrants” as simply “immigrants” is a phony.
A SHUNNING !!!
-How Mormon of him.
So Roger Stone was correct when he said GOPe was going to role out Plan C the 2012 loser Romney.
This is why Trump is popular. It is clear the GOPe works AGAINST what the people want.
If Jeb or Rubio was winning like Trump, then the GOPe would already be saying the race was over like they did with Romney and McCain.
Romney couldn’t even respond in the Second Debate to the decisive intervention of a fat, biased “moderator”. Sounds like verification of the old adage, “Those who Can’t - Teach”.
This is actually no longer an effort to defeat Trump in the primary, this is now a battle to defeat him at the Alamo in November.
It’s sad watching a grown man make a FOOL of himself.
I really loathe Romney
Plan D:
Mitt’s magic underwear.
I can relate to that. I was never a big Trump fan (but I didn't hate him like so many) but he seems to be making all the right enemies. The more the GOPe and other insiders attack him the more favorable he becomes to me. While I am still a Cruz man, I wouldn't hesitate to support the Donald if he gets the nod.
I have noticed that Rubio, and now Romney, always talk about what is best for the party. It is all about party loyalty.
I am more interested in what is best for the country.
My loyalty is to the country first.
Do these idiots think I have loyalty to Boehner, McConnell, Ryan, Romney, Rubio, Cruz? It is VOTES, their VOTES, that I can’t stomach. It is NOT what they say, it is their VOTES.
Millions of republicans failed to turn out and vote for Romney in 2012, which cost him the election against a failed and corrupt incumbent. So I fail to understand which audience this socalled speech is going to be directed to, because those who did not vote for Romney are turning out for Trump.
However...If these guys truly believe Trump will be a disaster, then they probably feel morally obligated to speak out. Otherwise, they'll be criticized for not having taking a stand.
But ultimately, it doesn't matter.
I gave Romney the benefit of the doubt when I voted for him.
This time the benefit is going to Trump.
-JT
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