Rank and File Republicans Tell Party Elites: We’re Sticking With Donald Trump

New York Times ^ | MARCH 4, 2016

[VitacoreVision]

From Michigan to Louisiana to California on Friday, rank-and-file Republicans expressed mystification, dismissal and contempt regarding the instructions that their party's most high-profile leaders were urgently handing down to them: Reject and defeat Donald J. Trump.

Their angry reactions, in the 24 hours since Mitt Romney and John McCain urged millions of voters to cooperate in a grand strategy to undermine Mr. Trump's candidacy, have captured the seemingly inexorable force of a movement that still puzzles the Republican elite and now threatens to unravel the party they hold dear.

In interviews, even lifelong Republicans who cast a ballot for Mr. Romney four years ago rebelled against his message and plan. "I personally am disgusted by it -- I think it's disgraceful," said Lola Butler, 71, a retiree from Mandeville, La., who voted for Mr. Romney in 2012. "You're telling me who to vote for and who not to vote for? Please."

"There's nothing short of Trump shooting my daughter in the street and my grandchildren -- there is nothing and nobody that's going to dissuade me from voting for Trump," Ms. Butler said.

[irishjuggler]

"There's nothing short of Trump shooting my daughter in the street and my grandchildren -- there is nothing and nobody that's going to dissuade me from voting for Trump," Ms. Butler said.

Huh. Wonder what her FR screen name is.

[AndyJackson]

rank and file

Part of the problem with these elitists is that they view the voters as the "rank and file" as if we are an army to stand in line and march on command.

We have a number of collective interests generally called the "common good" for which we pay taxes and agree to submit to a government. But the govenment left us, all of us, long ago ignoring the "common good." And so we look for a new arrangement, the sworn rank and file of no established order.

[KGeorge]

It is disgraceful. These people have no shame at all.

[Boomer]

If only Mittens had a backbone when he ran for Prez...

[PUGACHEV]

Aren’t we so lucky to have Romney, man who’s there to keep us from making mistakes. We’re even luck he has grandchildren, otherwise he might not have found the motivation to help all the rest of us who cannot be trusted to think for ourselves.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Maybe the party is not that conservative. Cruz is the best since Reagan.

[mtrott]

My suspicion is that a lot of these “rank and file” Republicans who are fanatically following Trump are not really Republicans, but, rather, working class dems and independents. I guess we’ll see how the caucuses turn out tonight.

But I do agree that what Romney or any other GOP establishment elitists say would not deter me from voting for Trump, if he was my guy. Go Cruz!!!

[20yearsofinternet]

a movement that still puzzles the Republican elite and now threatens to unravel the party they hold dear.

---

The Times, as usual, gets this part completely wrong. The GOPe don't care at all about the party, as evidenced by their repeated failures and giving Obama everything he wants.

They care about the endless wallets and pocketbooks of the people they now deride and hate. They are mad that finally, the infinite gravy train might come to an end.

[kiryandil]

Huh. Wonder what her FR screen name is.

She just signed yesterday.

Her screen name is MittTheZitt... :)

[grania]

After listening to Romney's disgusting diatribe against US voters, something in the back of my mind hadn't quite coalesced for figuring out why I was so furious.

Here it is: One of the main reasons Romney lost is he refused to campaign to the "lower 47%". He said they (we) are a waste of his time.

What was Romney's speech? It was a disdainful, arrogant lecture to the "lower 47%" proclaiming that the elite will use any dishonest means imaginable to keep their grip on power. Four years ago, Romney ignored voters who wanted significant change. This year he threatens us.

[ArtDodger]

If Trump is booted out at the convention and goes 3rd party, it will divide the conservatives, perhaps giving the election to Hillary. Stopping Trump and letting Hillary get elected is a win/win for the GOP establishment. Status Quo, baby!
Unless Trump can wake up enough conservatives and Reagan democrats, and pull off a ‘bull moose’ win.

[j.argese]

Reagan was NBC. Cruz? Un-uh.

[John W]

My fear is Donald popped in to protect the status quo from Cruz.Whenever we have a potential real change agent they must be defeated or destroyed. My fear is if Donald gets in things mainly stay the same.

[stockpirate]

Unleash the Trumpan!!!

[WENDLE]

We are telling them to “Stick it” ,too. GO Trump.

[Lopeover]

“The party they hold dear” Please! The self interests they hold dear!

[stevem]

And they mourned for a 162-year-old party that is starting to seem unrecognizable to them.

We have to be in the Twilight Zone where the quintessential catalysts for what is happening can't understand what is happening.

[ifinnegan]

NY Slimes loves it.

[ifinnegan]

“Maybe the party is not that conservative.”

We knew the elites weren’t.

“Rank and File” aren’t either it turns out.

Drugs and Circuses.