Trump: ‘I Don’t Want To Play The Rule Game…We Live In A Democracy’ [VIDEO]

Daily Caller ^ | 4/17/16 | Kerry Picket

[CA Conservative]

Just more evidence that Trump has no idea about how our government works, and that if elected, he will not allow himself to be constrained by laws or the Constitution... Hey Donald - we are NOT a democracy, we are a Constitutional Republic. And that means the “rules” apply to everyone, even YOU!

[CA Conservative]

These “rules” have about as much legitimacy as the rules keeping the Castro regime in power.

If Trump is not willing to work within the GOP rules, they why the heck is he running as a GOP candidate? If he really feels they are so unfair, he should run as an independent or third-party (although most of the minor parties don't have primaries at all). If he wants to be the GOP nominee, he should play by the rules that everyone else follows and shut up.

[RC one]

we’re a constitutional republic which is pretty much the complete opposite of an anarchy. your logical analysis fails you.

[Roses0508]

Yes and he wants to see NY, NJ, and CA elect the president for decades. The votes from fly-over country would count not at all because the high population density areas would overcome in numbers. Our founding fathers worked out processes (the Electoral College) that would provide voter equality between the low and high population areas.

[RC one]

The constitution calls for a form of government that is not a monarchy or a similar form of oligarchy. It does not call for “not a democracy”.

[MileHi]

I don’t want to play the rule game, because I’ll tell you what, we live in a democracy....

No, we don't. See:

US Constitution

[RC one]

keep reading the thread. It has been well explained.

[A_Tradition_Continues]

"We all grew up being told we’re a democracy so that’s what 95% of the public thinks."

I was taught we were a representative republic.

[Principled]

If trump had 51% of all votes in all states we wouldn’t be having these discussions.

That's right - because the rules in some states require that a candidate earning more than 50+% of the vote earns 100% of the delegates.

Is that rule "fair"? What about the 49% who wanted someone else being disenfranchised?

Will Trump whine about that rule or is that rule ok?

... lol ... I will vote for Trump but I don't like it that he has to moan about and threaten to go indie b/c of rules. I'm pretty sure he won't moan and whine about rules that work in his favor - I'm just as certain no other candidate will moan and whine about the rule giving Trump 100% of the delegates even though he'll win only 55% of the vote - they will probably mock Trump but that's it.

[enumerated]

“It’s officially the Democratic Party”

True, because they can choose whatever name they wish as the official name for their party.

However, I loved the way Ronald Reagan would instead say “Democrat Party” and even correct people when they said “Democratic Party”.

Why did he (and many other non Democrats) prefer Democrat Party? Because ‘democratic’ is an adjective and therefore it’s use suggests that the word is being used as a modifier rather than simply a name. The adjective ‘democratic’ connotes fairness or responsiveness to the will of the people, and Reagan wished to deprive them of that positive association. After all, the Democrat Party is no more democratic than other parties. Trump calls it the Democrat Party too, which I like. My Republican parents and grandparents all said Democrat Party.

It is much like the Fair Tax. It’s just a name, and it’s proponents can choose whatever name they wish, but opponents of the plan may choose to boycott the self aggrandizing name choice, and call it something else. Same with Patient Protection And Affordable Health Care Act. Opponents prefer to call it ObamaCare, as this removes the positive connotations of protection and affordability, and instead adds a somewhat negative association.

Regarding the subject of whether or not this is a Democracy, I think context is important. We conservatives like to stress that we are a constitutional republic, because the founding fathers knew that direct democracy without a constitution placing limits on democracy would lead to tyranny of the majority.

While we do not put executive decisions to a vote, there are clearly strong elements of democracy in our constitutional republic, especially the process of electing representatives and public officials. Pure direct democracy essentially means voting on everything including what’s for breakfast, and although there are many things we don’t vote on (thank God), there are some we do, such as who should hold various representative offices and that’s what we’re all talking about right now. That’s what Trump is talking about so I think in the context of electing a president it doesn’t hurt to acknowledge the democracy in our political system.

[VRWCmember]

It does not call for “not a democracy”. But the founders deliberately chose not to use the word "democracy" or "democratic" anywhere in the Constitution. And they specifically empowered the states to determine the method of electing representatives and senators. And the election of the president is set forth with the electoral college as a specific repudiation of direct democracy in electing the president. So, to that end, the Constitution very much declares that this country is NOT A DEMOCRACY.

[H.Akston]

Read federalist 39

[Dead Corpse]

It’s only the people who will be writing the laws we all have to live by...

If you can’t take the time to “baby sit” them, maybe you just don’t care enough.

[tioga]

We live in a republic........as in FREE REPUBLIC. This is STILL the Free Republic website is it not?

[RC one]

read post #17.

[RC one]

It also calls for the electing of senators and representatives. that's a democracy. Specifically, it's a representative democracy but a democracy nevertheless. A republic is just a government of something other than a monarchy or similar oligarchy and that is what the constitution is guaranteeing. In our case, we are a constitutional republic. The constitution is the highest law of the land and this makes the US a government of laws as opposed to a government of men and it is why our military swears and oath to protect and defend the constitution first and foremost.

Article I, Section 2.

The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States,

and

Section 4

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof;

[Mechanicos]

We have not lived in a republic for a very long time. We live in an oligopoly. A republic does not have Unbound (Super) Representatives nor ones who are for sale to the highest bidder,

[Outlaw76]

Cruz won 66% of the vote in Wyoming last month. Please adjust your talking points so that they don’t make you look a moron.

[jurroppi1]

Amen, I was wondering when someone would put precision into the discussion.

[xzins]

We live in a democratic republic, so we absolutely should have voters involved. Trump is right about that.

The party bosses claiming the system has been in place for a hundred years are lying. Primaries are newer than that and a reaction against the infamous smoke filled rooms.

Also, party insiders picking insider delegates is not a republic. That is command fascism.