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Trump’s self-destruction begins early
By Jennifer Rubin May 9 at 10:15 AM
We suspect that when he gave Donald Trump the opportunity to unify the party, Speaker of the House Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) knew Trump wouldn’t be able to do it. Someone as narcissistic and as devoid of conservative principles as Trump couldn’t become a conciliatory, minimally coherent Republican. Still, he probably did not expect Trump to blow it so quickly and vividly.
In the space of a few days, Trump’s campaign chief, Paul Manafort, told movement conservatives that the agenda of the GOP is now whatever Trump believes (which varies from day to day). Trump declared that “don’t forget, this is called the Republican Party. It’s not called the Conservative Party.” This is a man with no grounding in any ideology, telling the party that being Republican means whatever he wants it to mean. Great way to chase those people for whom politics is about something other than winning and losing, huh?
Donald Trump vs. Paul Ryan: Can they work it out?
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House Speaker Paul Ryan says he cannot support Donald Trump. Trump says he doesn't care. Can the two work out their differences? (Deirdra O'Regan/The Washington Post)
Trump reversed himself on the minimum wage and now vows to raise taxes. Those Republicans who said the party had to fall in line behind him or we’d have tax increases, job-killing minimum wage hikes and socialized medicine — all things he said at one time or another that he wants –need a new excuse to back the billionaire mogul. Having supported him based on the hope his tax plan would last a millisecond after his nomination, leaders of anti-tax groups — or really any group with “conservative” in its name — look like chumps.
It is not simply that Trump lacks consistent conservative principles; rather, he lacks any principles whatsoever. Republicans who argue he has to be elected because the Supreme Court swing seat is at issue need to explain why they have the least bit of confidence in Trump’s pick. If he thought it would be to his advantage to nominate a liberal justice, he surely would. Moreover, he is unlikely to be able to discern the next David Souter from the next Antonin Scalia.
Most horrifying for Republicans, Trump now declares the party does not have to be united. “Does the party have to be together? Does it have to be unified? I’m very different than everybody else — perhaps that’s ever run for office,” he said. “I actually don’t think so.” Huh?! Wasn’t he saying just weeks ago he could unite the party? Right now Trump has less than 85 percent of Republicans, historically very low. With that many defections and his massive problem with women and minorities, he is putting states in play — for Hillary Clinton. A recent Georgia poll has the two statistically tied. He may be the first presidential candidate in history who doesn’t want votes from his own party.
By Jennifer Rubin May 9 at 10:15 AM
We suspect that when he gave Donald Trump the opportunity to unify the party, Speaker of the House Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) knew Trump wouldn’t be able to do it. Someone as narcissistic and as devoid of conservative principles as Trump couldn’t become a conciliatory, minimally coherent Republican. Still, he probably did not expect Trump to blow it so quickly and vividly.
In the space of a few days, Trump’s campaign chief, Paul Manafort, told movement conservatives that the agenda of the GOP is now whatever Trump believes (which varies from day to day). Trump declared that “don’t forget, this is called the Republican Party. It’s not called the Conservative Party.” This is a man with no grounding in any ideology, telling the party that being Republican means whatever he wants it to mean. Great way to chase those people for whom politics is about something other than winning and losing, huh?
Donald Trump vs. Paul Ryan: Can they work it out?
Embed Share
Play Video1:40
House Speaker Paul Ryan says he cannot support Donald Trump. Trump says he doesn't care. Can the two work out their differences? (Deirdra O'Regan/The Washington Post)
Trump reversed himself on the minimum wage and now vows to raise taxes. Those Republicans who said the party had to fall in line behind him or we’d have tax increases, job-killing minimum wage hikes and socialized medicine — all things he said at one time or another that he wants –need a new excuse to back the billionaire mogul. Having supported him based on the hope his tax plan would last a millisecond after his nomination, leaders of anti-tax groups — or really any group with “conservative” in its name — look like chumps.
It is not simply that Trump lacks consistent conservative principles; rather, he lacks any principles whatsoever. Republicans who argue he has to be elected because the Supreme Court swing seat is at issue need to explain why they have the least bit of confidence in Trump’s pick. If he thought it would be to his advantage to nominate a liberal justice, he surely would. Moreover, he is unlikely to be able to discern the next David Souter from the next Antonin Scalia.
Most horrifying for Republicans, Trump now declares the party does not have to be united. “Does the party have to be together? Does it have to be unified? I’m very different than everybody else — perhaps that’s ever run for office,” he said. “I actually don’t think so.” Huh?! Wasn’t he saying just weeks ago he could unite the party? Right now Trump has less than 85 percent of Republicans, historically very low. With that many defections and his massive problem with women and minorities, he is putting states in play — for Hillary Clinton. A recent Georgia poll has the two statistically tied. He may be the first presidential candidate in history who doesn’t want votes from his own party.
